‘Jersey Shore’

By Samantha Nungesser

May 1, 2026

In anticipation of the final season of Jersey Shore Family Vacation, which premieres on MTV next week, I have been giving a good ol’ rewatch to the show that not only made “Snooki” and “JWOWW” household names, but the show that turned “GTL,” “DTF,” and “Yeah buddy!” into common phrases. Jersey Shore, which aired for six seasons between 2009 and 2012, follows a group of young, Italian chaos demons as they work and party their way through their summers at the Jersey Shore. From fist-pumping in Seaside to writing the infamous note in Miami, the Jersey Shore cast spent six seasons (and, if we’re getting technical, another nine for their spinoff) making reality television gold. While some of those early days could never be recreated now, Jersey Shore’s OG seasons are just as funny, just as entertaining, and just as dramatic as they were back then.

Photo: Getty Images