14 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘Jersey Shore’

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13. How it all came to be

Originally Jersey Shore was going to be a competition show on VH1 that highlighted the guido lifestyle. Executive producer SallyAnn Salsano, who spent many summers at the Jersey Shore, altered the concept and a documentary style show was created. While casting, the network was searching for “candor, honesty, boldness and a very combustible, chaotic mess. You could honestly say none of these people were traditionally beautiful.”

(Photo by Andrew Marks/PictureGroup)

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12. The Faked Fights

While shooting their third season in Italy, Vinny Guadagnino and Pauly DelVecchio were spotted planning a fight scene at a restaurant. They decided the lighting was best under a streetlamp, and once the camera crew told them they got the shot, the brawling boys walked off.

(Photo by Andrew Marks/PictureGroup)

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11. The Audition Flunky

Deena Nicole Cortese auditioned for Jersey Shore when casting was underway for the first season. She was rejected, while bestie Nicole Polizzi made the cut. When Angelina Pivarnick walked away for the second time during the second season after getting into a fight with Polizzi and Michael Sorrentino, Deena was brought in to fill the spot.

Photo by Erik Pendzich/Rex / Rex Features

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10. The Dancer

While filming Jersey Shore, Michael Sorrentino competed in another reality series, Dancing with the Stars, in 2010. He was eliminated in the fourth week. This must have been a letdown, since Sorrentino used to be an exotic dancer and member of the group All American Male. He even made appearances at bachelorette parties.

Adam Larkey / ©ABC / Courtesy Everett Collection

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9. The Socks Give Her Away

During the epic fight scene between Jenni Farley (Jwoww) and Angelina Pivarnick, it is obvious the battle was done in several takes as Jwoww is wearing white socks in part of the battle, then she is barefoot, and surprise, her socks are back on by the end.

(Manny Hernandez/PictureGroup)

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8. The Hills

The scene where Nicole Polizzi (Snooki) gets punched went viral and other reality TV shows wanted to replicate that scene for their own ratings. Spencer Pratt on The Hills was asked by producers to punch his sister Stephanie, but he refused.

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7. The Car Accident

In Italy, Snooki got her international driver’s license revoked when she crashed into another vehicle while driving. She actually hit the show’s police escort and sent the officers to the hospital. There are rumors that the whole thing was staged.

(Photo by Jeff Daly/MTV/PictureGroup)

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6. Working 9 to 5

While cruising in Italy, the Jersey Shore gang is working at O’Vesuvio pizzeria. But there are reports that MTV rented the place and all the customers are extras who are paid with pizza.

(Photo by Jeff Daly/MTV/PictureGroup)

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5. Access Denied

Originally, Florence’s mayor Matteo Renzi did not want anyone from the show filming in their world famous museums. In order to get access, MTV had to donate to the Florentine Cultural Fund.

(Photo by Jeff Daly/MTV/PictureGroup)

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4. The Spoiled Surprise

Several of the Jersey Shore cast members claim to have Italian ancestry and planned on surprising their ancestors while touring Italy. No surprises were had as family members were contacted in advance to sign waivers and get permits.

(Photo by Jeff Daly/MTV/PictureGroup)

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3. Living with Big Brother Watching

When explaining what it’s like to live with cameras everywhere and have your every move being watched, Nicole Polizzi said: “That’s why we go crazy. That’s why we fight with each other. That’s why we drink. We’re living in a house for two months with that shit. We can’t have cellphones, TV, radio or the Internet. If the president died, we’d have no idea. There’s no normalcy. It’s just like prison, with cameras.”

Photo by MediaPunch / Rex Features

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2. The Imposters

MTV’s Jersey Shore has inspired several other countries to create similar shows including The Valleys located in Wales, Geordie Shore set in England, Gandi Shore shot in Spain, and Acapulco Shore filmed in Mexico. All around the world, there are wannabe guidos and guidettes.

Press Association

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1. How Vinny Became A Guido

Vinny Guadagnino had recently graduated from the State University of New York at New Paltz and was thinking about law school if he couldn’t make it as an actor. When asked how he got on the show, Guadagnino said, “A friend of mine sent me an application asking for the orangest, muscley, spiky-haired people that go down to the Jersey shore. As a joke, I sent in the application. I was anti- what they were looking for.”

Photo by MediaPunch / Rex Features