It’s easy to rag on ‘Jersey Shore’ – really easy. I used to do it all the time. I went on rants for days about how horrible the show and everyone on it was. It’s funny what happens when you actually take the time to check something out for yourself. It’s definitely not everyone’s cup of tea, but I enjoyed it far more than I thought I would. Now I find myself looking forward to ‘Jersey Shore’ every Thursday. There’s always something happening and, above all else, the drama on that show reminds me that I really have nothing to complain about when it comes to my friends and their drama. It all pales in comparison to the ‘Jersey Shore’ kids.
Quick Recap: The premise behind ‘Jersey Shore’ is pretty simple – take four guys and four girls and put them in a house together on the Jersey Shore for a summer. Follow them with cameras and see what happens. What happens is a lot of drama, apparently. There’s a lot of entertainment too, though. In the beginning, the cast was composed of Vinny Guadagnino, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino, Paul ‘DJ Pauly D’ Del Vecchio, Jenni ‘Jwoww’ Farley, Sammi ‘Sweetheart’ Giancola, Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi and Angelina Pivarnick. By the end of the first season, Angelina was gone, rather unceremoniously kicked out of the Shore house by her boss who was a little irritated she didn’t show up for work and then refused to talk to him about it. She returned for season two but walked out again because, well, everyone in the house hated her. She didn’t return for season three. Instead, Deena Cortese, a friend of Snooki’s replaced her.
Probably the most dramatic aspect of the show thus far has been the extremely tumultuous relationship between Ronnie and Sammi. They began dating in season one, but have been on and off throughout the whole series. They had broken up prior to the start of season two – which was filmed in Miami – but rekindled their romance shortly after filming began. At this point, Ronnie had been pretty shady; making out with other girls and then returning to the house to get in bed with Sammi. Sammi was oblivious but an ‘anonymous’ note written by Snooki and Jwoww brought the situation to light. When Sammi asked The Situation about the note, he admitted everything in the note was true. Later, Ronnie would see this as backstabbing. Sammi looked at the letter as shady and was angry at Snooki and Jwoww for writing it; sticking with Ronnie despite his behavior.
Things never really got better. Ronnie and Sammi stayed together for the most part through season two and were still dating when season three began filming. That didn’t mean things had improved. They fought constantly and eventually broke up; causing Sammi to leave the house ‘for good’.
Aside from the drama with Sammi and Ronnie, Snooki was arrested during season three after getting drunk and stumbling around of the beach. This led her to briefly consider quitting drinking but she seems to have gotten over that. Ronnie has also been arrested for assault. Jwoww had a steady boyfriend at the start of season one, but still made out with Pauly D. She apparently never slept with anyone else while she was with her boyfriend. Jwoww and he boyfriend officially broke up at the beginning of season 3. Her boyfriend left their dogs in the house with no one to look after them so she went to pick them up; finding several personal items missing in the process.
Snooki and Vinny have slept together on a few occasions, but Snooki believes her feelings for him are stronger than her feelings for her, so they’ve never had a relationship beyond friendship and the occasional hookup. The Situation… well, The Situation is the situation. He’s always got something going on. Pauly D was briefly stalked, but aside from that and one confrontation with Angelina in season 2, he more or less just hangs out and has a good time.
What Happened?
Following Sammi’s departure from the Shore house she talks to her mother about what happened to make her leave the house. Her mother offers comfort, motherly encouragement and a shoulder to cry on. The sad thing is, Sammi will probably continue to feel as if she’s done nothing wrong, but the simple fact is, she did. She took Ronnie back. She held a grudge. Those two factors do not a happy relationship make. Advice for all you girls out there – if you can’t let go, you can’t go back. It won’t work. Men can make mistakes just as much as women can and they can be sorry. If they’re truly sorry, they won’t do it again. I think Ronnie was genuinely sorry. Their biggest problem after Miami? Sammi’s insecurity and the fact that she didn’t let go of what he did in the past. Again, I say – if you can’t let go of what happened, don’t take the guy back. You’re only going to make each other miserable. These two are the perfect example of that. Moving on from all that drama…
Things were more than a little depressing in the Shore house with Sammi gone and Ronnie all depressed so what’s the best way to deal with that? A prank war! Snooki and Deena got it started by throwing cake in Vinny’s face. Of course, the boy wasn’t going to stand for that and vowed revenge.
Well, you can’t blame Vinny for trying, but after his first attempt to retaliate against the girls blew up all over his shoes, Pauly D stepped in with a suggestion of his own – dog poop. More specifically, dog poop under the girls’ pillow. Classy, sure – but it’s Jersey Shore. Is anyone surprised?
Vinny bags the dog poop and attempts to hide it in the girls’ bedroom. He fails but in fairness, he only failed because Deena hid under the bed and saw him hiding the bag in the pillow case. The girls retaliate by putting the bag in the boys’ room. The boys are foiled again, but they’re not done trying.
Vinny probably would’ve been successful in pranking Snooki by stealing and (gasp!) hanging her favorite stuffed animal had it not been for Mike alerting her to the dirty dealings. To be fair, Mike didn’t really know what was going on and felt bad for Snooki.
Having been informed of her beloved croc’s whereabouts, she retrieves it and triumphantly carries it downstairs. When Vinny asks how Snooki knew where it is, Snooki, having no real obligation to Mike, completely rats him out. Vinny calls for a family meeting and demands to know why Mike ratted on him.
Mike laughs off the accusations that he ratted Vinny out; saying he didn’t know there was a prank war in effect. Vinny isn’t satisfied and redubs Mike ‘The Snitchuation’ for his heinous Bro-Code infraction. It wasn’t Mike’s only Bro-Code infraction in this episode and I’m sure there are many more in the coming episodes. Mike is his own guy. He tried to be a good friend, but I think he’s mainly concerned with doing his own thing. We’ll talk more about that in a moment. First, let’s catch up with Ronnie.
I think Ronnie did an admirable job of humoring Mike’s pep talk at the beginning of Thursday’s episode. It’s pretty clear to everyone – Ronnie included – that Mike is the last person who should be giving relationship advice. Granted, it wasn’t bad advice but it would’ve probably been better received coming from anyone else.
It’s always a little off putting when Mike tries to help people. It just doesn’t seem like the Mike we know and love to help. Luckily by the end of the episode, Mike was back to his normal self again, trying to get Pauly’s ex girlfriend to go home with him. Welcome back, Mike. We missed you.
It blows my mind that Ronnie would do anything nice for Sammi after the way they ended things. They clearly have no business being together. I guess, though. Love and all that. Anyway, Ronnie sent Sammi and her sister flowers, Sammi’s sister called to talk him and Sammi took the phone. There was a brief, awkward conversation. In the preview for next week’s show, Sammi says she’s returning to the Jersey Shore house. My first thought – good God, not this again!
Some of the best high lights of the show (aside from the prank war) had nothing to do with Sammi. Instead, they involved Deena’s constipation and her roommates teasing her about it. By the time they left the club, Deena felt like she’s nothing more than a joke in the house and said she wanted to go home. Jwoww rushed to her aid, but it was Ronnie that convinced her to say. It was nice to see the good side of Ronnie again. I fear that will disappear entirely when Sammi comes back.
Who owns the dirty panties that had everyone in an uproar? Judging by Deena’s reaction at the time and her meltdown at the end of the night, it’s safe to assume they’re hers, although Pauly’s revelation that his panties were like that, but red, made for a very amusing visual. I don’t know how anyone could possible not like Pauly. I absolutely adore him. He’s adorable.
What Can We Expect:
It’s Jersey Shore and Sammi’s coming back. That means more of her insane fighting with Ronnie and more of her self centered empty headedness. Deena’s probably going to provide more drunken amusement and more meltdowns. There will definitely be drama about Jwoww and Deena moving Sammi’s stuff into their room and not telling Ronnie. That’s just how this stuff goes down on ‘The Jersey Shore’.
Love Jersey Shore? Hate Jersey Shore? Let me know in the comments below!
