Jersey Shore kids earn that salary boost

<p>here is the thing though. any person who views those oompah-loompahs as ambassadors for all italian americans clearly has some perception issues of their own. i don’t see why an ethnic group in its entirety should have to make a concerted effort to “yell louder” than a sub-group within them because here’s the thing: 1. most americans (with a brain) will be able to distinguish between idiots on MTV and an actual group within the country. and 2. if a person thinks that every italian american in new jersey is like snookie or ‘the situation’ then is that person really worth the energy in trying to convince otherwise? </p>

<p>i’m not saying passivity is the answer here, i’m just pointing out that in some cases it’s a waste of energy to try and prove something otherwise. sometimes you just have to let people make their own judgment calls.</p>

<p>They are supposed to be young Americans of Italian ancestry living in New Jersey. They are proud of their ancestry, and so it comus up quite often in the show. They are (mostly) physically attractive young adults, that make terribly poor choices of where they work, where they go, promiscuity, etc.
The point, as I see it, is to look and marvel at how dumb these people can be. As long as all viewers understand they were chosen to entertain, then I see no harm. Those who might think this is how all young Americans of Italian ancestry really are- or should be- are sadly misinformed and are missing that this is intended as entertainment, not as an accurate sociological portrait of one group. </p>

<p>“Guido” is one of those <em>we can call us that</em> ethnic slurs, like Americans of African ancestry that choose to call themselves the N-word, or Americans of European ancestry that call themselves crackers. Ok if we do it, wrong if anyone else does it.</p>

<p>Yes, one was just arrested for overdue parking tickets. Brings more publicity to the show.</p>

<p>I think the Sopranos was more damaging to Italian-American reputation than this show. Joey on Friends was not one for Italian Americans to be proud of either.</p>

<p>John Gotti would be shocked–Italians and the Mob. Sometimes a spade is a spade. When it came to the Mafia it was and is dominated by Italians. Just as Latin gangs are dominated–by Latins. Pretending otherwise does nobody any good. Nor does it follow that all Italians are in the Mafia. In reality it is a small and shrinking group.</p>

<p>Cartera45…Yes, The Sopranos were damaging to Italians because most Italians are embarrassed that they are associated with a relatively small group of criminals known as the mafia. The sterotype is based on truth and that is what keeps perpetuating the image that Italians are uneducated, unsophisticated and criminal. As long as shows like these are permitted to exist than Italians will never lose the image they have worked so hard to change. </p>

<p>The New Jersey Housewives was another show that Italian American leaders should have put up a stink about. To deny that people view Italians this way is sweeping the ugly truth under the carpet.It is not O.K to use the slur words to describe African Americans, Chinese Americans, Puerto Ricans, or people of the Jewish faith. It is no longer acceptable in this country to portray any of these groups in a derogatory way, yet the Italian Americans are still being bashed by the media.</p>

<p>Ugh…I just saw another one of these New Jersey shows as I passed the tv. It was about this young Italian girl that got a job in a NYC salon. What a disaster this was…another stupid show depicting Italians in the worst way possible.</p>

<p>Tho this thread is about Americans of Italian ancestry, there are shows that may make fun of all kinds of people. Heritage, gender, and religion come to mind(except Muslim). I am an American first, of English(mostly) and German heritage and there are shows that come and go that may not show my nationality or my heritage in the best light.
Let’s remember first that one’s heritage isn’t necessarily one’s nationality. I do not call myself an English American, nor do I call myself English.
While I’m not perfect nor is my country, I am an American.</p>

<p>I even remember back in the days of Archie Bunker, thought of as the typical American working family, a part of the majority, tho he may have insulted other races, or religions, sexual preferences, etc., he was always proven wrong. So that show belittled the white majority, and Lear says in hopes of enlightening the masses. Everybody gets a turn at being made fun of.</p>

<p>Apparently they are WAY underpaid. </p>

<p>[‘Jersey</a> Shore’ ratings huge](<a href=“http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/08/jersey-shore-ratings-huge-american-chopper-slips.html]‘Jersey”>http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/08/jersey-shore-ratings-huge-american-chopper-slips.html)</p>

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<p>I can think of a few examples of current shows / upcoming shows that are probably equally as offensive to various groups - The Cleveland Show, K-Town, Outsourced, and I don’t even watch TV that often.</p>

<p>Unfortunately these characters existed well before the show was ever filmed. Go to Seaside Heights or Belmar NJ at midnight on Saturday and you will see this same action with or without TV cameras. I moved to NJ 25 years ago and Seaside had the same reputation as it has today. Belmar has cleaned itself up a bit, but there are still many party houses that you can drive by at 7am on Sunday and see many beer bottles/cans or red cups strewn all over the yard.</p>

<p>Apparently The Situation stands to make $ 5 Million this year in various deals. Not too shabby</p>