This is a very funny, and very informative Comments from a REAL Italian American  about "Jersey Shore" and about REAL Russian Jewish Friends and "Brighton Beach"

I was recently telling some expat friends of mine that if they think MTV's (inaccurate) portrayal of the Jersey Shore  made ratings, MTV is seriously missing out on another untapped market: the Russians.

Funny enough, this morning The Post ran a story about TV producer, Elina Miller, who wants to do exactly this: produce a spin-off to MTV's Jersey Shore but have the focus be on Russians, calling the show, Brighton Beach.

Ahh, Elina... a brilliant idea... and before I give you some pointers; I'd like to tell you, where MTV went wrong with Jersey Shore.

Some street cred about moi: 

Call me a Tri-State / Boro Hoochie, but I've lived all over: Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Staten Island, Manalapan (true: I went to HS with the Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino) & summer shares in Belmar (hi girls! and ugh -- djais). 

I come from a booming Italian-American family, father with an ''import export business'', and I've come a long way; to where I live now. I moved on up, way up -- to the Upper East Side. 

Now, I'm not ashamed by my ethnographic background; but, MTV could've surely done better than that mishmosh of a cast they slobbed together that makes up the Jersey Shore. 

I mean, where did they find these people? 

They certainly didn't come from the true epi-center of Italian-Americans (Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Gravesend, South East Annadale, etc...) that flock down to the shore. (And on another note. MTV chose Seaside? Who goes there, besides Generation Y'ers post HS prom?)

MTV, not only managed to exploit these ''guidos'' ("I'm a guido,'' insert shudder here.) in the most false & phony element; but, to boot, they got it all wrong.

You want Italian-Americans? The real deal? The demographic of people with lives so different from the rest of America? You want to pinpoint this demo and exploit & make millions of bucks?

Well, Elina, MTV should've went here...

Villabate bakery on 18th ave on Christmas Eve morning 
Regina Pacis on Ash Wednesday
A funeral at Scarpaci
Vegas Diner on 86th St. @ 4am
Woodrow Diner after a teachers conference
The Tanning Loft on a cold winter day
A jet blue flight from Miami via NYC the day after the closing of the Winter Music Conference
The pizza line outside L&B Spumoni Gardens
Harrah's pool party on a Saturday night in AC
Swim up bar @ Rehab in Vegas
or 
The line inside Forever21 at 8:30 pm on a Friday night at the Staten Island mall. 

If MTV really wanted to see Italian-Americans in their element, they could've easily found them at any  of the above. 

Sure, get a group of friends together & document away. But, 7 IA's from the East Coast -- throw them in dingy condo in Seaside & slap the Italian flag on the garage? 

MTV should know better.

E, don't make the same mistake with Brighton.

Now, let's talk Russians. 

I personally have a fond love for the Russian people, particularly the couture-gown wearing, Benzino driving Russian Jews in Brighton, so I have a few suggestions for your filming... 

A short list below (and if you're Russian, you'll totes appreciate this.)

Tatiana's on brighton 6th
Spa 88 on Fulton
Baku restaurant on Emmons Ave.
The International Supermarket on Brighton Beach Ave.
ANY discount designer outlet in the tri-state area (Russians will stalk and find anything Cartier, Dior, Versace, Gucci, Fendi), which includes Century 21 on 86th. 
Any mountain around the Poconos in the winter, check out the people in designer ski gear (they have no intention of actually skiing) 
Last but not least..
Russian Samovar on W. 52nd. (A watered down Russian spot, serving great vodkas and caviars, but doesn't capture the true Brighton: 12-people-in-a-one-bedroom-apt-S500-in driveway Russians.)

Good luck, Elina!

http://glamourcow.com/2010/03/dear-elina-miller-
get-brighton-right-unlike-the-shiteous-job-mtv-did-
with-jersey-shore.html
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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