“We’re collectively, lightning in a bottle, the Avengers of actuality TV, however extra in order that I really feel like authenticity has been key, unapologetically ourselves always,” The Scenario tells TooFab.
Over 15 years in the past, Mike “The Scenario” Sorrentino and his roommates graced the small display for the primary time on MTV’s Jersey Shore, which might in the end grow to be a popular culture phenomenon, and make him and his castmates family names.
Now, as Mike and his co-stars — Pauly “DJ Pauly D” Delvecchio, Vinny Guadagnino, Angelina Pivarnick, Jenni “JWoww” Farley, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Deena Nicole Cortese, Samantha “Sammi Sweetheart” Giancola and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro — return to the place all of it started in Seaside Heights, New Jersey for Season 8 of the present’s reunion sequence, Jersey Shore Household Trip, the fact star is trying again at his journey on the franchise and reflecting on its legacy.
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In an interview with TooFab, Mike, 42, opened up about what he believes makes followers nonetheless wish to tune in 15 years after they first discovered all about GTL, fist-pumping, and guidos.
Jersey Shore first premiered in December 2009, and ran for six seasons. Practically six years later, Mike and (most of) the crew reunited for Jersey Shore Household Trip, which premiered in 2018. Season 8 of the spinoff sequence — which premieres on Jerzday, Thursday, Could 29 — marks the fifteenth anniversary and total season of the present.
When requested what he believes is the present’s “secret sauce,” Mike mentioned, “I believe that, , I am an enormous fan of the present, and all of my castmates. They’re brothers and sisters to me. However hear, every one in all ’em, they’re family names. They’ve hundreds of thousands of followers on each platform. I really feel like we’re collectively, lightning in a bottle, the Avengers of actuality TV, however extra in order that I really feel like authenticity has been key, unapologetically ourselves always, by which why our present has been so relatable to the viewer and to the followers, and so they’ve grown up with us and we’re like brothers and sisters.”
Mike — who shares Romeo, 3, Mia, 2, and Luna, 13 months, with spouse Lauren Sorrentino — famous how he will get approached by loving followers when he goes out in public.
“It is best to see after I go for, like, a CVS run. Individuals are coming as much as me like I am their brother or their son or their uncle, hugs, and, , ‘How’s Lauren?’ and ‘How’s the children?’ And it is so, so very particular,” he informed TooFab. “It is undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime sort of present, and I am very blessed to be concerned.”
“I assume it is a reward for, , being authentically ourselves and in addition being so relatable and sharing our lives with America for thus lengthy,” he added.
For the brand new season of Jersey Shore Household Trip, followers will see Mike and the gang going again to the OG shore home in Seaside Heights — and it seems many viewers will probably be experiencing some deja vu.
“I imply, you are simply tremendous grateful. You may’t consider that you simply’re on this journey and it has lasted 15 years, and that the general public and followers have grown up with you,” Mike shared. “It is kind of like a pinch-me second, ? And now you are again within the shore home. It smells the identical, it seems to be the identical. And also you’re simply taking a look at your mates who are actually just about household, doing, like, ‘Take a look at us. Take a look at us. Look, look what we did.’ You realize?””
“And the story continues. It is an incredible story, and I am very, very blessed to be part of it,” he added. “So , Seaside has a really particular place in our coronary heart, and really glad that we celebrated our fifteenth anniversary there, and we closed out this season over there as effectively.”
And for many who could also be questioning, sure, the long-lasting duck telephone is nonetheless there — together with just a few different Jersey Shore memorabilia, together with the well-known observe Snooki and JWoww wrote to Sammi to disclose Ronnie had allegedly cheated on her.
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“The duck telephone is there and it’s intact,” Mike mentioned. “It is part of tradition at this second. Together with the observe, , the neck brace and the sun shades, . Jersey Shore has had an enormous half in tradition and actuality TV, and , we’ve fairly the story.”
Mike described the present as a “ceremony of passage,” noting that it has tagged together with followers as they’ve grown up — and has gained new viewers alongside the way in which.
“It is for, , the highschool courses to look at the outdated or the unique Jersey Shore, after which whenever you go to varsity, you’ve gotten the observe in your lobby, what I imply? On a sheet,” he mentioned. “And also you see it in all places. You realize, it is so loopy what this present become. And now, that is the fifteenth anniversary. So for followers, who’ve grown up with us and new followers, they love us and we love them too.”
As for who he believes has modified essentially the most through the years, Mike named himself.
“Massive Daddy Sitch has had fairly the journey,” he mentioned. “I am now 10 years clear and sober. I am 10 years this 12 months, and a loyal, devoted husband, dad of three. You realize, I am opening up my very own therapy facilities this 12 months known as the Archangel Facilities. You realize, I had this bestselling autobiography, which was killing the sport the previous 12 months. So, it has been fairly a journey.”
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“I might undoubtedly suppose I might vote myself solely due to the, , the sobriety journey,” Mike continued. “I used to be in all probability one of many wildest forged members … to now [being on] this wonderful sober journey that I am on to be the mature good good friend that I’m to my roommates.”
The Actuality Examine writer mentioned he is “turned my ache into function,” including that his story “has helped others.”
“My life story is now different folks’s survival information,” he defined. “And I really feel like I discovered, , my approach in life, and others can too. If Mike The Scenario can do it, and be 10 years clear and sober, so are you able to.”
Mike went on to open up about how he’ll see the present 15 years from now, and shared whether or not he’ll let his children watch it at some point.
“I believe that I am going to in all probability let my kids watch the present, Jersey Shore Household Trip, once they flip 16 or 18, which is the Household Trip sequence,” he informed TooFab. “Because it pertains to perhaps the uncensored Jersey Shore model, perhaps they gotta flip 21 for that.”
“As you guys all know, Massive Daddy Sitch could be very happy with his story, as I am now 10 years clear and sober, my rise and fall and rise once more is the instance,” he continued. “And the epitome of the comeback is larger than the setback. I am a sober legend within the streets.”
“So, I am very proud that, , my kids have, , an excellent instance to develop as much as or no matter,” he continued. “And once more, , should you guys do not know, Massive Daddy Sitch has an autobiography within the streets, Actuality Examine: How I Overcame Dependancy, Loss, and Jail in all types. And we offered seven figures for the 12 months in product sales, and we self-published. So everybody loves a very good comeback story.”
Jersey Shore Household Trip premieres Thursday, Could twenty ninth at 8 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.
