There’s bound to be something a little fakey-fake about Snooki and JWoww pretending that they need to grow-up and move into their own cribs – away from parents, boyfriends, and camera crews. Oh, but wait – they forgot to leave out the camera crews.
Witness Episode One of Jenni and Nicole’s Jersey City escapade, where all of us locals get to point at the TV and yell, “That’s my corner!” or “That’s my gym!”
The premiere begins with the girls having a plausible discussion about moving in together and finding a pad of their own. After some conversations where Jenni is already lamenting her waning youth, “I don’t want to be that 45-year-old with regrets” and Nicole gets lectured by her dad on sewage, the stage is set for a post-modern Laverne and Shirley. The girls hit Jersey City in their supersized vehicles and meet with two very attractive real estate agents (where did they find these two? Sotheby’s? Del Forno Hoboken?) providing a hilariously awkward moment where Jenni asks the agents if they “f***” since everyone who works together has to have sex, she reasons. The two agents respond with an expression between bored and embarrassed, as though the idea never crossed their perfectly coiffed minds.
Finally Snooks and Jenni end up at the place we all knew they’d “choose” – the old firehouse on Mercer Street where locals endured constant police presence and limited parking for six weeks this spring.
It’s here, within the cavernous yet “cozified by MTV set-designers” firehouse that Nicole and Jenni finally get to have their heart-to-heart about a few milestones in Nicole’s life. I suppose we could suspend disbelief for a moment and imagine that this is the first Bestie Jenni is hearing of Nicole’s engagement and pregnancy – but it’s unlikely. That said, Jenni did a reasonable job of feigning shock – and maybe a little envy. It’s never fun when your best friend gets engaged before YOU do – but when that’s mitigated by her announcing a pregnancy it seems to temper the jealousy dragon. I would imagine Jenni wants to be a flat-bellied bride when it’s her turn to walk the plank, I mean aisle.
And that’s where our first Jersey City episode leaves us… Nicole announcing what we’ve already known for months – pregnancy and engagement to long-term boyfriend Jionni LaValle. Teaser promos promise future episodes with purple poodles, cute monkeys, lots of fake eyelashes, and what looks like a flour fight at Made With Love. “Cooking lessons for the girls are a big part of their Jersey City experience,” offers Celeste Governanti, of Made With Love. Beyond that detail she will not say, but the supportive crowd that gathered at Sushi Tango last night went berserk with glee every time the gals appeared on screen in their Made With Love aprons (seen in promos and intro).
The raucously enthusiastic Sushi Tango crowd strained to hear dialogue over the bar din, but one reveler said, “I don’t even care what the show is about – I just can’t wait to see all the Jersey City locations and people I know.” And that’s what it seems to be all about for local residents – a little 15 minutes of fame for “America’s Golden Door.”
Best Line from Episode One: “Can you not wipe your vagina on my bagel?” delivered completely deadpan by Nicole in front of handsome real estate agent.
Mystery Guest: Shirtless old man peering out of window (who had to have signed a release for this appearance.)
Recognizable locations: Row houses on Hampton Court, deliberately rundown apartment buildings, Mercer Street.
Most Surprising Reveal: Real estate agent lives in Greenville. Jenni suggests apartment-hunting there.
Photo from Sushi Tango’s party by Mona Buckley
