The self-proclaimed “Princess of Poughkeepsie” might be what attracted some of Marist’s viewers. If that didn’t get you to watch, than the fist pumping at clubs, naked people in a hot tub, and girls getting punched in the face might have done it. Its car-crash television at its best; it is horrifying, but just impossible not to look at.
Essentially, the show is based on MTV’s “Real World” where eight strangers are put into a house to live together. The exception is that these strangers don’t have varying ethnic backgrounds, senses of style, or values- they all are Italian-American, think fake tanning is essential, and love to party.
The Marist community has an added attraction. Nicole Polizzi, aka “Snookie,” is from Marlboro, NY, just outside of Poughkeepsie.
Nicole Polizzi, aka Snookie, on the "Jersey Shore"
In the season’s premiere, Snookie made us all proud by getting too drunk and entering the hot tub in just her bra and thong underwear.
This was just after she told everyone she was the “Princess of Poughkeepsie.”
Darrell Ann Smith, a junior at Marist College, and a New Jersey native, watches the show purely for entertainment. She does not, however, enjoy the stigma that is being created. “The show doesn’t just make New Jersey look bad. It makes Italians look bad. It even makes Poughkeepsie look bad,” she said.
The show premiered on Thursday, December 3rd, and is now receiving media attention for being “racist” because the housemates refer to themselves as “giudos” and “guidettes.”
André DiMino, president of Unico National, an Italian-American service organization, said to The New York Times:
“Their behavior is reprehensible and demeaning in all respects. I don’t see any redeeming value in the show. They are an embarrassment to themselves and to their families.”
Both Dominoes Pizza and American Family Insurance have dropped their advertisement time during the show, according to The New York Post.
Many Marist students watch because they believe the show illustrates some of their New Jersey native peers. Thomas Alaimo, a junior at Marist said that “guidos” do exist at Marist. “They may not be the typical person sitting next to you in your 400 level sociology class, but they are most likely that person starting a fight with you in the line of hatters,” he said.
An MTV spokesperson told ABCNews.com:
“We understand that this show is not intended for every audience and depicts just one aspect of youth culture. Our intention was never to stereotype, discriminate, or offend.”
