On August 4, MTV’s Jersey Shore gang will take their GTL adventures overseas for a much-publicized trip to the motherland — that is, Florence, Italy. In the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, guest columnist and Jersey Shore exec producer Sallyann Salsano writes about the culture clash that ensued, including car accidents, crying, and lots of cobblestone wipeouts. Check out an excerpt after the jump.
If you know anything about me, it’s this: I’m up for a challenge. As a result, I happily took on the dare that MTV put in front of me: Take eight kids whose main concerns are fighting, smushing, and fist-pumping on the road to Florence, Italy. Now, I grant you that this was a daunting task, as most Americans don’t understand the Jersey Shore kids, never mind a bunch of Italians who don’t speak English — but like I said, I enjoy a good challenge.
To be honest, at first I figured this would be pretty easy. I came up with what I thought would be a good plan. Step 1: As soon as we got to Italy I’d just explain, “Listen, this is a tight-knit group of friends, they happen to be Italian just like you lovely people, and they’re planning a vacation to the motherland.” Seems kind of tame and harmless, no? Step 2: I would introduce them by their proper names, and by that of course I mean “Snooki,” “Situation,” “J-Woww,” and “Sammi Sweetheart,” all of which I assumed would be fairly common names in Italy. Step 3: I would then explain that they are all very interested in education and as a result they would like to visit and learn about the Italian culture — ya know, tanning salons, nail salons, Laundromats, nightclubs, bars, limoncello, and pizza.
Despite my easy-to-follow plan, things did not get off to a good start. The more I tried to tell our new Italian friends that these kids would figure it out for themselves if you just pointed them in the direction of a tanning bed, a gym, or a club with insanely loud beats, the more they offered up options that are the typical “must-see” places for visitors. Everyone in the city seemed to think I should be showing these kids statues, paintings, sculptures, museums, churches, fancy restaurants, bridges, historic ruins, and architecture. Apparently they haven’t seen the show.
It was at this point that I decided to stop using the language barrier as a problem and instead use it to my advantage. I’m fairly confident everyone there thought I was just not understanding what they were telling me, so that became the new plan. Let’s just say I started nodding and smiling a lot. This new attitude resulted in pretty much what I expected: 50 straight days and nights of car accidents, clubbing, fights, random sex between cast members, screaming, crying, gelato, and, of course, tons of pizza.
To read Sallyann’s entire column, pick up the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, on sale now.
A friend was in Italy while they were filming. One night during dinner, he and his wife saw a crowd forming nearby and walked over to see what was happening. Turned out, Snooki was being filmed while she was shopping. Here’s the kicker – my friend told me they had CUE CARDS off-camera for Snooks!?! They were feeding her the lines. That’s right, folks – all this “reality TV” nonsense is totally SCRIPTED…
Dun, Dun, DUUUUUUNNNN!
(Not exactly breaking news.)
I just can’t believe someone is writing cue cards that say such stupid lines.
And while I wasn’t naive enough to believe that there wasn’t some leading by the producers, I feel a little betrayed having laughed at Snooki’s ‘Vinnie/watermelon/pinhole’ line now knowing it was probably written by some 50 year old man.
Oh I don’t know…I’m actually amused by the fact that some sat down and wrote, “I need a mind condom… because I’m being mind f—ed.”
At the time, I thought it seemed odd for Ronnie to say something so clever and funny. And it made me think he was clever and funny. But our love was a lie.
Now, some IS scripted, but not all of it. Would they really script Pauly D yelling in the background? SOME stuff IS scripted, but MOST of it is NOT. Trust me, my best friends dad’s cousin has a sister that helps produce that show.
Your best friends dad’s cousin has a sister that helps produce that show?
My sister’s husband’s best friend’s mom is sleeping with the guy who’s dating the sister of a guy who caters it. And he says it’s all real. Since he’s so close to me, I totally trust him.
Not that shocked tbh.
That is not the most amazing thing. The most amazing thing is that Snooki can read.
I don’t believe this. No way. Not because she’s too smart, but because it’s just really doubtful.
So that means sammy is not a sick biach? Did she read cards Too? She is so sick and needs to leave Ron alone. She has issues for sure geez grow up girl stop acting like your 16.She makes me sick no wonder why Ronnie did what he did. He should leave her in the dust.
Guest columnist? Really? Ugh.
Eight “kids”? Really? Some of them have hit 30. Immaturity levels aside, can we stop calling these people “kids”?
Whose to say none of them wanted to see a statue or go to a fancy restaurant?
But this article was pretty much pointless. Absolutely nothing was accomplished with this.
Sallyann Salsano has described herself as being a Snooki, all grown up…so consider the source. :/
that funny cause i live in seaside and my house is three doors away from where they filmed Jersey shores and every summer i go with my family and the summer that i was there i never saw cue cards any where. plus when u see the show automatically u can tell if they are reading of cue cards or not you friends a lier.
“you friends a lier”
Yeahhh…so I’m going to go with Tom on this one.
agreed while the show is a lot of things I do not think “scripted” is one of them lol I am down there every year in August and never have i seena cue card lol drunken beligerence YES cue card notttt so much..
Snooki and J Woww aren’t Italian.
With the large amount of hair they carry, they sure seem like it.
Actually Snooki is the only person on the cast with no Italian blood. J Woww is half Puerto Rican
That photo was taken in the Piazza della Repubblica in the center of Florence. I stayed in a hotel on that square while I was there. Florence is such a beautiful city!
What a story!!
Honestly if they write cue cards or not does it really matter. It’s the people who don’t like the show that make a big deal about it. If you like the show it doesn’t really matter.
I <3 Jersey Shore
I love the show. Love it.
You can tell most of the scenes are natural, which is why it’s so obvious when they actually are doing something that’s “scripted.”
lol it is hilarious that one random commenter on ew.com says they read off cue cards.. or says her friend says that they read off cue cards and all of a sudden its true.. not that i am a huge jersey shore apologist, but if you watch the show and other reality shows its quite obvious its not scripted.. or barely scripted. def no cue cards. fools
You have got to be kidding!! If you are the one running J.S,, Bachelorette, Kardashians, etc (and therefore making tons of money), are you really going to just let it all play out and HOPE that it’s exciting, outrageous, dramatic??? NO WAY. There are millions of dollars on the line and none of the show-runners are going to leave it to chance. Every season has to be more outrageous than the last or viewers change the channel to any one of the other “reality” messes. It’s all about manipulation and making sure that the viewers tune in for more and more pretend drama. Don’t tell me the producers on all these shows aren’t suggesting, goading, baiting, or flat out DEMANDING that the ‘action’ meet their expectations. Lose the fake, manipulated drama and lose your meal ticket – ain’t going to happen. It’s all scripted and none of it is “real”.
Jersey Shore is not fake! I don’t think you can fake someone getting punched in the face! Plus the fights are too messy and realistic to be fake! I <3 Jersey Shore and JWoww!!!
Me and my wife were in florence when they were and it was so ridiculous. We saw them a few times and one of the times they were shooting leaving scenes with packed suitcases days before they actually left. And I know this because we saw the same guys days later. And on top of that they had random people come up to them acting like they were saying goodbye. which of course they weren’t. I saw all of this with my own eyes. It may not be word for word scripted but they definitely have a shooting schedule to get what they need.
I’d say a good 50 percent of the show is completely fabricated. Does that make it any less addicting to watch? No. Unfortunately, I will be one of the many tuning in August 4th. Except maybe now I’ll pay more attention to where their eyes are looking.
I saw them filming in Jersey (a few weeks ago) and they did not have cue cards but the crew did make them get back into cars they had just gotten out of and then get out again. They were also not allowed to wave to anyone b/c they are under contract and its a show – they are being paid a lot of money so they have to do what the crew asks of them… not totally reality but a guilty pleasure none-the-less.
Okay. I was in Florence during the time they were visiting. I was visiting my sister when i saw them. The show is not scrpited. They speak their minds 99% of the time. The only thing that is scripted is when they have to move to certain places or when they tell them (the cast) to stand here or there. Also, like what KITTY said they are not allowed to wave or socialize with anyone unless the crew allowed them to do so. Maybe some things are scripted but, not every thing. So I think people nedd to get over this whole scripted, non-scripted crap. There’s nothing we can do about so..let’s all move on with our lives.
obviously its scripted….. you actually think they remember what happens in the night outs? they have hang overs and dont remember a thing. the writers write up what they say while saying it to the camera..