MTV's 'Jersey Shore' draws Italian-American ire

MTV's forthcoming series "Jersey Shore" has come under fire from an Italian-American group for what it calls offensive stereotypes of Italians.

UNICO National, which bills itself as the largest Italian-American service organization in the country is asking MTV to scrap "Jersey Shore," which is scheduled to premiere next week. The group calls it "trash television" that demeans people of Italian heritage.

All of which MTV must have been aware of when it cut a promo spot that says the show will feature the "hottest, tannest, craziest Guidos" on the shore. "They keep their hair high, their muscles juiced and their fists pumping all summer long!"

Seriously -- with promo text like that, it's almost as if MTV was hoping to upset people and get exposure for the show (so, mission accomplished; had I not read about the protest, "Jersey Shore" would have completely escaped my radar).

An MTV spokesperson tells the AP that the people featured on the show "take pride in their ethnicity" -- which may well be true. But slapping the "Guido" label on the show feels cheap. Take a look at the promo and judge for yourself.



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Photo credit: MTV