MTV quickly shot down reports that it is planning to re-cast “Jersey Shore” once the hit reality series concludes its confirmed fifth season.
“We love the present cast, and their summer adventures have just begun. We currently have no plans to recast the show,” a spokesperson told THR.
While one should always be cautious putting stock in PR statement, especially when the statement refers to something that will not take effect for many months, the comment seems believable given the scenario.
Because publicized salary issues have previously emerged with the cast, MTV executives have significant value in maintaining leverage over the stars of its show. By outright admitting it is not considering a recasting, MTV is sacrificing a great deal of that leverage–why would the cable network do so unless it truly had no interest in looking elsewhere for its on-air talent.
From a ratings standpoint, it is also clear that the cast itself brings significant value to the show. Despite hype and controversy leading into the series premiere, that first episode, which would have been based on the “concept” of the show, garnered less than two million viewers and was considered a ratings disappointment. It took the antics of the characters themselves to catapult the show into a “juggernaut” status.