If you thought HBO’s “The Sopranos” blistered New Jersey’s reputation, then get a load of MTV’s “Jersey Shore,” a reality TV show depicting the sexual exploits, fights and fist pumps of a group of twentysomething self-proclaimed “guidos” at a beach house in Seaside Heights, N.J.
Harmless, right?
Well, since the show’s debut, it has seen boycotts initiated by the National Italian American Federation, UNICO International and the Order of Sons of Italy in America. Advertisers including Domino’s, Dell and American Family Insurance have dropped their spots.
Now lawmakers are up in arms, with the New Jersey Italian American Legislative Caucus chairman, state Sen. Joseph Vitale, requesting MTV’ s parent company, Viacom, pull the plug on a show he referred to Wednesday as “wildly offensive” and promoting ethnic stereotypes. The lawmaker has also asked that advertisers boycott the show.
MTV told the Associated Press it had no intention to stereotype or offend.
Right. …
