So now I got a brand new dance
I need one more shot
I just need one last chance
I know I won’t get caught
I gotta make my last stand
This time I can’t be bought
Then again on the other hand
How much have you got?
The great, Portland-born folksinger Todd Snider had it right on the money in “Can’t Complain,” a lament dripping with knowing irony about the chances of one person to change hie or her situation in life.
Snider’s cockeyed pessimism came to mind when I stumbled across a story detailing how Mike Sorrentino, above, the Alpha male known as “The Situation” on the MTV scripted reality show “The Jersey Shore,” will rake in $5 million from the series and endorsements this year.
A rundown from the TV Guide story:
“The 29-year-old self-proclaimed ‘guido’ currently makes close to $60,000 an episode for filming the Jersey Shore. … Then there are the event appearances, which rake in $15,000 to $50,000 each, which should total a million alone by year’s end.
“He’s releasing an abs fitness video, The Situation Workout, and a supplement line with GNC; has signed a deal to release an autobiography, ”Here’s the Situation”; has a GTL app, a rap song and a clothing line with Dilligaf; endorsements with Vitamin Water and Reebok; and is in talks to appear in feature films and other TV shows.”
Oh, and Vodka company Devotion is reportedly paying him $400,000 to be its spokesman.
For comparison, The Situation’s good friend Snooki only makes 30 grand an episode — which is a pittance compared not only to Sorrentino, but to the $250,000 a show raked in by Kate Gosselin. (I couldn’t find how much each of her eight props children make for their exploitation participation in the show.)
Five million dollars is a lot of money for hanging out with contracturally selected “friends” on the Jersey shore. Heck, it’s $2 million more than the property value of the 11 homes that burned to the ground this past week in Ashland.
Imagine how much money could be raised for those families, and the city itself, by creating a reality series and pitching it to a willing TV network. MTV might not do for Ashland, which is clearly a PBS community. Although, if such a show were on PBS, it would have to do a fundraising drive to fund its production, so it would be a wash financially.
Better yet, find a way to help in the wake of this disaster without resorting to selling your life (or dignity) to a reality show. Then again, on the other hand, how much has MTV got?
I’ve been listening to Todd Snider a lot lately. You should, too; it helps.
