Jersey Shore Cast Goes on Strike, Refuses to Film Despite MTV Legal Threats (Cast Photo)

On the MTV hit train-wreck reality series, Jersey Shore, viewers can see the cast members are clearly "on something" most of the time; some of them steroids, most of them impossible amounts of alcohol, all of them massive power trips. Currently, though, that something is strike!

According to major celebrity gossip and entertainment news sources such as Radar Online and TMZ, the Jersey Shore cast is refusing to film until new contracts meet their satisfaction. With Jersey Shore Season 2 ready to premiere in just over a week, the stars of the silliness show may be getting themselves into hot water with the MTV legal team for refusing to work.

According to sites, MTV wants to hold the Jersey Shore cast to the Jersey Shore Season 1 deal: a mere $10,000-an-episode agreement reached before the mind-boggling ratings and success/controversy of the show could be realized. However, MTV says, because the individual cast members have yet to sign past-due contracts on their own terms by the date required, they plan to simply re-instate the old contracts. This, among other issues, has reportedly led the Jersey Shore cast to refuse to work. They are required to begin filming again by Monday 7/19, reports indicate, "or else".

Jersey Shore Cast Members Strike, MTV Pulling Bait and Switch?

MTV has been billing Jersey Shore Season 2 in the following way: Snooki, Vinny, The Situation, J-WoWW, Ronnie, Sammi and Pauly D go play in Miami for the first part of Season 2, then return to the New Jersey shore for the end of Season 2 filming. (Check out a Jersey Shore cast photo here.)

Jersey Shore Season 2 premieres on MTV on July 29, 2010, and the true "Jersey Shore" scenes are supposed to be currently in production. However, MTV is now reportedly planning to split these two portions of drunken nights and bar fights into two separate but equally-offensive seasons. This Jersey Shore Season 2 and Season 3 switch-up has the Jersey Shore cast members such as J-WoWW, Pauly D, Snooki, Ronnie, Sammi and The Situation balking. Their reported position is that, at $10,000 an episode, it simply isn't fair to stretch it out across two seasons without a raise.

In their defense, this Viacom earnings report estimates a sharp rise in ratings and earnings during the Jersey Shore Season 1 quarter. If a show is making MTV millions, can they really afford not to increase the pay for the shows "stars"? Or is $10,000 beyond fair for what we see displayed on Jersey Shore? Let the world know what you think: leave your thoughts below!

Sources:

Radar Online
Viacom.com MTV report - 4/29/2010