MTV Jersey Shore Has Failed Snooki Just to Gain Ratings

The reality show, "Jersey Shore," has gone too far in what appears to be the promoting of over indulgence in alcohol. The outcome of over drinking is providing a good portion of this shows entertainment. A realization that is most likely not lost on the promoters of the show.

One cast member in particularly has a problem with alcohol, according to the criteria in the book, DSM-IV, which is used for diagnosing mental health disorders. Almost every symptom listed for alcohol abuse has been observed in Snooki while on "Jersey Shore."

Snooki's drinking has gone overboard, this was evident in her hospitalization for alcohol poisoning, which coincidently did not make it into the show, even though it occurred during the filming of the second season of "Jersey Shore." The incident was reported on RadarOnline months after it happened because "Jersey Shore" producers were able to keep it under wraps for a while.

Watching the antics of Snooki when she is inebriated has become a favorite of the fans of this show, evident by the recaps that appear infatuated with her latest drunken behaviors week after week. The Feds TV website has a video published of Snooki falling off a bike drunk. Putting the words "Snooki drunk" in the Google search bar brings about "about 401,000 results."

Is Snooki being exploited due to her willingness to drink and make a complete fool out of herself when she does? According to a blog on Cafe Mom, it is.

The "Jersey Shore" executives had a responsibility when Snooki was put into the hospital suffering from alcohol poisoning and they appeared to have dropped the ball on this. It is no longer entertaining to watch a young women literally drink herself so close to death.

The responsible thing for the show's powers that be to have done with Snooki was to get her help immediately. It is not where the "Jersey Shore" executives stand when it comes to Snooki's alcohol problem, they have never come out and addressed the subject, but she should have been given the ultimatum of getting help or be taken off the show.

It appears that there are no laws governing this type of alcohol consumption on a reality show. Bars and clubs are mandated not to serve inebriated patrons, but on a reality show you can apparently drink until you are close to death without any repercussions from the law or liquor commissioners of the state.

MTV has crossed the ethical line when it comes to what the behaviors they encourage to gain ratings. During the first season of "Jersey Shore," the show provided the alcohol and club fees for the cast.

It wasn't until the second season that the cast was responsible for providing their own money to purchase the booze they drink during the filming of "Jersey Shore." An article by Perez Hilton points out that they are dropping $400 dollars each a night now that they have to buy their own drinks while filming in Miami for the second season. MTV cited the large paychecks the cast demanded for doing the second season as the reason for the change on how their liquor is obtained.

It may be that after seeing the outcome of supplying this group with liquor that the liabilities of this practice have become very clear? This may be the reason that the never ending supply of liquor now needs to be purchased out of the pockets of the cast?

Whether the "Jersey Shore" producers are supplying the alcohol or not, they have made a bundle off providing the world with a drunken Snooki. It is now their responsibility to get this young girl some help.

Reference: MTV "Jersey Shore," Mental Health Channel DSM-IV criteria, RadarOnline, Feds TV, Cafe Mom, Perez Hilton