[Gillian-73]

MTV to end 'Jersey Shore'
Net to promote upcoming sixth
season as last
By STUART LEVINE
"Jersey Shore" will be no more.
MTV has decided to cancel its
signature franchise series following
the upcoming sixth season, which
launches Oct. 4. Ratings for the last
few seasons have been declining, and
the cabler decided to make the
announcement five weeks before the
final season so it can market it as the
last, hoping that viewers who may
have turned away will return to say
goodbye.
It was December 2009 that the
network introduced America to a
houseful of fist-pumping, tan-loving
and partygoing Italian-American
twentysomethings. Soon after the
debut, personalities such as Snooki,
the Situation, Pauly D and JWoww
became part of the cultural
conversation.
The series, which was a big
destination for the 12-34 demo, hit a
ratings high for the premiere of the
third season when 8.4 million tuned
in. By the fourth episode, that record
was shattered when 8.8 million
viewers watched and it remains the
most-watched series episode in MTV
history.
As part of the marketing plan to
promote the final season, MTV will air
the one-hour retrospective special
"Gym, Tan, Look Back" at 6 p.m. Sept.
6 prior to the net's "Video Music
Awards" telecast. At 7 p.m., as part of
the net's kudocast preshow, the
"Jersey Shore" cast will discuss the last
season.
"Gym, Tan, Look Back" will also take a
sneak peek at the sixth season. Earlier
in the day beginning at 11 a.m., MTV
will air a "Jersey Shore" marathon.
MTV has tried to use the "Jersey
Shore" franchise to spin off other
series. Net has already ordered a
second season of "Snooki & JWoww,"
which will end its first season Sept. 13,
but the future of "The Pauly D Project"
looks very much in doubt after the
skein opened to soft ratings.
I don't watch it myself but i know a lot of you do!