12-09-2009, 06:15 PM
|
 |
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,238
|
|
Protests over "Jersey Shore"
http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/12/mtvs-...d-threats.html
Quote:
MTV's 'Jersey Shore' gains protesters, loses ads
The ruckus over MTV's "Jersey Shore" is getting as intense as the hot-headed dramatics on the show.
The controversial new reality series chronicling a spirited group of self-described "guidos" living in a New Jersey beach house has drawn protests of increasing volume from critics. Now it appears calls for a boycott are having an impact.
The Italian-American group UNICO (the same group that protested HBO's "The Sopranos") has asked members to complain to MTV's advertisers. In the past couple days, two advertisers on the show -- Domino's Pizza and American Family Insurance -- have pulled out of the series.
In addition, one major media outlet reported that MTV New York offices were receiving death threats due to the show (the network has denied the report).
"['Jersey Shore' furthers] the popular TV notion that Italian-Americans are gel-haired, thuggish, ignoramuses with fake tans, no manners, no diction, no taste, no education, no sexual discretion, no hairdressers (for sure), no real knowledge of Italian culture and no ambition beyond expanding steroid- and silicone-enhanced bodies," blasted NY Post critic Linda Stasi on Monday. "Would that programming ever have been allowed if the group were African-Americans, Asians, Hispanics, Jewish people?"
President of programming Tony DiSanto, an Italian-American, has remained largely mum on the subject, though he told one group, "The cast takes pride in their ethnicity. In fact, it is a key driver of how they bond with each other and self-identify. They refer to themselves as 'guidos' in a positive manner."
Instead, former "Hills" cast member Spencer Pratt, of all people, defended the network on Twitter: "Linda Stasi you should change your name to Linda Boring if you can't be entertained by young Italian-Americans enjoying youth and partying!"
The initial round of criticism didn't seem to help "Jersey Shore," which debuted last Thursday to a relatively modest 1.4 million viewers.
A clip from an MTV teaser from an upcoming episode making the rounds online showing a man punching out one of the female housemates ("Snookie") is only adding to the drama (see right), but it's unclear if any of the conflict -- on or off screen -- will improve the show's ratings.
|
__________________
"Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man! We shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out."
--Hugh Latimer, October 16, 1555
|
Linear Mode
