Atlantic City Weekly

Maybe it’s the constant fist pumping or all that hair gel.

Maybe it’s the names the self-proclaimed Guidos and Guidettes dub themselves such as J-WOWW, Snooki and The Situation. Or it could be that apparently the cast of MTV’s controversial, but wildly successful Jersey Shore can’t get through a one-hour episode without someone taking a swing at somebody else — other cast members, strangers, whatever.

But the mere mention of the name of the show seems to be having an unusual effect on people who actually live at the Jersey Shore.

For example, start a little rumor that the show, set in Ocean County’s Seaside Heights (decidedly “North Jersey” from an Atlantic City perspective), may be moving down the Parkway to Sea Isle City for a second season and press releases start to fly.

The show is definitely not moving down here, screamed releases from Sea Isle Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio. We paraphrase, of course, but reportedly, the rumor prompted so many angry calls to Sea Isle City officials that Desiderio felt he had to move fast to quash the scuttlebutt.

And it’s not like Seaside Heights officials have exactly embraced the show. Shortly after the show premiered in December the borough released a statement saying they did not “solicit, promote or participate in the filming of this show.” The show has widely been panned by Italian-American groups, shore tourism groups, anti-domestic violence groups and any number of people upset that a cast of eight people, only one of whom is actually from New Jersey, have joined Tony Soprano as a pop culture symbol for the state (by the way, it’s Sammi Sweetheart who is from Hazlet Township in Monmouth County).

Yet, despite it all, Jenni J-WOWW, Mike “The Situation,” Nicole “Snooki,” DJ Pauly D, Sammi “Sweetheart,” Ronnie, Vinny and even Angelina who only lasted a couple of episodes (apparently folding T-shirts was too taxing) are stars. The group just signed for a second season of the show, though exactly how that second season would play out is unclear. Reports have the original cast moving to a new location (Miami seems to be the frontrunner) in a spinoff, while a new cast of buff boys and girls would go back to Seaside Heights or some other Jersey Shore town.

According to reports, the original cast members wanted $10,000 an episode for a second season and more importantly, plenty of time to appear at nightclubs and make other special appearances where they are apparently cashing in.

In fact, Mike and Pauly D are scheduled to appear at Trump Taj Mahal’s Casbah nightclub Saturday, Feb 13. Not surprisingly, Mike Sorrentino’s (“The Situation”) appearance has led to a scheduled best abs contest and hot body contest.

All this means that it’s pretty clear that Jersey Shore isn’t going anywhere soon, despite its critics. So if your job is to promote the shore, you just have to take it with a grain of salt.

“I’m a big believer in the idea that any press is good press,” says Jeffrey Vasser, executive director of the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority. “And there’s no question this show is getting the Jersey Shore name out there. I’ve never actually seen the show, but if there are some negative aspects being portrayed, we just have to work to counter that image.”

Negative aspects? Well, consider that in one episode, the cast took a road trip to Atlantic City and wound up partying at The Quarter’s Providence nightclub. All in all, it was a good shout out for the city and the Tropicana. Especially since J-WOWW, after a disagreement with The Situation in the club, had the discretion not to punch Mike in the mouth until they were back in the privacy of their room. Of course, that also meant the A.C.P.D. didn’t get to make an appearance in the show (the show’s security personnel handled the incident), unlike the Seaside Heights police, who were practically regulars this season.

But then that’s the fickle nature of fame.

Still, with a second season on the way, don’t be surprised this summer if one day you’re sitting in an Atlantic City nightclub or bar and a new Jersey Shore cast confronts you with film crew in tow.

Just be ready to duck.