Jersey Shore and Why We Continue to Watch
Chances are that if you are reading this post, you probably watch Jersey Shore. Not only that, but chances are, you will watch season 4 set in Italy. Here’s the hiccup: you don’t like this show anymore.
Then why are we going to watch? For the same reason that anyone continues to watch TV shows that turn bad on us: We remember the good times. We remember season one, before the cast became so sadly self-aware and became caricatures of themselves. We remember defending the show against the massive backlash that it faced before the show even aired its second episode. We loved the fights, GTL, and The Situation. These were people that were exceptional at partying and acting like complete knuckleheads.
Unfortunately, that’s all they are good at doing. The show is an iPod stuck on repeat. They go to clubs, try to hook up, drink a lot, and get into massive arguments over the smallest perceived slights. It’s what they do, who they are, and why we fell in love with the show in the first place. What’s really depressing is that by the midpoint of season 3, it seemed like the cast was more tired of their act than we were. They knew it, we knew it, and MTV executives knew it.
Which brings us to the trailer for season 4 in Italy. The trailer gives us shots of The Situation hooking up with girls, the guys partying in clubs, getting in arguments with each other, Snooki getting arrested, Snooki crying, and The Situation getting knocked out by Ronnie. Here's the thing: I could substitute any place in the entire world with Italy, and the results would still be the same.
I praise MTV for trying something different to keep the franchise going. However, if they want the show to be different, they need different people, not a different location. It became abundantly clear to everyone during the shooting of season 5 that these characters had run their course. Everyday brought a story of a cast member walking out or a story about the general unhappiness of those involved with the show. We are tired of watching them, and they are tired of being watched. This point was abundantly clear a year ago, but MTV wanted to see how many eggs they could squeeze out of their golden goose.
So try your best to enjoy season 4 of the Jersey Shore. I know I will be watching, but I know I won’t like it.
See you soon.
The TV Czar
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