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'Jersey Shore:' What is Show's Lasting Impact on NJ?

Did MTV's raucous reality show change national perceptions of the Garden State?

 

MTV's Jersey Shore may soon be history, but will images of drunken misbehavior, boardwalk brawls and ample helpings of "gym, tan, laundry" characterize the Garden State for years to come?

On Thursday, MTV announced the show would not return after its sixth season, taped this summer in Seaside Heights, airs this fall.

But what is the lasting impact of the TV series that many say put the worst of the state's stereotypes on display for millions of viewers across the world?

Were the antics of the eight housemates on Ocean Terrace just a few young people having fun, or has it done permanent damage to the state's reputation?

  • What is the long-term impact of MTV's 'Jersey Shore' on the state?

    (Voting has been closed for this question)
    • It's just a TV show! We have nothing to worry about as a state.
        13 (11%)
    • Some people may believe the stereotypes, but the damage will end when the show does.
        8 (7%)
    • The show embarassed us on an international stage, and we'll be a punchline for years to come.
        46 (42%)
    • Who cares either way! We're from Jersey—and proud of it no matter what went on in some reality show!
        42 (38%)
    Total votes: 109
  • Your vote will only count once. This is not a scientific poll. View Results Vote!
Related Topics: Jersey Shore and MTV

Uncle Moe

10:19 am on Friday, August 31, 2012

An influx of immature, bad influences that are poisoning the minds of our youth. Good riddance, and please, stay in New York. The "jersey shore" is ruined by stigma and stereotype now, because of these clowns.

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Katnypp

10:34 am on Friday, August 31, 2012

Boy, you said it! They have NOTHING to do with the real Jersey Shore. In fact, if you grew up here, they were always a "joke" to us locals. Glad to see them go. Not sure why Snooki and JWow are in Manchester, that's mainly retired folks no??

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GNOBIE01

11:03 am on Friday, August 31, 2012

COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT BETTER....THESE FOOLS ARE FINALLY GONE!!!!OOOOOH...RAAHHHH!!!!!!

jp1

10:35 am on Friday, August 31, 2012

All the trash should stay in Staten Island.

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2much2say

10:37 am on Friday, August 31, 2012

Seaside was long damaged before these characters
Showed up. I'm happy they're leaving but stop putting all the blame on them. Get the drugs off the streets and help
the homeless, and the women turning tricks for their next fix. The gang bangers that hang on the BW all summer long.
Im just sayin' stop blaming the kids well grown adults.

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Linda Sadlouskos

10:39 am on Friday, August 31, 2012

Hmm, Snookie has baby, gets fired. Job discrimination against new mom?
And isn't a bit ironic she finally moves from NY to NJ, and then "Jersey Shore" gets canceled? Wonder what their job options are after this...

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GNOBIE01

11:06 am on Friday, August 31, 2012

I WOULD OFFER AN OPINION BUT TO DO SO WOULD INSULT THOSE HARD WORKERS DOING THE JOBS NOW....WON'T DO THAT....JUST SAY...THERE WON'T BE MUCH FOR THESE CLOWNS TO DO...NO TALENT TRASH!!!

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Me

11:40 am on Friday, August 31, 2012

Yeah. Linda's right. Bring the show back and put some drinks in Snooki's hand with the baby right beside her! SCREW RESPONSIBILITY! Right, Linda? I'm with ya!! PARTY!!!!

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DennyD

1:50 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

Monica Lewinsky could probably give them some ideas.

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Tommy

11:26 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012

Job options????she already has another show. Don't act like you wanted take a quick million to be filmed drinking with your friends. If she manages her money right she'll never have to work. Don't hate.

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Chathams Own

9:47 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Jobs? They are all millionaires from this garbage. They will never need to work again.

Baba O'Riley

10:51 am on Friday, August 31, 2012

Glad it is over! Hopefully it will not be seen in re-runs!

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Ken

11:28 am on Friday, August 31, 2012

Thankfully it is finally over, but please get rid of all spin offs, especially that jwow and snooki show. They are probably the two trashiest of the bunch. I heard they both have homes in NJ now, please sell them and go back to NY where yo belong. We don't want you or your show here.

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Steve

11:41 am on Friday, August 31, 2012

I don't know, I was doing what they are doing now over 20 years ago down seaside when I spend the summer there, except my friends and I were not on a reality TV show. All the show did was highlight what young 20 something year olds have been doing for years down there from CT, PA, NJ, NY. Sure it is just one view point of what happens there but no one would watch a show about families just enjoying the beach.

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Leslie Bianczik

11:51 am on Friday, August 31, 2012

Exactly. And does this show really hurt the image of NJ any worse than the image it's had for decades of stinking, smoking refineries on the Turnpike?

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Denise

11:59 am on Friday, August 31, 2012

I agree with Steve & Leslie, all they were doing is what I did 30 years ago but I did my partying in Belmar, Avon By the Sea and Bradley Beach. When I wanted quiet I stayed in Spring Lake......P.S.-Leslie, don't forget about the pig farms that were in Secaucus...LOL!!!

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Kelly Maloney

12:09 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

I totally agree,I live at the Jersey Shore,and what went on in their shore house has been going on as long as I can remember.Summer=Tourists,and if it weren't for the Tourists the shore would starve. Seaside seeems to have cleaned up alot since they started the show.It brought alot of revenue to the town,and the beach and boardwalk seem cleaner.Tye show ran it's course,but if you don't like it don't watch

Arlen

11:54 am on Friday, August 31, 2012

Thank god there gone!! let them "hook up" in NY where they belong!

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Susan

11:54 am on Friday, August 31, 2012

It's just a TV show!!! If you are a true "Jerseyan" than what is the big deal, YOU should know what kind of person YOU are by looking in the mirror and NOT at a TV show.........

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GNOBIE01

11:55 am on Friday, August 31, 2012

AT LEAST WE ARE NOT ADVERTISING THOSE STINKING REFINERIES AS A REASON TO COME TO NJ ...THESE FOOLS ARE A DETRIMENT TO NJ

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Linda Sadlouskos

11:57 am on Friday, August 31, 2012

Now, now, Me. That's not what I said. Snookie currently lives in Morris County and is a new mom. I just thought a milder view of Snooks might be just what we need to highlight those Jersey Girls whose lives revolve more around school schedules, diapers, daily dinners. Sounds like an exciting series?

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Me

1:58 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

You said "Hmm, Snookie has baby, gets fired. Job discrimination against new mom?" How else should we read that? Unless you were being sarcastic. Then it might have been funny.

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Denise Di Stephan

12:24 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

Folks, let's watch our language, please, including "G.......mn." Thanks.

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William Mays

12:37 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

They don't watch their language on Jersey Shore.

J

12:27 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

Snooki and Jwow have been living in manchester filming their spin off. I highly doubt that's considered fired.

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Sylvia Daly

12:29 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

Seaside Hgts had a bad reputation long before "jersey Shore' aired.

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William Mays

12:38 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

And Jersey Shore made it even worse.

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Donny

1:45 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

Yes ,of you are young and dumb and don't respect the law.

Crafty Spiker

12:37 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

If no one cared and no one watched the spectacle then there would have never been a second SHOW. People - we have met the enemy and they is us. Stop watching trash (and Fox News).

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Donny

1:43 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

Stop watching the number 1 rated cable news channel?Only if one is declared brain dead. My condolence to you,crafty spiker.

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Martin

8:43 am on Monday, September 3, 2012

Fixed News is the "Jersey Shore" of cable TV -- dumb, trashy, biased, loudmouthed and crass.

M.O.D.

1:32 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

I don't even care that much. I stopped watching MTV when they stopped showing music videos and started shoving "Real World" down our throats.

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Nancy

1:37 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

Who cares!! They were just a bunch of dumb, immature kids going crazy earning a bunch of money. I don't think their crap had any influence on anything around here. Who watched that show anyway? I thought that show was a riot myself and very far fetched. It was a joke, they are a joke and they made a fortune. I don't think they care what we think.

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Donny

1:40 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

I spent many a summer in Lavalette,Ortley,Seaside Heights and Park, and Midway.Know it like the back of my hand.I was always with Jersey residents.These bozos on MTV were almost entirely out of staters.Staten Island riff raff mostly with no class and not even a basic education.All they did was make themselves look BAD.

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Chathams Own

9:50 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012

and make mountains of cash...

Josephine Collura

2:28 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

I have remarked about how horrible the show was..I wouldn't want any of my children doing the awful things they did on TV for all to see..jumping from one bed to another, open sex, getting drunk, fighting and more..How can a parent be proud of these actions..Okay they made money but at whose expense? They will always be looked at in a disrespectful way...It was a horrible show, I watched it in full only once and that was enough for me..I cannot believe how the young generation is falling all over the "celebraties" on the boardwalk in Seaside...Not a good example..

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Alison

3:31 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

My daughter and I were visiting a college during an open house. She was approached by a teen from MD who was also there for the open house. When the other person saw her name tag which included her home state she said to my daughter "Oh, you're from NJ? Is that like 'Jersey Shore'?" There just happened to be a mother and son who were also from South Jersey in our tour group and we all responded "Not one bit!" The damage is done...the perception is out there!

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Kay Tee

4:37 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

no matter what the month is seaside is always having problems in it, this show if anything made seaside more popular of a place and is probably helping a lot of businesses. the whole cast is just doing what every other 20 something year old, that lives here all year long, is doing except they got to go on tv and make a whole
lot of money off of it.

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Matt Casey

4:56 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

A complete embarrassment to the cast, their families, and the entire state!!

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Tom

6:38 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

About time the garbage was put out to the curb.

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jake

6:42 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

I don't know how old the people are who think this show ruined the shores rep, but I'm 40 and Seaside was called Sleazeside back when I was in high school. It did not just turn this way now. The only shame here is that the show should have been titled Seaside, rather than Jersey Shore because then it just includes all shore towns...which is an inaccurate depiction. But as far as its portrayal of who hangs out in the clubs and bars in seaside in the summer....sorry but it is spot on.

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DASDEB

8:48 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

You all need to get a map. Not all are from Staten Island.

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KBernat

9:48 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

The show was never needed. You can go down the shore and find people like this on every block. Some worse and some above and beyond. The shore is the place to be, especially during the summer months. We didnt need a show that was edited and put together to portray a "new fad"...not. The Jersey Shore is what it is. You need to see it for yourself not through the eyes of these young idiots and Mtv executives.

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SMILEY126

11:27 pm on Friday, August 31, 2012

as a kid growing up in north jersey i spent summers with my cousins and family at the jersey shore, and to this day have a place in Sea Side Park. But bothered me was the influx of mindless quidos in their fifties who would stand in front of the jersey shore shop and take pix of themselves. I hope with them gone the council of the Heights think twice before thinking with their #%@* and say no thanks.

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Harry pooter

2:35 am on Saturday, September 1, 2012

I Blame quantum mechanics.... If only I had developed that time path reconstructer I could have fixed all this.... Basic string theory suggests there would be a time when zombies ( otherwise known as zombis-hojyere-scareast)would come to new jersey.
In my studies I found (zombis-hojyere-scareast) can berearranged say JERSEY SHORE CAST. I plan on going back in time, wish me luck - Dr.fampez

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2much2say

9:07 am on Saturday, September 1, 2012

Jake
I agree with you.
My husband & I took a ride down long before the cast was even put together and here we are having a nice time and there goes a young gangbanger from NY I assume. And here goes a cop running saying "stop or I'll shoot" the kid stole something from the store. My husbands money is out as he was counting it and putting it away and this is what we have to deal with. Perhaps 'jesrey shore' brought more of a cleaner crowd down. But like Jake & I say seaside was gone long B4 these guys came. Stop blaming them.
Yeah it's cross & giving girls bad names followed by the action of these classless girls, it's those types of girls that give the good girls a bad name.

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John

10:33 am on Saturday, September 1, 2012

Bennys GOOOOOOOOOOO HOME!!!!!!!! We need to clean up Seaside Heights and this show being canceled is the start. Way too much riff raff and inner city trash in that town and it effects all of us because these dirtbags drive through alot of our communities on the way and act up. So I think Ocean County as a whole needs to gang up on some of these shore towns like Seaside who allow this trash anything for a buck and thats the problem along with programs like this.

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Walter O.

11:33 am on Saturday, September 1, 2012

Dropped my daughter off for her freshman year at UNCC, first questions from her new roommates were about the Jersey Shore and how they (the roommates) were happy to see my daughter was not like Snooky or Jwow! The show reflects what people believe (outside of NJ) we are like in the Garden State. Like it or not, we all defend or live up to this stereotype. I for one remind people NJ is a very educated state, with hard working individuals. Don't let a group of drunk, horny and barely grade school graduates reflect who we are from NJ! Glad their run is almost over!!!

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.

7:52 am on Monday, September 3, 2012

If people believe that what they see is true about everyone from New Jersey, that is really their problem. If they can't separate a TV show from real life, it shows their ignorance. Do we think everyone is Georgia is like the cast of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo?

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Joseph Keyes

12:55 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012

My wife and I traveled across the southwestern, northwestern, and great plains states for our business in the '80's and 90's. Even back then, we would get the inevitable Jersey wisecracks: "Your from Joisey? What eggzit?," "Why would you want to live THERE?," "Do you know any mafia people?"--That kind of stuff. I would patiently explain to them the incredible diversity of our state and how where we were from, was more about farms, cows, and horses than it was about urban stereotypes. 
Rod Serling used to introduce The Twilight Zone with: "You're traveling through another dimension -- a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind." The creators of Jersey Shore have created a fictional realm which in this perverse “opposite world” has become a perceived reality by many. Good riddance to it.

Andy

2:27 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012

Come on now; What it is; is they broke the carnal rule ... what happens "down the shore, stays down the shore" just like Vegas. The real issue is the same that will be the demise of the entire generation ... the glorification of idiotic and inappropriate behavior! They weren't even from Jersey and people have been asking stupid questions IE "what exit you from" for years. Most anyone who grew up in Jersey and went down the shore have strung a couple of those nights and days together... difference is, we didn't film or "post" it... they were memories for you and your crew not everyone. We also knew that that was vacation or summer and not a way of life! I'm just saying...

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Kim E

10:24 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2012

What is the shows lasting impact.?Well ..Now we all know pigs can't fly but they can stand upright on all fours. 'Cept when they're drunk. Just my 2¢.o

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thatshowwedoitinjersey

10:04 am on Sunday, September 2, 2012

This song sums it up - we do what we do, we all have Jersey Pride!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPSrp9AFaKQ

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Chardel Vyjial

10:18 pm on Sunday, September 2, 2012

NJ needs to change its image, this show does nothing to help the image of NJ.

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.

7:54 am on Monday, September 3, 2012

Why in the world would New Jersey change it's name? We are one of the 13 original colonies!
I would love to know what your suggestion for a name change is.

ref

6:44 am on Monday, September 3, 2012

Vyjial if you don't like N.J. I'll be happy to supply you with the name of a moving company

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Chardel Vyjial

12:03 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012

Ref, Do you believe that your opinion is the only one that matters? Were you bullied as a child and this forum gives you a placeto be powerful in your own mind?.

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Chathams Own

9:55 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Chardel, (what the hell is that name by the way) there is no need to play therapist and be an asshole. Especially when ref is right, NJ is NJ, who cares what people think? We know there is more to it than factories and shore trash, and you should too.

Stacie Bohr

7:52 am on Monday, September 3, 2012

I was born in Teaneck, raised in Fair Lawn and now live in Long Valley where I am raising my family. I am damn proud to be from New Jersey. I never cared for the show or the characters but let's face it....it's a show! If they were a bunch of NJ blue blood kids sipping lemonade on a wrap around porch in Spring Lake, no one would watch (unless they went into their pool house, did lines and fooled around). It's like watching a train wreck...you can't help but look. I agree with everyone that said it's nothing different than when we were growing up and has experienced Seaside but now it's televised. If the country (world) surmises what NJ is about because of this silly show, then they are as ignorant as the cast (characters really) of the show.

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Ben Bay Head

10:49 am on Monday, September 3, 2012

Funny thing now is some of them have made millions. So, a few of those dopes can afford to buy a home in Spring Lake and have fun there. Hey, maybe Jaywow Farley would be the first, being Irish and all, she has made tons of money and be the first?

Andy

8:29 am on Monday, September 3, 2012

What you put in, is what you take out - My Mother
Stupid is as stupid does - Forest Gump's Mother
Honey Boo Boo???
To Stacie's point ... It's like a train wreck; if it wasn't ridiculousness, today's "youts" wouldn't watch it! Some of the reality shows, shown today, make celebrities and millionaires out of the "wretch" of society. Moral values are lost in someones absurd adaption of, art & entertainment. But, as long as people watch or spend days commenting on these TRASH TELEVISION shows on the BOOB TUBE... sponsors will sponsor and Friggin J*rk Off's will make millions ... Fagetaboutit!

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Nancy

10:01 am on Monday, September 3, 2012

I'm with you! For goodness sakes why is everyone making such a big deal about this crazy show? Who cares? Get a life and forget about it is right!!! My gosh, who cares what anyone thinks about NJ? Let them stay the hell away if they have a problem. I live here and I'm fine with it. It is a wonderful State and I will be damned if I let a bunch of immature little brats change how I feel. They are funny and the show is just put on for them to make millions which they did. It is television and that is how television is. You people should all get a life so you don't have to think about this crap so much!!!

Martin

10:38 am on Monday, September 3, 2012

"...who cares what anyone thinks about NJ? Let them stay the hell away if they have a problem." Tourism earns millions for NJ annually, but the Bennie Brats and Bimbos on TV attract the wrong kind of people -- trouble-makers and gang-bangers. Families aren't going to vacation at the Shore because NJ is perceived nationwide as Sleazeside. At least the new "Jersey Made" show's lawyer has a brain.

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Michael S

3:23 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012

OH. Thank.God. What a hideous representation of our lovely State. The problem is they will probably manufacture another "Jersey......" show because they really get good ratings. People like train wrecks.

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M.A.Dawson

9:13 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012

After watching The Sopranos, Jersey Shore, Mob Wives, etc, I assumed you guys from Jersey all talk funny and kill people. Is this not true? Don't disappoint me.

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Andy

9:50 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012

Don't forget Buddy "The Cake Boss"

We eat, we drink, we make people offers they can't refuse ... But, we don't pump our own gas!!!

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M.A.Dawson

9:56 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012

I haven't seen that one. Do you guys bake cakes with nasty women or something? One thing I can say for sure, those Jersey shows have some of the worst actors I've ever seen. I assumed that's just the way people are their.

Manny

10:15 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012

Oh no! Just take a moment and take a gander at a new reality show call " Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo" . So do all people from down South talk funny, have no brains, are fat , lazy , stupid , real ugly and collect toilet paper for a hobby?

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M.A.Dawson

10:36 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012

That's what I heard. I'm from Seattle and we figure the only difference between you guys and the hicks is your accent. : )

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Walter J. Hobbs

10:54 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012

Nope, I am a native Jersey Shore person. My family has lived here for generations. We spent /spend most of our free time fishing, sailing and boating and some of us hunt once in awhile. My great grandparents worked in a cranberry bog. No way, no how are any of those morons from here or act like those of us that were born and raised here. However I would like to take them for a tour of my backyard the Pine Barrens and get them lost.

Nancy Grace

10:32 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012

Well some people are really stupid in other states. We were visiting friends in Mississippi last month. We were asked more then once if all of NJ looked like Newark. My retort was does all of Mississippi look like the slums of Jackson MS?

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Meghan L

8:11 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012

oN A PERSONAL nOTE i BELIEVETHAT DIS SHOW CHANGED AMERICA 4 DA BETTER! ;P. IT DA FIRST SHOW MA DAUGHTER WATCHED ND I DINK IT MAde hER DA WOMAN SHe is 2Day ITS SHOWED HER IT WAS k TO MAKE MISTAKES LIKE GETTING PREGO AT 13. SHE DID! AND GUESS wat?! I SUPPORT HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2 YEARS L8TER SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR DRUNK DRIVIN AND I BELIEB THAT THIS SHOW KEPT HER 2GEThER!!!!!!! PEACE AND BLESSINGS. PEACE. AND. BLESSINGS. -Meg R

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Andy

9:25 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012

"Holy, this is the problem with the X generation, Bat Man"

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3y3h34rtCl1ft0n

9:46 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012

I really think the notion of this show causing us to look bad to other Americans is a bit blown out of proportion--I've been treated fine by others in the three years this has been on.

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Nancy Ori

9:21 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012

We should be able to sue for defamation of character! Those idiots were not even from here. This type of 'reality' programing is a disgrace to every American not just New Jersey people.

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Mac

9:55 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012

The saddest reality of reality programming are viewers who actually believe reality shows are reality.

Ron Mullen

10:49 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012

The Jersey Shore? Where is that? Thosands of Jerseyans have long ago been taking their summer vacations on NorthCarolina , Cape Cod , and various other outer island beaches. The Jersey shore became Suburbia many years ago.

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Frazure

7:08 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012

Ut oh.....Kooka......just sayin'.

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Big Daddy Don Garlits

3:22 pm on Monday, October 22, 2012

The Jersey shore has been getting worse for years. I was down in Wildwood this summer with my little kids and once it got dark I felt like i was taking my life into my hands. Same goes for Seaside. Point Pleasant is still ok, but it has gotten worse as well...plus the prices are rediculous...for a couple hundred bucks more for the week you can go to Disney.

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Donny

4:27 pm on Monday, October 22, 2012

Atlantic city expressway brings in Philadelphia low lifes and inner city scum.

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