Summary
- The cast of Jersey Shore has grown and matured over the years, but still knows how to let loose and have fun on their vacations together.
- Some cast members, like Angelina, tend to be less popular among fans due to her causing unnecessary drama.
- Fans love watching Jenni because she can be sweet and kind, but also isn't afraid to speak her mind and doesn't shy away from controversy.
The cast of Jersey Shore has changed leaps and bounds from the show's original run to more than a decade later, with Jersey Shore: Family Vacation season 7 currently airing. Older, wiser, married, and with kids, most of the cast has matured a lot, and with that said, when they get together for a vacation, they still know how to let loose and have fun. As with most series, some cast members are better liked than others.
With most of the original cast appearing on Family Vacation since Sammi Giancola joined season 7, it's interesting to revisit how the cast was portrayed in the original Jersey Shore. Although Ronnie Ortiz Magro will never return, everyone else is now represented. With spouses in the picture, new cast members have become integral to the storylines. The most likable cast members, however, aren't necessarily the ones who get the most screen time.
10 Angelina Pivarnick
Jersey Shore (Seasons 1-2, Guest 5-6) and Jersey Shore: Family Vacation (Season 2-Present)
Jersey Shore: Family Vacation
- Release Date
- April 5, 2018
- Cast
- Pauly Del Vecchio , Nicole Polizzi , Michael Sorrentino , Ronnie Ortiz-Magro , Jennifer Farley , Vinny Guadagnino , Deena Nicole Cortese , Angelina Pivarnick
- Seasons
- 6
- Streaming Sevice
- Hulu, Paramount+
- Franchise(s)
- Jersey Shore
Angelina was one of the original cast members who left the show early on but still left fans with some of the best Angelina episodes of Jersey Shore. Replaced by Deena for much of the original show's run, she came back as part of a prank by Pauly D in Family Vacation and has been part of the family ever since. Angelina had to go through a period when she didn't feel like "one of the family." But with so much focus on her and her marriage in the latter seasons and her causing so much unnecessary drama, she tends to be the least favorite member of the Jersey Shore crew.
9 Vinny Guadagnino
Jersey Shore (Seasons 1-6) and Jersey Shore: Family Vacation (Season 1-Present)
Vinny comes across as arrogant and egotistical, often antagonizing Angelina for no other reason than to get kicks. He thinks the world of himself and is the only one in the group still waiting to settle down. He continues to live a single life, which makes it challenging for him to relate to the rest of the group on many levels. While Vinny offers plenty of entertaining moments on the show, on a likability scale, he isn't near the top.
8 Deena Buckner (Cortese)
Jersey Shore (Seasons 1-6) and Jersey Shore: Family Vacation (Season 1-Present)
Deena is sweet, kind, and often the mother figure and mediator of the group. She doesn't like conflict, loves to plan parties, and is always there for her friends. There's no reason not to like Deena. Deena getting together with Nicole is always a good time, but she often takes a backseat to everyone else's drama. There's nothing wrong with that, but Deena isn't as fun to watch as other cast members. She is often secondary to others regarding screen time and exciting plot lines.
7 Lauren Sorrentino (Pesce)
Fans instantly fell in love with Lauren, knowing she helped Mike turn his life around. Watching her stand by him through his worst times, deal with and speak of her miscarriage openly, and make an effort to get along with his friends made her an instant hit. Their pregnancy reveal was one of the most underrated moments on Jersey Shore that deserves more attention. While she initially focused on avoiding the drama, Lauren isn't afraid to speak her mind when necessary and tell things like it is, even leading to a few uncomfortable scenes. Nonetheless, anyone who can be accepted into the group so late in the game is instantly likable.
6 Jenni "JWOWW" Farley
Jersey Shore (Seasons 1-6) and Jersey Shore: Family Vacation (Season 1-Present)
Fans love watching Jenni because she is both sweet and kind but also terrifies others because if she's upset or angry, she doesn't mince words. While Jenni has matured leaps and bounds from the "JWOWW" early days, watching her be a mother, a friend, and a soon-to-be-wife shows fans how resilient she can be. Jenni is less and less at the center of controversy, which fans love. While she sometimes instigates things, she always presents herself as two steps removed or goes above and beyond to try to help. Then, she sits back and watches the drama unfold until she is roped in.
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4 Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola
Jersey Shore (Seasons 1-6) and Jersey Shore: Family Vacation (Season 6-Present)
Sammi is a beloved cast member on Jersey Shore for several reasons. Her magnetic personality and fiery yet endearing attitude have made her a memorable and relatable figure on the show. Sammi's authentic and unapologetic self-expression has endeared her to fans, making her a standout character who isn't afraid to speak her mind. Her relationships and interactions with other housemates, especially her ill-fated romance with Ronnie, have added depth to the show's drama and provided viewers with many memorable moments. Sammi's resilience and strong sense of self have made her a valuable and enduring presence on Jersey Shore, mainly when she chose to return for Family Vacation in season 6.
3 Nicole "Snooki" LaValle (Polizzi)
Jersey Shore (Seasons 1-6) and Jersey Shore: Family Vacation (Season 1-Present)
When Nicole decided to leave the show, fans were distraught. The show could not be without Nicole, and, as Deena often said, she needed her meatball partner. Meanwhile, as Jenni's best friend, it was tough to see Jenni without Nicole, too. Nicole also provides much entertainment, especially when she drinks too much and her alter-ego, Dren, comes out. Beyond that, however, Nicole is a dedicated mother and loyal friend who would do anything for the people she cares about. She lets loose when the moment permits, but most importantly, she tries to shield herself from drama instead of bringing it on like others.
2 Pauly D DelVecchio
Jersey Shore (Seasons 1-6) and Jersey Shore: Family Vacation (Season 1-Present)
"Cabs are here!" and "Awkward!" have become common phrases after Pauly D came onto the scene on Jersey Shore. His incident with a Stage 5 Clinger in the original show was Pauly D's most iconic scene from Jersey Shore. Always in a positive headspace and ready to have fun and avoid conflict, he loves messing with his friends, dubbing himself the Prank War Champion.
But when times have gotten serious, Pauly D hasn't been afraid to tell his friends the truth and offer a hand to help, such as when Ronnie was going through a difficult time. It's rare to see Pauly on screen without a smile. He provides much-needed comic relief and mood-lightening during even the tensest situations.
1 Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino
Jersey Shore (Seasons 1-6) and Jersey Shore: Family Vacation (Season 1-Present)
The most changed cast member of all, Mike, went through hard times, dealing with financial issues, addiction, anger problems, and even legal troubles that led to him serving time in prison. One of the nicest things the Jersey Shore cast ever did was supporting Mike through his trial, not to mention celebrating his sobriety milestones, a testament to how much they care about him. He emerged stronger than ever through his mantra, "The comeback is always greater than the setback."
Sober for several years, deeply in love with his wife Lauren, and a new father, what makes Mike the most likable cast member is how he is always there for everyone with words of inspiration and encouragement. He views life with positivity and vigor, making him not only a likable character on the show but an inspiration for viewers going through tough times who get to see how he turned his life around on Jersey Shore: Family Vacation.
Jersey Shore: Family Vacation airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on MTV.