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Bass - FD's correct.
I got on board late, w/ Jersey Shore- but when I (at the PERSISTENT urgings of a Notorious texter from this board) did get on board, I admit that I was undeniably hooked. Like most things that I discover, I dove in head 1st and ran through the material rather quickly- seeking it out, dvr'ing, til i was confident Id seen every episode. By the time I was very 'up' on the show, it'd gotten to the point where I was the 1 texting the other guy reminding him that the season finale was airing at 10 that wk, and the same for the Reunion show.
I never posted out here before when the show was being discussed, but the appeal to me is on a couple levels. First, like everyone else- I enjoy the obvious.
Its just entertaining in that the cast involves some really busted chicks who all honestly swear that they're hot, great dancers and extremely desireable. (that alone is worth tuning in for Bass- watching these jabrones 'dance' at the clubs- both the girls and the guys).
These people in short, are unintelligent, self absorbed, delusional and live in this little bubble where Id imagine, in their day to day lives- they manage just fine. But dropping them in Sea Side Heights- for anyone who's familiar with the area- is not their comfort zone- creates some interesting situations when they go out. They tend to stick out a little more- as evidenced by their rocky times out in the clubs etc, some of which could easily be explained away by the camera crews but more than that- its because of how they draw attention to themselves, look, act (the 1, JWOWW- is utter trash, has a smokers voice suggesting she was lightin up Pal Mal's in the womb, and I THINK has thrown more punches this yr than Ronnie, when the final tally is calculated). On that level alone, its worth a watch or two. Beyond that, it may not hold up for you.
Another level of enjoyment for me comes in that I enjoy watching people. This show is like people watching with the tape at a higher speed, with a mouth full of Red Bull and Pop Rocks at times. I guess its the same appeal that "The Real World" had for me, when young and living alone downashore myself- when the show 1st aired. Granted, that show always featured a diverse mix, whereas these clowns (Id say Kids but they range in ages and the 1 guy- "DJ Pauly D" is 29). are all caricatures of the same basic mold- The Guido/Guidette. Regardless, watching how these people conduct themselves, what they value as important- "TGL" for example- "Tanning, Gym, Laundry" as well as their own dialect that yields some interesting words for things like sex (Smooshing- fantastic) or the busted chick (Grenade) I find amusing.
Only half the cast is actually Italian in fact. 1 is chilean (Snooki) , 1 is Irish and Spanish (JWOWW) and 1 of the guys is half Italian, half Armenian.
But they all are still "Guidos"- a term hotly debated out here yrs ago, at which time i jumped into to get NEAG's back when he was new here, after using the term and drawing the ire of then racially sensitive DaddySly. I was ripped for saying that it wasnt about strictly ITALIAN AMERICANS or a derragtory word for them, but more of an image. Back then, I painted the image as the gold wearing, tank top sporting, tan & usually muscle bound men, and cheesy, high heeled, fake tanned, plastic nailed, high haired and scantily clad women wearing too much make up (Guidettes). At the time, I was roundly corrected and I conceeded that perhaps that was just in 'my circles' that the term held that meaning and I apologized if i offended anyone.
However, the term as I knew it plays itself out 7 yrs later on MTV, and doesnt strictly apply to Italians, and is more about the 'type of person' regardless of ethnicity. Weak validation- at least of my stating that the term as I knew it wasnt a racial slur and truly just a descriptive term? Perhaps.
Back then I felt I knew what I was talking about, mainly from personal experience. Thats a third level of 'enjoyment' for me tho this aspect often brings cringes nowadays.
Not only do I have many within my family who are still 'guidettes' at ages over 40 , but I grew up around aunts and uncles- mainly aunts, who fit this bill. Always tryin to look young, the nails, hair, tight clothes, breast jobs, make up, etc. We called em "Chickies" or guidettes.
I grew up downashore, had the home in Stone Harbor but spent my nights over in North Wildwood- land of the Guidettes. As a kid/teen/young guy, I liked those types (not as exaggerrated as those on JS, but you get the point) I would hit the clubs in that one strip in N. WW with my cousins, all of whom could have been extras in JS. The 1 in particular, whom i will not name, really reminds me a LOT of Snooki, and maybe thats why i kinda tend not to have such a critical view of her even tho shes a wreck.
I didnt don the tank tops or chains, but other slight similarities between my experiences as a young guy hangin out downashore between myself and some of those guys or 'that type' can likely be made if truth be told. I used to spend an inordinate amount of time on the hair, always made sure i got enuff sun durin the week so as to keep up the good tan, always into talking to as many girls as possible, had a large collection of Freestyle Music, which I admit still gets regular play from me every late spring/early summer, a confidence bordering on cocky, etc- all very shallow, superficial & some cheesy stuff that I can admit now, was a part of my young adulthood down there. ( Although i maintain i never 'beat the beat back' , dancing like those idiots.)
Lastly for me would be the interaction between the guys- it reminds me a lot of the 3 other guys I lived with at PITT who I remain close with. Not in the look or the stereotype, but just the dynamic of 4 guys who live essentially for their night life, and the girl experience, always out, and often dealing with the ramifications that always being out can bring you (Fights, arrests, drama etc). Playin wingman, takin one for the team when your pal's goin to score but you get stuck with 'the grenade' so to speak, that stuff. The guys are d-bags I guess you'd honestly have to say- looking back as an adult, and while none of us at PITT acted quite as douchebaggish, Im sure an outsiders honest evaluation of my roomies and I would likely net similar comments. I cant be alone here, im sure of it. Surely some of you lived in a similar manner- even if only for a yr or two , where sleeping in, hitting the gym, goin out and drinking/chicks/fighting had to be the staple to your existence?
Bass- if nothing else check it out. You may enjoy 1 or 2 episodes on the 1st level i described of just laughing at these people.
For me, I think its a culmination of things described above that make Jersey Shore more of a cringe-worthy nostalgic experience, than just 30 minutes of laughing at idiots (tho that never gets old either).
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