Aspiring Actor Talks About His Audition for MTV's Jersey Shore

The new MTV reality show Jersey Shore has been stirring up a lot of controversy over the way Italian-Americans are portrayed in the media. My brother, Mike Budd, is an aspiring actor and he auditioned for what would become the reality show Jersey Shore. In my interview with him, he explains what happened in the auditions and why he chose to not be a part of MTV's Jersey Shore.

How did you get the audition for Jersey Shore?

I got the audition before summer began, from a casting call out here in Chicago. I am a part of Chicago Top Models talent agency and was called to do an audition for an MTV reality show. My agent Dee Batista called saying I fit well with what they were looking for and [the show] was part of the True Life series.

What exactly was the audition? Any reading of lines or just an interview?

The auditions were based on who you were and a series of questions. There were no lines to be read but there were situations they [would] give and you had to say what you would do. For example, if you were at a bar with a girl that you were attracted to and focused on but she was playing games and going onto someone else, how would you handle the situation? [I] said I would move on to which [the producers] replied, "That doesn't sound fun."

What questions did they ask you?

Where are you from? Are you gay or straight? What kind of girls do you like? Do you do drugs? Do you like relationships or one night stands? How do you dress? What do you want to do in the future? Do you like to go to clubs and get drunk? Do you work out? What's your favorite hair style? Do you like the beach and tanning? They even asked if I would hook up with one of the female producers [to] which I answered why not? And they loved it.

Why did you walk out on the audition?

I was still unsure about what exactly I was auditioning for so I asked them and they said they were doing a reality show that would take place in Jersey and the general cast would be Guidos and Guidettes [derogatory terms for Italian-Americans.] When I started to recollect the questions they asked it hit me...they wanted to move to New Jersey and round up Guidos to enhance the [negative] stereotype even more. Being a part of this show would type cast me for any kind of acting opportunity I wanted in the future. So I walked out.

Have you seen the show?

Unfortunately I have. Ten minutes into the show I must have heard every "aw" word sound such as dog, exaggerated to a point it made my head want to explode. I saw men who saw the tanning salons and gyms more than their parents. The women were so trashy and had no class with the way they acted and partied, not to mention the constant fights they tried to instigate.

Are you glad you are not a part of it?

[I'm] so glad I'm NOT a part of the monstrosity brought to the Garden State. It honestly embarrasses me now to say I am from New Jersey and of Italian heritage.