The young, buff, crass and orange-hued stars of MTV reality hit Jersey Shore are driving a hard bargain with the network. TMZ reports that the cast is banding together to ensure they get paid a decent wage for living together, going out to clubs and letting cameras film their makeout sessions and beauty prep rituals. An initial offer of a $10,000 signing bonus and $5,000 an episode for the second season was denied by all eight cast members. MTV upped the offer to $10,000 an episode along with the signing bonus, which they claim is their final offer take it or leave it. The cast members can come individually and MTV will replace anyone holding out for more money. There are plenty of wannabe reality stars who will work for a place to stay and free beer.
The stars of “Jersey Shore” have been negotiating with MTV like “Friends”… but the network could be turning them into enemies with some serious brinkmanship.
Sources tell TMZ the network has told the cast if they don’t accept MTV’s deal by the end of business Monday, they will be replaced. And, MTV has told them it does not have to be a package deal — the cast members who accept the offer will stay … those who do not can have a nice life.
As we first reported, MTV offered each cast member a $10,000 signing bonus and $5,000 per episode. We’re told the cast rejected the offer and made it clear they would all stand together and hold out for their price, though they didn’t say what it was.
MTV made a new offer of $10,000 an episode — there are 12 episodes in the new season — but so far the cast hasn’t responded.
We’re told MTV already has replacements if Snooki, Pauly D, The Situation and the others don’t accept the offer on Monday. But, we’re told, MTV is happy to mix and match if some of the cast accepts the offer and other don’t.
As for who’s being the most hard-headed in the negotiations — The Situation and Pauly D.
[From TMZ]
I haven’t seen this show, but I’ll tape it once (I’m in the US for a while) if any of you say it’s necessary. Usually I feel guilty reporting on shows I haven’t seen, but I have a clear conscience making an exception in this case. On one hand Jersey Shore is getting a ton of press and the finale had 4.8 million viewers, so I can’t blame these kids for trying to earn a bigger paycheck. MTV is probably raking it in on this new show. Why should the cast of Jersey Shore earn less than the privileged Hills gang? On the other hand, each castmember is going to earn over six figures plus promotional opportunities when most of them were working entry level jobs when they entered the house. I think most of them are going to cave.
In related news, there were arrests made at a Montclair, New Jersey club on Friday night after over 2,000 people showed up to meet the Jersey Shore cast. Fights broke out both inside and outside the club and the cops were called to restore order.
Photos courtesy of MTV
It won’t be the same if they all don’t do it. And I think they should do it, loved the first season, couldn’t get enough of it. I can already picture all the awesome fighting, yelling, hooking up if the same group does another round of this.
Ugh, this trash is a clear sign of the coming apocalypse
The central flaw here is this: as soon as they start making even more money, hand over fist, the entire ‘realism’ schtick is out the window. They were supposed to be the gritty, honest answer to the plastic lies of the Hills. How can you maintain that genuine urban skeez when they’re all filthy stinking rich?
Good for youse guys,,,,get dat cheese!
I’m with you kelbear. I really like that show too. They could lose J-wow and Vinnie with no disruption. (really Sammi too, bitch cries about everything). You have to have Paulie, Mike, Snookie, and Ronnie or it’s a totally different show. That chick Angelina blew it by leaving the show early. She missed the big pay day. Next time they fist pump, the fist will be full of Benjamins.
dont worry princess pea: as the real housewives of NJ proved, even when these people make more money, there isnt enough of it in the world to buy them class. they will just spend more on tanning booths and trashy clothes. there is NO chance of these people not being gritty.
Good for them… they should hold out for more! As much as I hate to admit it, MTV has a hit show on their hands and it’s a HUGE money maker for them. But seriously, if some of those useless “Hills” cast people are getting almost $100K per episode, the Jersey Shore cast should get more than what MTV is currently offering them.
Save your pennies kids.
Jersey Shore, what’s the appeal? I frequent the shore and love Spring Lake which is absolutely nothing like this (upscale and quiet). Seaside Heights isn’t much like what’s depicted on the show either. It kinda boils down to what brings in ratings and this does. But this is exaggerated and contrived, though yes, you’ll probably find a few people like this (aren’t a few of them not from NJ?). Holds zero appeal for me.
I’m all for Jersey Shore even though the only time I see it is clips on The Soup, which is enough for me.
Sign all of them except that Amy Winehouse-haired Oompa Loompa Snuggie or Snoopy or Sookie Stackhouse or Snookered or whatever her troll name is.
It is amazing that fugs like these get airtime in the first place, let alone more cash.
Is it me or does that little orange one SNOOKIE look like the OOMPA LOOMPA in the Burton Remake of Charlie & the Chocolate Factory.
Um, like MTV can’t go out and find another group of unemployed, overgrown adolescents who want to earn ‘a decent wage for living together, going out to clubs and letting cameras film their makeout sessions and beauty prep rituals’. Jeez, these days they seem to come out from under every rock.
Is it too late to hate them as much as I hate Spencer and Heidi?
they must be the ugliest people in america.
I dont blame them…in two years, nobody will care about them anymore, just like most reality TV stars. Take the money while you can….
I would hold out for more money too. MTV already doubled the offer in a short period of time. They might as as well try it and see how much money gets thrown at them. If they don’t get an offer for more money they can sign 2 minutes before the deadline. I know that’s how I would handle it.
Even in my real world job I would say, “That’s it?” no matter how much of a raise my boss would offer me. When it was all said and done I consistently had 15-20% raises, even in this economy.
gag
LOL @ snapdragon. I was thinking the same thing. Especially Snookie.
WHO the Hell are they?????
I saw a flash in one channel last week and they had this clip of that small gurl with birds nest hair having cat fight and swearing a lot lot just like Cheaters episode. And even cartwheeling around with her poor panties in her supertight mini black dress. They look disgusting.
Snookie’s hair reminds me of The Grudge
Is it too early to look forward to the ‘whatever-happened-to’ episodes this will hopefully create in 10 – 15 years’ time?
Saw an episode, had a good laugh at the delusion of these morons (they think they’re good looking…). You only need to see one episode to understand how badly MTV sucks, and how sad tabloid-reality show culture is. This is what many of the uneducated masses aspire to…This sad version of fame/stardom is what these morons, and so many other like them, aspire to…
I’d prefer a whole new cast because these guys are way too self aware now and I doubt it would be as “real” as the first season seemed to be.
The curse of the second season reality show.
Why in hell would they want these same losers back? Totally agree with Love Eric – they are really delusional. Most so in that they really don’t care how horrible they look on TV right now. Most of them are in dire need of therapy and a little soberity.
These are the ugliest people I have ever seen. They are trash, at least with The Hills, they had cute clothes and were rich. These people are nothing.
Snookie looks like Garfield-orange, short and fat
extreamly ugly people..I don’t get it
Love it or hate it, MTV’s got a new major hit w/ this show. Which awakens in me…hope. Perhaps, the Hills, with its declining ratings is finally over?
ugh why don’t they find different people to cast in this “reality” show?
I’m sick of these guys and am more interested in new people.
let them get a paycheck at the drive thru!
f em
its good to see these idiots aren’t getting to rich of this crap they call a show.but still 10,000 a episode these idiots get to show young Americans that its ok to have no morals. get a life young America..
man i looooooooovvvvvvve jersey shore!!!!! now that is a show that must be watched!!!! the situation also has some kind of situation lol…..man this show is just the best…..ron and sam just need to quit already tooomuch fighting going on between them man….geesh thats just to much. but otha then that the show is very very very very gooooood!!! i love the situation jwoww snooki and the rest of the casting crew