When MTV first announced it was airing a show featuring a group of Italian-American twenty-somethings living together in a house on the Jersey Shore for the summer, they drew howls of outrage and derisive snickers from all quarters.
But much to everyone’s surprise, “Jersey Shore” not only found an audience and became the biggest smash the network has seen in years, several members of the cast have become stars in their own right.
Chief among them is diminutive 21-year-old Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, who comes equipped with enough attitude for three women twice her size and buckets of natural charisma.
On Sunday night, MTV gave Snooki the task of interviewing artists arriving at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Can I be the first to beg the network to give Polizzi a permanent gig? Please, oh please, oh please?!
While Snooki’s interviewing style is, well, unique and her questions are a tad (okay, completely) surreal, she managed to completely charm everyone she stopped, including Judas Priest’s Rob Halford and Scott Travis and the members of French quartet Phoenix, who she asked if “they have guidos in France.”
Here are eight highlights from Snooki’s Grammy Awards adventure. (And MTV, if you’re listening, I’m totally serious about that show. I’d watch every single episode and make everyone I know watch too.)
MTV Shows
Wednesday, February 3
Joe DeRosa, Heather McDonald, Josh Wolf – “Chelsea Lately”
Fabolous – “Lopez Tonight”
Sarah Silverman, Nneka – “Late Show with David Letterman”
Nick Jonas & The Administration, Demetri Martin – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Metric – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun
Thursday, February 4
Sarah Silverman – “The View”
Wil Anderson, Dan Levy, Brad Wollack – “Chelsea Lately”
Jamie Foxx, Robin Thicke – “Late Show with David Letterman”
Wanda Sykes – “The Jay Leno Show”
Adam Sandler, Kate Voegele – “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” – rerun
The Bravery – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Hot Chip – “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
The Raveonettes – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun
Friday, February 5
Jamie Foxx – “The View”
Robin Thicke – “Live with Regis and Kelly”
The Osbournes – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
Lily Tomlin – “The Bonnie Hunt Show”
Patti Smith – “The Tavis Smiley Show”
Ross Mathews,Jen Kirkman, Matt Braunger – “Chelsea Lately” – rerun
The Swell Season – “Late Show with David Letterman”
Bill Maher – “The Jay Leno Show”
Diane Birch – “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” – rerun
Ozzy Osbourne, Barry Manilow – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Jill Scott – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”
Lisa Hannigan – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun