J-Wow! MTV's hit Jersey Shore is a reality TV show worthy of rewatching

During MTV's most controversial prime time in the early 2000s, a show would emerge that would take over the New Jersey shore (and world) with an uncontrollable storm. A reality show that behaved more as a documentary to others; exploring the life of the most strong willed Guido's during a summer at the shore. In 2009, MTV created a brand new beast: Jersey Shore.

2009 introduced the world to a culture that had not yet properly been explored, the surface of Italian-American culture had only been skimmed. While Jersey Shore was a cultural phenomena of its time with an addictive rewatch ability it, like most of MTV's work at the time, was not without its flaws. The top form cast where the most tanned, poufed and DTF townies from across the US and with this came a plethora of phobias. The Guido lingo alone stood as a staple of fatphobia: "grenade" often exclaimed by the likes of Snookie, JWoww, and Mike "The Situation" was used to describe ugly or unattractive people (usually with a more attractive friend). Usually, to the cast the criteria for being a grenade was to be 'fat' and sexually promiscuous. While the show was certainly not flawless, this problematic nature often makes it rewatchable because, to most, this mindset is so far removed that it becomes fascinating to see it actually in motion.

In a similar string of thought; these strong-willed Italian-Americans had little to no shame in the life they lived down on the shore. Routines like GTL (Gym, Tanning, Laundry), nights out at Karma, Meatball days (drinking from dusk till dawn), and pursuing every person possibly DTF. Several aspects of the Jersey Shore lifestyle are appealing to viewers, creating a perfect recipe to rewatch over again. The constant spiralling of Meatball days and Karma nights is an expensive lifestyle, unattainable yet interesting. The formula of Jersey Shore undoubtedly lets people live vicariously through the cast; each episode filled with screaming matches, sex, and drinking beyond comprehension. A summer at the shore was, for most, a dream so far away and MTV brought it to the comfort of our homes.

Overall, Jersey Shore was a phenomena of it's time, never truly replicated even in it's reboot 'Jersey Shore: Family Vacation'. MTV perfectly studied and shared the unattainable Guido livelihood for millions to see.