Eight Guidos and Guidettes, the beach, a bar called “Karma” and a plot driven by drunken hook-up attempts, what more could you want?
Not much, apparently. Between its debut Dec. 3 and its fourth episode last week, the audience for MTV’s new Jersey Shore series has grown from 1.4 million to 2.5 million, according to TVbytheNumbers.com.
Cast members were guests of Conan, Leno and Jimmy Kimmel last week. SNL spoofed the show Saturday night. Ashton Kutcher has gushed that Jersey Shore is “blowing my mind” and acknowledged that he’s a “huge fan.”
The series has also attracted its share of critics, especially among tourism officials and members of Italian-American organizations.
The show follows the lives of a group of twenty-somethings — all self-identified “Guidos” and “Guidettes” — sharing a bungalow in Seaside Heights, N.J.
As one of them explains: “I was born and raised a ‘Guido.’ It’s just a lifestyle. It’s being Italian, it’s representing, um, friends, family, tanning, [hair] gel, everything.”
Not necessarily in that order, we’d guess. We’re pretty sure tanning or hair gel would come first.
While the show’s Facebook fan base is rapidly growing (poised to break 200,000 when we last checked), a group called “MTV’s ‘Jersey Shore’ is a Disgrace to the Jersey Shore and its Inhabitants” had also picked up almost 70,000 fans.
“If everyone just stopped watching the show, it just might go away,” one suggested.
Not likely. One reason for its popularity seems to be that it appeals both to people who hate to love it and to those who love to hate it.
As one woman tweeted, “Jersey Shore iz tha most ridiculous show; but itz so addicting.”
The next new episode airs 10 p.m. New Year’s Eve.
