MTV confirmed Friday what everyone had expected since the season one finale–“Jersey Shore” will be back for a second round on MTV.
The seven principals all agreed to return, meaning that breakout cast members like Mike “The Situation,” Pauly D and “Snooki” will all be back for round two.
Interestingly, the follow-up to the successful debut season will not, in fact, take place at the Jersey Shore. MTV has not announced the location but confirmed that the 12-episode-second season will be shot in a warmer venue.
The idea of relocating the show had been one of the hold-ups in MTV’s confirmation of season two plans, as it does, technically, undermine the entire concept of the show. Because MTV is adamant on getting the show back on the air this summer, however, New Jersey simply would not have worked as a filming location–production deadlines require shooting begin shortly, and the cold northeast winter is not exactly conducive to filming a series about life on the beach.
As has been well reported, the more notable hold-up was the cast seeking a significant per-episode pay raise, with the $10,000/person/episode figure making rounds. Even as the show’s ratings and buzz surged, making a second season appear certain, the casting issue had always been a point of concern.
While MTV has been able to consistently relaunch “The Real World” with different cast members in different cities, the feeling was that “Jersey Shore” was getting over not due to concept or location but entirely due to the personalities on the show. The cast, thus, had to come back, and figuring out a way to make the show interesting–and responding to the inevitable requests for pay increases–was inherently going to prove important.
MTV, nonetheless, has made a deal that works, and the cast of “Jersey Shore” will move to a different location soon to film season two.
Partial Sources: TMZ, THR
