Gym, tan, livid.
The cast of MTV’s Jersey Shore is outraged that the network is rebooting their equally loved-and-loathed series with an entirely new set of stars.
“As a cast that took a chance with a network in need, we put our most vulnerable moments on television for the world to see,” the reality stars said in a joint statement released Thursday. “We gave our all over the past 13 years, became a family and continue to open our lives for the world. so please understand that we are not in support of a version that will exploit our original show, our hard work and authenticity to gain viewers.”
The statement—shared on social media by Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, Jenni “JWoww” Farley, Vinny Guadagnino, DJ Pauly D, Deena Nicole Cortese and Angelina Pivarnick—comes one day after MTV announced it would be shooting a spinoff.
Jersey Shore, which—much to the dismay of many New Jerseyans—initially shot in Seaside Heights, ran on MTV from 2009-2012 and chronicled the friendships and over-the-top antics of a group of party-and-booze-loving pals. The network then relaunched the show in 2018, titling it Jersey Shore Family Vacation, with all of the original stars except for Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola. Original star Ronnie Ortiz-Magro had been part of Family Vacation until last year, when he stepped away to take care of his mental health issues.
“Jersey Shore” filmed in Seaside Heights, but the reboot is not expected to be shot there. Season 1 cast members pictured above (back row, from left): Angelina Pivarnick, Jenni “JWoww” Farley, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino; (front row, from left) Vinny Guadagnino, DJ Pauly D, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro and Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola Photo: MTV Networks/Photofest
Snooki & co. ended their joint post Thursday by writing, “Don’t forget to tune into an all new season of Jersey Shore Family Vacation,” as well as the hashtag #WeAreJerseyShore.
On Wednesday, MTV described the upcoming reboot by saying (via Entertainment Tonight): “It’s been 13 years since the iconic cast of Jersey Shore fist-pumped their way into our lives and stole our hearts. Now, the time-honored tradition continues with a new group of roommates moving into their own Shore house. They may have traded their poofs for plumped pouts and UV rays for spray tans, but when things heat up in Jersey, the Shore is still the place to be to make memories all summer long.”
A filming location for the series has not yet been revealed, but, according to the Asbury Park Press, production will not be based in either Seaside Heights or Lavallette.
When producers reached out to Seaside Heights, they were “advised informally, without any pending application, that there would not be an appetite for any reality show filming activity during July, August,” Christopher Vaz, borough administrator of Seaside Heights, told the Asbury Park Press via email.
That’s not a surprise, as Seaside Heights is trying to move away from its image as a party town and into one that’s more family-oriented. “Jersey Shore tapped into something that was already in existence, and they just made it worse,” Mayor Tony Vaz recently told New Jersey Monthly. “That idea of, just go to Seaside and do what you want to do—those days are over.”
Meanwhile, Lavallette Mayor Walter G. LaCicero, told the Asbury Park Press of the reboot, “My understanding is that virtually every show they done is a carbon copy of Jersey Shore, just at different location. It’s just more kids having fun, but a little too much fun sometimes so we’re really not interested in it.”
MTV also announced Wednesday that Jersey Shore Family Vacation would be getting another season.