It wasn't all GTL and smushing.
It wasn't all GTL and smushing.
It wasn't all GTL and smushing.
In December 2009, the world was introduced to eight self-professed Guidos and Guidettes who signed up to live with one another for a summer on Seaside Heights on the Jersey Shore in New Jersey. It's been a bumpy ride for the castmates (and viewers) to say the least, as the never-ending drama unfolding each episode gifted us a swelling number of memes and quotables, starting with worshipping at the alter of fist-pumping and dodging grenades, all the way to the unforgettable one-liner from Samantha "Sammie" Sweatheart, "Rahn, stahp!" The early 2000s were a much simpler time, you and your friends lived and breathed this show and probably talked about it all the time while going to themed parties and using their famous lines in normal conversation. The show officially ended in 2012, after six seasons, and has a special place in the hearts of reality TV fans to this day. However, pop culture's favorite roommates returned after much demand to our screens earlier in April for one last go round—Jersey Shore Family Reunion. That's right, the gym-tan-laundry trio—Vinny Guadagnino,, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, and Paul "Pauly D" DelVecchio—as well as Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Jennifer "JWoww" Farley, Deena Nicole Cortese and Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino are back and the drama is just as crazy as you'd expect it to be. In honor of the Jersey Shore reboot, we sifted through the internet to uncover some of the secrets you didn't know about the Jersey Shore cast and the show itself.
That Rooftop Jacuzzi? Yeah, That Didn't Really Exist
In December 2009, the world was introduced to eight self-professed Guidos and Guidettes who signed up to live with one another for a summer on Seaside Heights on the Jersey Shore in New Jersey. It's been a bumpy ride for the castmates (and viewers) to say the least, as the never-ending drama unfolding each episode gifted us a swelling number of memes and quotables, starting with worshipping at the alter of fist-pumping and dodging grenades, all the way to the unforgettable one-liner from Samantha "Sammie" Sweatheart, "Rahn, stahp!" The early 2000s were a much simpler time, you and your friends lived and breathed this show and probably talked about it all the time while going to themed parties and using their famous lines in normal conversation. The show officially ended in 2012, after six seasons, and has a special place in the hearts of reality TV fans to this day. However, pop culture's favorite roommates returned after much demand to our screens earlier in April for one last go round—Jersey Shore Family Reunion. That's right, the gym-tan-laundry trio—Vinny Guadagnino,, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, and Paul "Pauly D" DelVecchio—as well as Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Jennifer "JWoww" Farley, Deena Nicole Cortese and Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino are back and the drama is just as crazy as you'd expect it to be. In honor of the Jersey Shore reboot, we sifted through the internet to uncover some of the secrets you didn't know about the Jersey Shore cast and the show itself.
That Rooftop Jacuzzi? Yeah, That Didn't Really Exist That Rooftop Jacuzzi?
Yeah, That Didn't Really Exist
If you're a big fan of the show, you know that the gang often hung out on the rooftop jacuzzi. There's nothing like a jacuzzi to set the passions of flame ablaze! Since the rooftop jacuzzi was on the roof, you probably assumed the jacuzzi was on the roof of the house they were staying at, right? WRONG! The real location of the rooftop jacuzzi was above the t-shirt store! Sorry to burst your bubble!
Producers Basically Wanted The Cast To Drink As Much As Possible
If you're a big fan of the show, you know that the gang often hung out on the rooftop jacuzzi. There's nothing like a jacuzzi to set the passions of flame ablaze! Since the rooftop jacuzzi was on the roof, you probably assumed the jacuzzi was on the roof of the house they were staying at, right? WRONG! The real location of the rooftop jacuzzi was above the t-shirt store! Sorry to burst your bubble!
Producers Basically Wanted The Cast To Drink As Much As Possible Producers Basically Wanted The Cast To Drink As Much As Possible
If you've watched even a few minutes of the show, you'll know that the cast was basically always drinking. It seems like this was basically the only thing the entire house did all the time. The show became famous for it's storylines involving drunken mishaps and general silliness and drama. This is exactly why fans loved it so much. The reason the cast drank so much was because that was one of the only activities the producers had green-lighted for the cast. Seems fair, that they would use this as a way to pass the time, especially since the show was about a group of people living together in the summertime.
The Cast Wasn't Allowed To Read, Listen To Music Or Watch TV
If you've watched even a few minutes of the show, you'll know that the cast was basically always drinking. It seems like this was basically the only thing the entire house did all the time. The show became famous for it's storylines involving drunken mishaps and general silliness and drama. This is exactly why fans loved it so much. The reason the cast drank so much was because that was one of the only activities the producers had green-lighted for the cast. Seems fair, that they would use this as a way to pass the time, especially since the show was about a group of people living together in the summertime.
The Cast Wasn't Allowed To Read, Listen To Music Or Watch TV The Cast Wasn't Allowed To Read, Listen To Music Or Watch TV
After Snooki spilled during an interview what rules the cast members had to follow while filming the show and living in the house, she mentioned they were not allowed to read or watch television. Sure, as absurd of a rule as it is, it makes some sense. Not allowing people to read or watch TV or be involved with fictional stories of any kind would force people to spend time together and really bond. So, when you're filming a reality show about people living in one house, that's exactly what's going to happen, making it the best TV out there. So not being able to read or watch TV doesn't sound SO awful, but imagine not being allowed to listen to music? Since everyone had to entertain themselves and each other, it makes sense why they were getting into dramatic situations all the time.
The Producers Had To Build a Wall Around The House Because of Fans
After Snooki spilled during an interview what rules the cast members had to follow while filming the show and living in the house, she mentioned they were not allowed to read or watch television. Sure, as absurd of a rule as it is, it makes some sense. Not allowing people to read or watch TV or be involved with fictional stories of any kind would force people to spend time together and really bond. So, when you're filming a reality show about people living in one house, that's exactly what's going to happen, making it the best TV out there. So not being able to read or watch TV doesn't sound SO awful, but imagine not being allowed to listen to music? Since everyone had to entertain themselves and each other, it makes sense why they were getting into dramatic situations all the time.
The Producers Had To Build a Wall Around The House Because of Fans The Producers Had To Build a Wall Around The House Because of Fans
When the show became incredibly popular, the show had to actually build a wall around the house in order to keep filming. This was probably to keep away all of the fans that were trying to break into the house during filming. Police officers had to also be at the house because of how dangerous it was with all the fans swarming it 24/7.
When the show became incredibly popular, the show had to actually build a wall around the house in order to keep filming. This was probably to keep away all of the fans that were trying to break into the house during filming. Police officers had to also be at the house because of how dangerous it was with all the fans swarming it 24/7.
Jersey Shore will go down as one of the most popular reality shows in history but if it weren't for a cable network switch, history could've turned out completely different. Jersey Shore producer SallyAnn Salsano revealed to Vulture that VH1 actually wanted to do a competition series centered on fit Guidos. After finding the first batch of participants—Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Jennifer "JWoww" Farley, Pauly "Pauly D" DelVecchio, and Angelina Pivarnick—the showrunners were ready but suddenly, the show got dropped from VH1 and picked up by MTV. "When it moved from VH1 to MTV, we wanted to make it a little bit younger, so we swapped one or two cast members out," Salsano told Vulture. Vinny Guadagnino and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro were the last additions.
Jersey Shore will go down as one of the most popular reality shows in history but if it weren't for a cable network switch, history could've turned out completely different. Jersey Shore producer SallyAnn Salsano revealed to Vulture that VH1 actually wanted to do a competition series centered on fit Guidos. After finding the first batch of participants—Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Jennifer "JWoww" Farley, Pauly "Pauly D" DelVecchio, and Angelina Pivarnick—the showrunners were ready but suddenly, the show got dropped from VH1 and picked up by MTV. "When it moved from VH1 to MTV, we wanted to make it a little bit younger, so we swapped one or two cast members out," Salsano told Vulture. Vinny Guadagnino and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro were the last additions.
Before Jersey Shore, it's safe to say no one (besides your grandparents) ever thought about having a duck phone in their homes. The Shore House duck phone has become synonymous with the series. When Salsano first approached the Shore Store and Shore House owner, Danny Merk, about the property, she wanted everything gone including the duck phone. However when the series began filming, someone accidentally left the phone in the house. "Now the duck phone is the national symbol of Jersey Shore," she told Vulture.
Before Jersey Shore, it's safe to say no one (besides your grandparents) ever thought about having a duck phone in their homes. The Shore House duck phone has become synonymous with the series. When Salsano first approached the Shore Store and Shore House owner, Danny Merk, about the property, she wanted everything gone including the duck phone. However when the series began filming, someone accidentally left the phone in the house. "Now the duck phone is the national symbol of Jersey Shore," she told Vulture.
42, to be exact. "There were 42 cameras inside the house, inside the Shore Store, and on the boardwalk," Salsano said. "In Seaside, we had them up and down the boardwalk, down to the Ferris wheel. We literally wired the entire town."
42, to be exact.
"There were 42 cameras inside the house, inside the Shore Store, and on the boardwalk," Salsano said. "In Seaside, we had them up and down the boardwalk, down to the Ferris wheel. We literally wired the entire town."
As the series was coming to an end, the lives of the castmates were changing. Snooki didn't want to return for the last season of Jersey Shore because she fulfilled her lifelong wish to "make Guido babies" and became pregnant with her first child with then-boyfriend (and now husband) Jionni LaValle. Instead of giving up on the show altogether, the producers rented a house right next door to the Shore House to separate her from the constant partying.
As the series was coming to an end, the lives of the castmates were changing. Snooki didn't want to return for the last season of Jersey Shore because she fulfilled her lifelong wish to "make Guido babies" and became pregnant with her first child with then-boyfriend (and now husband) Jionni LaValle. Instead of giving up on the show altogether, the producers rented a house right next door to the Shore House to separate her from the constant partying.
In an interview with V Magazine, Snooki once said that living in the Shore House almost felt like "being in jail for two months." "You can’t leave without a film crew with you,” she added. “If you want to leave, you have to tell them an hour before so they can get ready. There are no cell phones, no TV, and you can’t read. You can’t write or pass notes. You can’t listen to music, you can’t do anything."
In an interview with V Magazine, Snooki once said that living in the Shore House almost felt like "being in jail for two months." "You can’t leave without a film crew with you,” she added.
“If you want to leave, you have to tell them an hour before so they can get ready. There are no cell phones, no TV, and you can’t read. You can’t write or pass notes. You can’t listen to music, you can’t do anything."
When the cast signed up for the reality show, they had no control over their privacy and were only allowed to make one private phone call per week, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
When the cast signed up for the reality show, they had no control over their privacy and were only allowed to make one private phone call per week, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Salsano was on Jersey Shore watch 24/7. In an interview with ABC, Salsano admitted that she lived in an apartment above the Jersey Shore cast and kept tabs on them with a 14-feed video monitor.
Salsano was on Jersey Shore watch 24/7. In an interview with ABC, Salsano admitted that she lived in an apartment above the Jersey Shore cast and kept tabs on them with a 14-feed video monitor.
The Jersey Shore cast made a lot of money over the course of the six-season series but they had to pay their dues first. Speaking with Vulture, Vinny said the crew worked for free during the first season despite many of them leaving school and their jobs to appear on the show. The only money they made came from their job shifts at Danny's Shore Store.
The Jersey Shore cast made a lot of money over the course of the six-season series but they had to pay their dues first. Speaking with Vulture, Vinny said the crew worked for free during the first season despite many of them leaving school and their jobs to appear on the show. The only money they made came from their job shifts at Danny's Shore Store.
After making chump change for their inaugural season, the cast returned for season two with new storylines and a big pay raise. According to reports, some of the cast members pocketed a cool $10,000 per episode.
After making chump change for their inaugural season, the cast returned for season two with new storylines and a big pay raise. According to reports, some of the cast members pocketed a cool $10,000 per episode.
Deena Cortese didn't make her formal introduction to the series until season three but she originally auditioned for a spot on the cast before the show began filming season one. Deena had to forfeit her spot on the original cast because her grandmother became ill.
Deena Cortese didn't make her formal introduction to the series until season three but she originally auditioned for a spot on the cast before the show began filming season one. Deena had to forfeit her spot on the original cast because her grandmother became ill.
Oh, hadn't you heard? Reality TV isn't always "real." During the season four trip to Italy, Snooki got into an accident with a police car and sported a neck brace due to her injury. However, the police officers she collided with were actually members of the security team hired for the cast members' safety.
Oh, hadn't you heard? Reality TV isn't always "real." During the season four trip to Italy, Snooki got into an accident with a police car and sported a neck brace due to her injury. However, the police officers she collided with were actually members of the security team hired for the cast members' safety.
The Jersey Shore stars traded in their New Jersey beach house for an apartment in Florence for season four. The apartment was actually a bank before MTV decided to shoot there.
The Jersey Shore stars traded in their New Jersey beach house for an apartment in Florence for season four. The apartment was actually a bank before MTV decided to shoot there.
The cast was still filming season four in Italy when Salsano greenlit a fifth season of Jersey Shore. Instead of telling the cast right away, Salsano withheld the information until MTV was ready to go public with the official press release because she knew her decision wouldn't sit well with the cast. "They're gonna hate me," she told The Hollywood Reporter at the time. The new season meant the cast wouldn't get a resting period between season four and season five and would begin shooting as soon as they touched down in the states.
The cast was still filming season four in Italy when Salsano greenlit a fifth season of Jersey Shore. Instead of telling the cast right away, Salsano withheld the information until MTV was ready to go public with the official press release because she knew her decision wouldn't sit well with the cast. "They're gonna hate me," she told The Hollywood Reporter at the time. The new season meant the cast wouldn't get a resting period between season four and season five and would begin shooting as soon as they touched down in the states.
The Shore Houseehas seen more parties and alcohol than most beach houses in the area. According to a local New Jersey real estate site, the popular vacation home was up for grabs (temporarily) for fans of the show who wanted to host their own Jersey Shore-style rager.
The Shore Houseehas seen more parties and alcohol than most beach houses in the area. According to a local New Jersey real estate site, the popular vacation home was up for grabs (temporarily) for fans of the show who wanted to host their own Jersey Shore-style rager.
Sadly, Pauly D didn't end up finding love on the shore but he found love elsewhere. In 2013, the DJ found out he's the father of a baby girl.
Sadly, Pauly D didn't end up finding love on the shore but he found love elsewhere. In 2013, the DJ found out he's the father of a baby girl.
If Jersey Shore hadn't worked out so well for Vinny, he would've pursued a career in law. "My score was decent. I had a plan that if my score was really well, then I might of just went to Yale or Harvard… But it was just mediocre. I can get into law school," he told US Weekly. "I had a 3.9 GPA, Latin Honors, but I'm doing this right now. Law school is always on the back burner."
If Jersey Shore hadn't worked out so well for Vinny, he would've pursued a career in law.
"My score was decent. I had a plan that if my score was really well, then I might of just went to Yale or Harvard… But it was just mediocre. I can get into law school," he told US Weekly. "I had a 3.9 GPA, Latin Honors, but I'm doing this right now. Law school is always on the back burner."
After Jersey Shore disbanded in 2012, the cast went on to live their separate lives—in front and out of the spotlight. According to Wet Paint, Angelina reportedly went back to school and became an emergency medical technician. However, she does return to the Jersey Shore Family Reunion reboot to settle a feud with The Situation.
After Jersey Shore disbanded in 2012, the cast went on to live their separate lives—in front and out of the spotlight. According to Wet Paint, Angelina reportedly went back to school and became an emergency medical technician. However, she does return to the Jersey Shore Family Reunion reboot to settle a feud with The Situation.
Ronnie kept his fit figure in tact all six seasons of Jersey Shore. As his fellow cast members turned their Jersey Shore fame into fulltime jobs, Ronnie entered the world of wrestling with an Impact Wrestling debut in 2011.
Ronnie kept his fit figure in tact all six seasons of Jersey Shore. As his fellow cast members turned their Jersey Shore fame into fulltime jobs, Ronnie entered the world of wrestling with an Impact Wrestling debut in 2011.
Sammi will forever be known as "Sammi Sweetheart" and she's seemingly okay with that. The woman who blessed the world with the famous "Rahn, stahp" line launched her own (now defunct) clothing line called Sweetheart Styles. Only downside? There wasn't a "Rahn, stahp" t-shirt in sight.
Sammi will forever be known as "Sammi Sweetheart" and she's seemingly okay with that. The woman who blessed the world with the famous "Rahn, stahp" line launched her own (now defunct) clothing line called Sweetheart Styles. Only downside? There wasn't a "Rahn, stahp" t-shirt in sight.