Giving a Left Hook to Snook

Here's "The Situation". Snookie, J-WoWW, and some other self-proclaimed "guidos" and "guidettes" walk into a bar. A little girl yells at a drunk NY teacher who's stealing their drinks... And while there's no punch-line here, there was however, a punch.

Do you watch MTV's "The Jersey Shore?" Clearly I do. I watched Snookie take that punch in the face and like the rest of the viewing world, I was appalled - and not just by everyone's poor use of grammar. But since MTV has started airing this series and since they have played (and constantly replayed) that teaser, they've been getting a ton of backlash, including 3 (so far) sponsors pulling their ads from being aired during the show. Additionally, according to Associated Press, The New Jersey Italian American Legislative Caucus is requesting that MTV cancel the show, calling it "wildly offensive" and claiming it "promotes derogatory ethnic stereotypes". New Jersey tourism officials are even angry at the show. Call me crazy, but I see something else going on here and it has nothing to do with MTV or this show: Welcome to the east coast.

As far as I can see, this show is perhaps the most fair and accurate representation of approximately 85% of Long Island and New Jersey people. In fact, rather than call this a reality show, MTV should be calling it a documentary.

I think NJ is just embarrassed, and I have a hard time believing that tourism would decrease due to the show's alleged stereotype. And by the way - what stereotypes? Do you really think that we believe all Italian Americans are like this? Or perhaps it is a bad thing that "guidos" are being recognized as deeply populating the NY/NJ areas - are "guidos" then being stereotyped? So that makes it a true stereotype, right? Listen tourism people in NJ, do you realize this may actually increase business for you? Here's a tip: know your clientele. If you know anything about those who are impressed by watching The Jersey Shore, you'll know that tourism this summer will probably be your busiest to date. Why? Because while some of us watch in awe or in horror, others are actually relating to these people.

On that note, let's look at some things that I believe are going unnoticed by the show's critics. First, none of these idiots from the show punched lil Snookie. It was a NY high school gym teacher, and this douchebag had nothing to do with the show. It was graphic and disturbing, but what happened afterwards was more comforting - everyone wanted to kick his ass. Yup, did we forget something about the Jersey Shore cast? They went after him following the sucker punch. I'll tell you one thing, I know plenty of guys who aren't considered "guidos" and I doubt they would have had the balls to go after that shithead like the "guidos" did. Jersey Shore cast has muscles and showed them outside the hot tub for once - and for that, I applaud them.

Here's another thing critics, I don't know why you are offended - I'll tell you exactly who should be offended here : people like myself.

Why is that? I'll tell you why. Because I'm NOT like the cast members, but I have to live in a world amongst them. I have to smell their cologne 2 blocks away. I have to feel their sweat drops fly off their biceps on the dancefloor. I have to hear them talk with a terrible "accent", and quite frankly, I am the one stereotyped as being one of them simply by my living on Long Island. But you don't see me boycotting Armani Exchange, and you don't hear me asking stores to stop selling hair gel.

I will say this. Being far enough away (or at least hiding in my home) so that my only real access to them is when I watch them on TV, is comforting. For now I will remain part of the minority that isn't Long Island/New Jersey "guido"-status, but will remain part of the majority being entertained by them.