Just as word of “the shore” slowly started to die out, MTV’s “Jersey Shore” season three kicked off with more drama, creepin’ and gorilla hunting than ever before.
The premiere pulled in 8.45 million viewers, making it the most watched telecast in the history of MTV.
The group of narcissistic “guidos” and “guidettes” is also making an impact at the University and around Baton Rouge.
Whether it’s in a neighbor’s immovable hairstyle, the juiceheads at the gym, the girl at school with the fake orange tan or constant clubrat references to “T-shirt time” and “grenades,” students gather to watch or emulate the show.
Local Mexican restaurant Zippy’s Burritos Tacos & More hosted a viewing party for the anticipated
premiere. More than 50 people showed up with gravity-defying hair and deeply revealing tops, ready to fist pump like champs once again. University graduate and Zippy’s manager Louis Mykoff set up the event knowing “Jersey Shore” would without a doubt pull in plenty of University students even during break.
“I feel like ‘Jersey Shore’ is everyone’s guilty pleasure. We all love it but are embarrassed to admit it,” Mykoff said.
The party was geared toward the theme of the show, according to recent University graduate Bobby Goodson.
Margaritas were renamed to fit the theme, such as “DTF,” “The Grenade,” “The Creeper” and more, according to Mykoff.
Mykoff plans to continue to host viewing parties every Thursday at Zippy’s so local fans have a place to watch together.
Goodson described the party as “a lot of fist pumping, beating up the beat and tons of fun ‘Jersey Shore’ style.”
With a wide array of technology now available beyond TV, the tube is no longer the biggest influence on today’s youth, according to communication studies professor James Honeycutt.
Lucky for the “Jersey Shore” cast, their influence doesn’t end with the reality show. “Jersey Shore” is all over the Internet, and the crew is at many major Hollywood and MTV events.
“I feel TV has a negligible effect on today’s youth because they are raised by a diversity of medium, including YouTube, video games, texting and so on,” Honeycutt said.
But the “Jersey Shore” impact has been steadily growing in the past two years. Rumors of a fourth season have surfaced, and it has been confirmed that MTV has signed a deal with Paul “DJ Pauly D” DelVecchio to star in his own spinoff series.
“Jersey Shore is just so entertaining I don’t think its influence will die out anytime soon,” Goodson said.
 
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Contact Devon Walsh at [email protected]