Just three years ago, MTV brought together eight unknown twentysomethings, shacked them up in the summer-getaway spot of Seaside Heights, N.J., and let the cameras roll.

Now after record-setting success as the network’s most-viewed series ever, The Jersey Shore is in its sixth and final season. With this end of an era, what will happen to the show’s fist-pumping, club-hopping cast when the small screen goes to black?

“The future for the Jersey Shore stars, just like for most reality stars, is fairly dim,” says Stacy Jones, CEO of Hollywood Branded Inc. “Their appeal and overall public interest will fizzle unless each cast member can manage to keep themselves relevant. Let’s face it, reality TV shows and stars come and go, and the Jersey Shore stars have had more than their share of 15 minutes of fame. Their time of partying must come to an end.”

Is there a chance the castmates can extend that quarter hour in the limelight?

Perhaps. But not all of the Jersey Shore stars are made equal — Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino stand out amongst the rest. “Snooki and The Situation are the big personalities within the group, and the others are very much so in the background,” explains Jones. “[They] have the ability to make a splash or a scene wherever they go.”

Snooki has already catapulted her small-screen fame into a successful brand: The reality star published three books (including New York Times bestseller, A Shore Thing), landed a spinoff series with BFF Jenni “JWoww” Farley, appeared in 2012’s The Three Stooges, threw punches on WWE Raw, and has been parodied throughout pop culture, on shows such as South Park and Saturday Night Live. And just seven weeks ago, the former party girl became a mom when she welcomed her first child with fiancé Jionni LaValle, son Lorenzo Dominic LaValle. And motherhood opens up a world of opportunity for the MTV star.

“I think Snooki will ultimately do a lot better than The Situation because she had a baby,” reveals pop culture expert Jo Piazza. “Because she had a baby, she can completely re-brand herself and push herself into this different tier of lasting reality stars.” Now, “she is going to do a book about the baby, do a show about the baby, and do all the endorsements around the baby. I think Snooki will ultimately get another series on Lifetime or Oxygen about her being a new mom.”

But will a polished-up Snooki still pull in viewers? “As a mother, she cannot get away with the antics that made her who she is,” says Jones. “This new Snooki could be boring, or she could be the next Jessica Simpson, who made a likeable name for herself with a string of ditzy quotes like, ‘is Chicken of the Sea chicken or tuna?’, or Nicole Richie who founded a fashion line, or Bethenny Frankel, queen of SkinnyGirl.”

“For the Situation to stay relevant, he has to do something major in his personal life,” Piazza explains. “Reality stars have to keep inventing new news because they’re not starring in movies and they’re not releasing CDs. That’s not how the news cycle is built around them. Their personal lives have to become the news, and the things that drive news cycles for reality stars are babies, marriages, divorces and rehab.”

The Situation has already hit headlines for rehab, after the beefed-up star sought treatment for prescription-medication addiction earlier this year. So what move might keep The Sitch in the public eye? “I think the next step for him — the only step for him — is getting married,” Piazza says. “He’s going to have to get engaged and get married and he can capitalize on that wedding and it will keep him relevant.” But has The Situation been pigeonholed into his Jersey Shore out-of-control party persona? “It’s still unclear how this new Michael Sorrentino will live up to the expectations of his followers,” Jones acknowledges. “In his case, his popularity is more so based on his crash and burn – and the more he rights himself, the less he may appeal.”

But Snooki and The Situation are not the only Shore stars branching out. After MTV thrust him into the American consciousness, Paul “Pauly D” DelVecchio maximized on his moment in the spotlight to propel his blossoming DJ career. “Pauly D has gotten himself well established within the Vegas party and touring DJ community – one that is chock full of the younger generation that will help him continue to be popular,” says Jones. “While he might have the most legitimate career of all of the cast members,” she adds, his spinoff, The Pauly D Project, may struggles in the reality-show ratings race. “Is he a strong enough character to support a spinoff? He’s going to need some support casting help as he might be the Joey Tribbiani (of Friends) of this cast.”

As for the other members of the Seaside Heights house — Vinny Guadagnino, Jenni “JWoww” Farley, Deena Nicole Cortese,  Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro — fame may be fleeting. “I’m a little worried that [they] are in for a wave of pain,” reveals Piazza. “I think they will just disappear. That’s what we’ve seen with each reality cycle.” While a few break-out personalities manage, the “second tier of people keep trying really hard…and then they kind of fizzle into obscurity.”

Despite the odds stacked so heavily against them, the Jersey Shore stars are staying full-speed ahead with their careers. “I want to continue with my DJ career,” DelVecchio told Celebuzzat the show’s season six premiere party in New York City. “I got some headphones that came out, my cocktail came out, REMIX, and I’m working on an album right now with 50 Cent and we have an energy shot, Street Kings.”

A few even would like to forgo reality television for scripted shows. “I would like to do acting,” Ortiz-Magro gushed. “Reality TV is something that I’m never going to shut down, but I feel like on Jersey Shore I showed so much of Ronnie that I would like to act…. I think that’s something I would enjoy a lot more.” It’s an aspiration that Guadagnino shares. “I see myself on some really successful TV show somewhere,” he said, adding that he even envisions “winning an Oscar.” And Cortese is angling to do “voice-overs for cartoons,” she revealed. “I’ve been doing voice lessons. I see myself as like a cute little character…on Nickelodeon or Disney.”

Not all of the cast is clinging to fame, though. “As long as I’m happy, successful, and doing what I love to do, that’s really all that matters to me,” said Giancola. For newly-engaged Farley, the future is about family with fiancé Roger Mathews, revealing her hopes to be “married with two kids” in five years. That might be the more ideal path, given that “the shelf life for fame has just gotten so truncated with the 24-hour news cycle,” explains Piazza.

But there may still be a chance for the career-minded Jersey Shore stars to preserve their spotlight. “Reality stars who have TV series end need a team of supporters to help them stay [relevant],” explains Jones. ”This means ensuring their publicists and managers continue to help them find ways to be in the public eye. [And] if they wish to leave the TV world and re-brand themselves, they will need a make-under.” Her advice? “Tone down the big attitudes, fall off the map a bit, stop tanning, and redirect their lives with some real ambition. It won’t be easy, but it can be done.”

No matter what’s on the horizon for the MTV stars, one this is for sure: Jersey Shore is going to its grave. “They have had a place in all of our hearts for years now,” admits Piazza, “but America’s attention span is really short. So America will replace the Jersey Shore stars very quickly. We’re waiting to see what is the next big reality hit. And those people are going to come in and swoop in on the Jersey Shore cast’s fame just as quickly as Kim Kardashian swooped in on Paris Hilton.”

Well, there you have it — Jersey Shore is the new Paris Hilton.

Olympic swimming champion Missy Franklin is headed to Rosewood on ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars. The world record holder and five-time medal winner at the 2012 Olympic games will play herself and stun Emily (Shay Mitchell) when she comes to the Brew to talk to her about swimming.  [ABC Family]

Which two stars were recently cast on FOX’s Glee?

American Idol alum Jessica Sanchez is headed to McKinley High. The singer, who placed second on Season 11 of the FOX reality show, has signed a deal for a recurring role on Glee. No details have been released regarding her role. Who do you think she’ll play? [TVLine]

In more Glee casting news, it looks like Bette Midler will also be popping up on the FOX show. Executive producer Ryan Murphy tweeted Monday night that he asked the superstar singer and actress to be on the show in front of 1000 people. Three hours later he tweeted, “Bette said yes! Amazing. I am plotting…who should she play?” [Twitter]

Season 20 of The CW’s hit reality show America’s Next Top Model is a go. The 20th cycle of the show will air in the summer. The current college edition of the Tyra Banks-led show airs Fridays at 8 PM. [The CW]

Congratulations are in order for The CW! Thanks to a network strategy for a late fall premiere and the big debut of freshman drama, Arrow, the network has seen it’s most watched week in 20 months! It also had its best week among the ad-coveted 18-49 demographic in a year and its best week in adults 18-34 since February. [The CW]

MTV stars, Jersey Shore’s Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino and Teen Wolf’s Tyler Posey, are taking your questions regarding the upcoming presidential election. The pair will be asking your burning questions to CNN political analyst Wolf Blitzer from The Situation Room. The first two spots premiere today on Powerof12.org and MTVnews.com. In addition, Power of 12 has teamed up with MTV news correspondent and documentary filmmaker Andrew Jenks for coverage of the remaining debates. [MTV]

NBC’s Revolution is on a roll as it hit a three-week high in the ratings last night with a total of 8.8 million viewers. Though it garnered great ratings, ABC’s Castle beat the freshman drama in their 10 PM time slot with a season high of 10.9 million viewers. The CW’s 90210 also made a jump in the ratings with 1.1 million viewers. NBC’s The Voice again topped the night otherwise with 12.8 million viewers. [TVLine]

If you’re having trouble deciding who’s cuter — Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino or the kitten he’s holding — you’re not alone.

The Jersey Shore star has just been named PETA’s newest spokesperson, in a campaign against animal overpopulation.

The 30-year-old recently shot one-sheet ads (one definitely NSFW) for the cause, and of course, posed in his shirtless best.

“I’m partnering with PETA because I wanted to use my platform to raise awareness for the overcrowding in our shelters today,” Sorrentino said in a behind-the-scenes video.

“I actually visited a shelter recently . . . and it definitely was overcrowded and I learned that there’s been a problem and it’s a growing problem.”

What else did Sorrentino have to say about the overpopulation situation?

The new ad campaign is a far cry from Sorrentino’s usual antics on Jersey Shore. (For one thing, unlike many PETA celebrity spokespersons, he’s not a vegetarian, as any Jersey Shore fan knows who’s watched him frying up cutlets for the housemates’ Sunday dinner.) In fact, the behind-the-scenes video shows a very soft side of the gym/tan/laundry enthusiast.

“When I hear something on the news about being abused, it’s a very, very sad thing, because animals don’t have a voice,” he said.

“If you have witnessed animal abuse I would suggest to call your authorities.”

Sorrentino joins an already long list of celebrities who have stepped up for the organization. Recent spokespersons have included Justin Bieber, Penelope Cruz, Lea Michele and Morrissey.

What do you think of The Situation becoming the newest PETA spokesperson? Check out the ad above, watch the behind-the-scenes video and share your thoughts below. 

When Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi announced her pregnancy, the world waited with bated breath to see how Jersey Shore‘s fist-pumping, pint-sized party girl would fair as a mother.

Now just six weeks after she and fiancé Jionni LaValle welcomed son Lorenzo Dominic, the verdict is in. “She’s a great mother,” Vinny Guadagnino told Celebuzz at the show’s season six premiere party in New York City. “She totally turned her life around. And the baby is adorable.”

That’s a sentiment many of Snooki’s MTV castmates shared. “She is awesome [and] rocks as a mother,” gushed Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola.

“It just came naturally to her,” added Deena Nicole Cortese. “She’s doing great as a mother…and Jionni’s an awesome dad.”

And how’s their bundle of joy?

“Baby Lorenzo is adorable,” Paul “Pauly D” DelVecchio said with a smile. “He came out with a full set of hair, tan and everything. [Snooki] is a really caring person so…she will be a great mother.”

Newly-engaged Jenni “JWOWW” Farley — who beamed with pride as she posed with her brand-new diamond bauble on the red carpet — is in awe of how much her “best friend” has matured in her new role. “I mean, it’s Snooki from the Jersey Shore,” she explained, “and now she’s one of the best mothers I have ever gotten to meet… She is beautiful, she’s healthy.”

“It’s an amazing transformation,” added Farley’s fiancé Roger Mathews. “It really is.”

And as for Snooki’s little meatball? Farley rejoiced, “Baby Lorenzo is the most gorgeous baby…we both have ever met.”

Though MTV’s Jersey Shore is returning to TV for its sixth and final season this Thursday, don’t be expecting stars Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino to be drunkenly stumbling out of the club anytime soon.

Between Snooki’s pregnancy and The Situation’s recent rehab stint documented on tape, the cast is sure to be toning down their partying ways.

So who will be falling all over the Seaside Heights boardwalk this season?

For one, fans can look forward to a lot of stumbling from cast member Deena Cortese, who was arrested for disorderly conduct during the taping of the show back in June.

The self-proclaimed “blast in a glass” was cuffed after a local police officer spotted her looking “a little intoxicated” as she wandered out into open traffic and started slapping passing cars.

But since Snooki and The Situation will be taking it easy for now, Celebuzz is taking a look back at the series’ most memorable (and hilarious) drunken stumbles.

Watch the video above to relive all their Shore shenanigans. 

You may see a different side of Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino during the last season of MTV’s Jersey Shore  since the reality star attended rehab.

When he appeared on Ellen Wednesday with fellow castmates Paul “Pauly D.” DeVecchio and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, he discussed his eight-month sobriety with talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres.

He says while he questioned whether or not going back to the show was the best idea to keep his sobriety, he decided that he should give it a shot.

“I’m not going to lie. That thought did enter my mind but the other thought that entered my mind was I would feel so bad for you know, my buddies,” he said, “to almost go on without me.”

Sorrentino continued, “I want to be with them no matter what they do. But at the same time nobody has the recipe or the rules to this game. I figure to myself if I can get by you know, rehab. Then why not take a shot.”

What did his castmates have to say about how sobriety has changed him?

Expect to see a more fit, fun and carefree Situation on the Shore this season. Ortiz-Magro even went so far as to say “The Situation” wasn’t really there this season.

“I never liked ‘The Situation.’ Mike came in this year as Mike Sorrentino and he was great to be around. He was fun. He was active. It was just great to have him in the house,” he said.

Pauly D. also chimed in saying that though the friends had grown apart over the year he was happy that his friend got help and came back to the show.

“I had my best friend back. I was just happy to have Mike back,” said DeVecchio.

Sorrentino added, “It was a really special year for me, because something that was just so hard to do in my life. My buddies and my brothers helped me get through it and like I said, I’m stronger for it today and probably the healthiest I’ve been since I was 21.”

Jersey Shore’s sixth and final season premieres Thursday at 10 PM on MTV.

Are you excited for the final season? Let us know in the comments below!

Andy Warhol may have predicted that everyone would become famous for 15 minutes, but he never guaranteed that everyone would earn the same paycheck for their moment in the spotlight.

Among the stars minted by reality TV, how much you earn — like so much else in America — depends largely on where you started out. Those who are already rich or somewhat famous have an advantage over the previously anonymous, and people from pricier zip codes tend to outearn those from the sticks.

The class divide among reality stars reared its head in recent days with the claim by The Hollywood Reporter that the Thompson clan, the self-styled rednecks from McIntyre, Ga. who star in TLC’s new smash Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, earn as little as $2,000 to $4,000 per episode, or no more than $40,000 for the ten-episode season for the entire family. Family matriarch June Shannon has said the figure is a lot higher than that, but even so, it would have to be much, much higher to match the fees earned by, say, the Kardashian family, the various Real Housewives, or even the souvenir T-shirt sales crew on Jersey Shore.

Read on for a breakdown of who earns what in reality TV.

Honey Boo Boo viewers love to be appalled by Shannon and partner Mike “Sugar Bear” Thompson — either they’re bad parents who ply their kids with energy drinks and overstuff them with food while raising them in an atmosphere of privation and backwardness, or they’re bad parents who are exploiting their kids by pushing them in front of a camera even while taking a shamefully low fee for a show that has to be earning TLC millions in ad dollars.

Shannon disputes the $4,000-per-episode figure, telling the Reporter that they’re earning enough from the show to start trust funds for the four kids; in fact, they’re saving all the show money and continuing to live off Thompson’s wages from the local chalk mine.

One guide to how much the Thompsons may earn comes from TLC’s other series built around unorthodox families. At the height of their fame (and before the parental split), the Gosselins of Jon & Kate + 8 were earning $22,500 per episode. (So said Jon Gosselin in a 2009 interview.)

The Duggar family, of 19 Kids and Counting, earn between $25,000 and $40,000 per episode. (Note that the Gosselin family was half as big and lived in suburban Pennsylvania, while the ever-expanding Duggar brood lives in rural Arkansas.)

Over on MTV, the stars of Teen Mom have been doing their part to perpetuate back-country stereotypes (or, if you prefer serve as cautionary tales), but for at least $60,000 per season. But that fee grew as the show aged. Last year, in court documents, Amber Portwood divulged that she was earning $140,000 per season, or $280,000 per year.

Meanwhile, in the higher property tax environs of New Jersey, the stars of Jersey Shore have been earning at least $30,000  per episode each. That adds up to $390,000 per season, or $780,000 per year, for each of the eight roommates. Ever wonder why none of them is motivated to put in a full day’s work at their landlord’s boardwalk T-shirt shop? That’s why.

The reality stars who live largest, the various women of Bravo’s Real Housewives franchise, also earn some of the highest salaries in reality TV. Those who’ve been on the longest have earned bigger salary bumps. For example, according to Radar, among the Real Housewives of Orange County, veteran Vicki Gunvalson earns $450,000 per season, compared to just $30,000 for newbie Heather Dubrow. In the middle are Alexis Bellino ($2000,000), Gretchen Rossi ($300,000) and Tamra Barney ($350,0000).

For Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, the spread is narrower, with Lisa Vanderpump leading the pack with $250,000 per season and Kim Richards and Yolanda Hadid bringing up the rear at $100,000 each. But the franchise’s queen bee is, not surprisingly, the woman who leads the cast of the highest rated show. That would Be Nene Leakes of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, who commands $750,000 per season.

The highest paid performers in reality TV are, of course, the Kardashians. This summer, the family signed a deal for $30 million to star in three more seasons of E!’s Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Of course, there are a lot of Kardashians and Jenners who get to split that $10 million per season; presumably, Kris Jenner and eldest daughters Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney get the lion’s share.

In fact, Kim Kardashian is, according to Forbes, not only the highest-paid woman in reality TV, but also the second highest-earning woman in primetime, period. She earns $18 million a year; only Sofia Vergara of scripted show Modern Family earns more. But much of Kim’s money comes from endorsement deals; same with Vergara, who also gets money from commercials and movie appearances. For both women, only a small fraction of their wealth comes from their TV salaries; the rest is from ancillaries.

And that’s where the real money is in reality TV, not in the per-episode paycheck. The Kardashians rule here, too, with their multiple endorsements, fashion lines, appearance fees, and more. Not to mention spinoff series. It’s no surprise that Khloe, who has pursued those opportunities especially avidly, isn’t far behind Kim on Forbes‘ top-earning women on TV list, with an annual gross of $11 million.

The Jersey Shore stars may play gorilla juiceheads on TV, but off-camera, they’ve been awfully clever about finding ways to milk their fame. Take Snooki, who’s parlayed her fame into a series of best-selling books, products sold on home shopping channels, speaking fees of $30,000 a pop, a spinoff series with pal J-Woww, and and a fee reported at $250,000 to license first exclusive photo rights to People magazine for pictures of her newborn baby, Lorenzo. The Situation has landed endorsement deals and frequent stints on other reality shows to earn himself at least 45 million a year. But Jersey Shore’s top earner may actually be Pauly D, whose spinoff series, endorsements, and high-profile DJ gigs have earned him $11 million a year.

That ancillary money can continue long after the reality gig that spawned it is over. Just ask some of the Real Housewives of New York alumnae. Jill Zarin claimed she earned $1 million in sales from her shapewear line after she left the show. And Bethenny Frankel famously sold her Skinnygirl cocktail business for $120 million. Not bad for a woman who claimed that, before Real Housewives, she couldn’t even pay her rent

Whether the Thompsons of Honey Boo Boo will be able to drum up similar opportunities for themselves is far from certain. Seven-year-old Alana Thompson, Honey Boo Boo herself, may have the cuteness and ebullience to be a commercial spokesperson, at least until she hits puberty in a few years. And given the popularity of Paula Deen, there must be enough fans of calorie-counting-be-damned Southern cuisine to make a Thompson family cookbook a bestseller. At any rate, two things are certain. First, they shouldn’t count on the largesse of TLC. And second, they’d better strike while the iron is hot. Those 15 minutes go by awfully fast.

It’s the Situation vs. MTV’s parent company Viacom in the fight for ownership of “twinning,” “GTL” and the other catchphrases uttered by the popular Jersey Shore star on the hit reality show.

Viacom has filed suit with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board against Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino and his brother’s MPS production company claiming that they have the rights to his many sayings, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Who really owns the words coming out of his mouth?

Apparently back when Sorrentino signed his contract with 495 productions, the reality star forked over his rights to the catchphrases. It stated “all ideas, gags, plots, texts…and other material” belonged to the company. An amended contract drawn up after the show became a hit further clarified he wouldn’t be allowed to use these phrases on T-shirts.

In addition to a clothing deal with Dilligaf, MPS production also has endorsements with Reebok and a “GTL” app on iTunes which Viacom is trying to stop.

No stranger to lawsuits over words, Sorrentino previously filed suit with Abercrombie and Fitch after they released shirts with slogans like “The Fitchuation,” which the retail giant then countered back were owned by Viacom.

Another celeb in the news recently for attempting to file paperwork on this own catchphrase was Ryan Lochte.

His rep confirmed that the Olympic gold medalist wants to copyright his phrase “jeah” to use on a variety of merchandise from workout DVDs to t-shirts. There’s no word on the status of his paperwork yet.

It’s not just fist pumps, blowouts and frickles in the Jersey Shore house.

Talk turned to politics in the cast’s latest Funny or Die video.

As part of MTV teaming up with Power of 12 campaign, the guidos and guidettes tackled the question plaguing many Americas: Does your vote matter?

And the topic sparks some heated discussion.

“Hey, who you guys voting for in November,” Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi poses to her roommates.

“Aw, Snooks, who cares?” Ronnie Ortiz-Magro retorts.

The response makes Snooki’s blood boil. “What the F is wrong with you people?” she yells. “I have a baby inside of me. I’m seriously worried about this country’s future.”

Vinny Guadagnino then drops some knowledge. “You guys realize that this type of apathy is damaging to our younger generations,” he preaches. “If anything, our lessened influence is a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

Even Jenni “JWOWW” Farley chimes in. “Where did you learn all of this s*it?” she barks. “Because you’re oversimplifying an issue that’s as much about the entrenched power structure in Washington as it is about individual voter detachment.”

As the argument reaches a fever pitch, Snooki interjects. “Everyone!” she screams. “Everyone shut up! Look, I got a freakin’ baby in me and I don’t want him getting all agitated. A shore house divided against the South cannot stand.”

Then her BFF helps the group find a common ground. “She’s right,” says JWOWW. “I think there’s one thing we can all agree on. It’s important that we use our power for the 2012 election.”

Catch the Jersey Shore‘s political discourse in their Funny or Die video.

The show returns for its sixth, and possibly final, season on October 4.

Will the MTV stars convince you to vote? Sound off in comments.

Jersey Shore star Mike “The Situation” Sorrention says he’s lucky to be alive after battling a severe addiction to Oxycodone, a type of painkiller.

In an exclusive interview with InTouch, the 30-year-old recalls his struggle to kick the habit, admitting he hit rock bottom in a hotel room while watching a movie starring the late Brittany Murphy.

“All of the sudden, I was like, ‘Wait, didn’t she die on prescription painkillers?’” Sorrentino said of Murphy, who died in 2009 at the age of 32. “‘That could be me. Am I going to be that guy that was so awesome on the Jersey Shore and then … that’s it?’”

So what changed?

After a paid appearance in Australia, Sorrentino decided to go to rehab, due in part to the help and support of his family. There, he endured 10 days of detox, an experience he described as “horrible.”

“I didn’t see a change right away,” he told the magazine. “It was almost like a little kid learning how to ride a bicycle again.”

Sorrentino said he first started taking painkillers after he suffered an injury during his 2010 stint on Dancing With the Stars. Very quickly, however, the drugs became more than just a medical need.

“They gave me energy,” he said. “I felt euphoric.”

Luckily, his stint in rehab proved to be successful. In fact, now, Sorrentino — who just finished filming the latest season of Jersey Shore, which will air later this year on MTV — is feeling better than ever.

“I feel like a new person,” he said. “Healthy and ready to conquer the world.”

For more on The Situation’s struggle, pick up the latest issue of InTouch, on stands now.

Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino has a lot to celebrate as he rings in the big 3-0 on the 4th of July.

Earlier this year, the Jersey Shore reality star surprised fans when he entered rehab for a prescription drug problem, but luckily, the abtastic Jersey boy is now doing better than ever.

He is back with the Shore crew, filming the sixth season in Seaside Heights, alongside Snooki, Deena, JWoww, Ronnie, Pauly D and Sammi Sweetheart.

Wish The Sitch a very happy birthday in the comments below and click through the gallery to see his infamous six-pack abs.

The festivities are sure to be a blow out bash today.

As Celebuzz previously reported, his pregnant co-star Snooki was spotted on her way back to the Jersey Shore house in Seaside Heights, N.J. on Tuesday, pushing around a baby stroller filled with booze.

Dressed in an over-sized shirt and zebra print flip flops, Snooki hauled around a full case of Coors Light beer and bottles of soda for her cast mates.

For more party prep photos from the cast click through the gallery above and check out the most impressive abs in Hollywood in the video, below.

Beefcake alert!

With summer finally here, it’s time for Hollywood’s hottest hunks to head to the beach and show off those beefy biceps and chiseled chests. From Thor himself Chris Hemsworth to Ted star Mark Wahlberg, the warm weather is bringing out ripped male celeb bodies that sizzle hotter than the sun.

Who else has been popping off that shirt for a day of sand and surf? Click through the gallery above to see the hottest male beach bods around.

A hottie through the years: mark wahlberg’s shirtless evolution

14 Photos »

However, these blessed bodies aren’t the only ones gracing sunny beaches and vacation spots these days — the ladies of Tinseltown are also stripping down for the summer season.

Check out the best bikini bodies of 2012 — below.

bikini babes: the hottest beach bodies of 2012… so far

26 Photos »

The Jersey boys and girls of summer have stripped down to brave the Seaside Heights sun once again.

Jersey Shore cast mates Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, DJ Pauly D, Vinny Guadagnino, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, Sammi Sweetheart and pint-size Deena Cortese were spotted baring their beach bods on Wednesday afternoon, June 20, while filming season six of Jersey Shore.

Cortese flaunted all of her curvacious assets as she spilled out of her black bikini, while the Shore boys were sexy and shirtless showing off nothing but their tattoos and bulging biceps.

There were, however, two cast mates missing from this sun and sand excursion.

Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Jenni “JWoww” Farley didn’t hit the beach as they took some time off from filming to head to the Big Apple to promote there new spin-off Snooki and JWoww, airing tonight at 10:30 PM on MTV.

Regardless, feast your eyes on the buff beach bods of the Jersey Shore boys and let us know: Which beefcake is your fave?

Also as a bonus, check out JWoww’s latest bikini sighting in the video below:

Well, this is one way to stay out of trouble.

Jersey Shore star Deena Cortese, who was just arrested last week for disorderly conduct in Seaside Heights, N.J., and Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, who just exited rehab before filming season 6, were spotted enjoying a double date on the Seaside boardwalk.

Who are the reality star’s mystery lovers?

Deena’s locked hands with her boyfriend Chris Brunker, while Sitch cuddled up to a bronzed, midriff-baring gal named Paula, who you may recognize from Season 5 as she appeared several times with the ab-tastic reality star at the shore house.

Cortese, 25, has been seeing Bunker, also a Jersey boy, since November 2011 and has been spotted out and about with him at numerous events over the last few months.

The Situation, 29, met Paula at a club in Seaside and from the looks of this double date, the pair has rekindled their summer love.

“I guess you’d have to say Paula is my main squeeze right now,” Mike, 29, said last season of the brunette. ”She’s definitely very, very cute, very, very sexy body, cool personality. I can’t think of anything wrong, it’s almost too good to be true.”

What do you think of Deena and Mike’s summer love? Will it last? Sound off in the comments!

Bikinis, boys, and beaches? That’s all just in a day’s work for the cast of Jersey Shore!

Deena Cortese was spotted flaunting her bikini body this weekend as she and the rest of the Jersey Shore cast hit up the beach at Seaside Heights, N.J. Joined by pals Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, Vinny Guadagnino, DJ Pauly D, Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola, and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, the self-proclaimed meatball had a blast throwing around a football before heading home with her housemates.

Where was Jersey Shore‘s resident mom-to-be, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi?

The pint-sized guidette was spotted treating her best friend Jenni “JWoww” Farley to a day at the local hair and nail salon.

JWoww, 26, was reportedly caught in the crossfire at a local bar brawl earlier this week. Seen on crutches, the reality TV star had her right ankle in bandages as Snooki drove her around town.

For more Shore gossip, check out the video — below.

The Jersey Shore castmates have returned to Seaside Heights, New Jersey, and star Deena Cortese wasted no time stripping down to a tiny mismatched black bikini to get in a tanning session.

She flaunted her dangerous curves as she laid on the beach, while her costar Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino tore off his white tank top to reveal his chiseled abs.

The duo dosed themselves in tanning oil and caught some summer rays on the beach.

But where was Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi?

Snooki has reportedly moved next door to her pals’ Shore house after the party house became too much for her to handle. The pint-sized reality star, who is pregnant with her first child, didn’t want to be around all the partying.

But that doesn’t mean she’s not enjoying her time at the Jersey Shore. On Wednesday, the self-proclaimed guidette enjoyed a stroll on the boardwalk with her fiance Jionni LaValle. The couple recently announced that they’re expecting a baby boy!

They’re back!

Forget his cast-mates, Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino and his ripped six pack have hit the Jersey Shore for the first time since he completed an in-patient treatment program for a prescription medication addiction.

On show: His tight and toned stomach.

The Sitch, 29, stepped out on the balcony Wednesday at the N.J. home where he and his costars live and call home during filming for the top rating MTV reality series.

The hard-partying star announced March 21 that he had “voluntarily taken steps” to treat his addiction and checked into the Cirque Lodge in Utah.

But how has life changed for a sober Sorrentino?

“Drinking was never a problem for him,” MTV executive Mark Linn said in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly.

“He’s taking steps to be as healthy as possible and we support that.”

As far as the rest of the gang — including pregnant Snooki, Jenni “JWoww” Farley, Deena Cortese, Vinne, Pauly D, Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola and Ronnie Magro — “they all seem to be adjusting well to being back together to film after an 11-month hiatus,” a production source told Celebuzz.

Check out the above gallery for to flip through the recent shirtless and sexy photos or watch this clip below to hear the Sitch talk about his battle with sobriety.

Jersey Shore’s Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino is getting the comic-book treatment — and Celebuzz has your exclusive first look!

On the cover, a shirtless Sorrentino, 29, is shown rocking’ his trademark abs, as he surrounds himself with two women in short-shorts and skirts. Clearly, The Situation knows how to live the life, even in comic-book form!

“I was confident that an amazing artist like Greg Horn would come up with a great look, but I was still blown away by his painting,” Sorrentino told Celebuzz.

“It has me more excited than ever to see what’s coming next.”

See a full image of the cover below!

In April, Sorrentino announced that he had teamed with Wizard World to release a comic book book, starring himself and his family.

“MPS Entertainment and I are thrilled and excited about our new business relationship with Wizard World,” he said, in a press release.

“I grew up reading comic books and now I get a chance to star in my own. I can’t wait for everyone to see what we are working on.”

Earlier this month, it was confirmed that Sorrentino would also appear at Wizard World’s Chicago Comic Con 2012, in August, to promote the comic book.

Most recently, Sorrentino opened up about his stint in rehab, admitting to MTV News that the road to recovery is “not easy.”

Sorrentino is currently filming season 6 of The Jersey Shore, which is scheduled to premiere at a later date.

See the full image in our gallery, then tell us: Are you loving The Situation as a superhero?

Two months after entering a facility to deal with a prescription-medication addiction, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino is finally speaking out about his recovery. Having to give up his boozy-lifestyle (that made him famous), the Jersey Shore star reveals that life after rehab has been tough.

“Ever since I’ve been out, I’m not gonna lie … it’s not easy,” Sorrentino, 29, told MTV News. “But at the same time, where I’m at right now, I’m at a good place. But it took a little bit to get there. In the beginning? A lot of rainy days, so to speak. A lot of rainy days.”

In the interview, Sorrentino goes on to talk about his time in rehab — and why he’s choosing to return to the Jersey Shore, despite all the temptations that’ll be around him. Watch the video above.

Reflecting on his time in rehab, the reality star says it was overwhelming.

“I’m not gonna lie, it feels like you’re not gonna recover. It feels like an impossible deed … [but] day-by-day it gets better,” he said.

Sorrentino is set to return to the Jersey Shore house to film another season of the hit TV show. Looking back on his time there, he regrets how much he hurt fellow co-star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi.

“We were close for a long time. … I am going to say that I am upset that we’re not as close as we are today. I care about the girl, for sure,” he said.

He added: “I would never want to hurt that girl’s feelings. That girl is very special to me. If I could turn back the clock, which I always say that I have no regrets … definitely hurting her feelings … and our friendship.”

Jersey Shore star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino has opened the door to a possible reconciliation with his estranged father who notoriously launched a series of foul-mouthed video tirades about his famous off-spring.

“Pops is still MIA … he made a bad decision in life,” the 29-year-old MTV star said, in a new interview. “Maybe one day he will be back in the picture. But as of right now, well, he made a made decision.”

On an anti-Sitch website, which went public in May 2011, Frank Sorrentino bashed his son for allegedly deserting his family after he got famous.

He labeled Mike a “little f—” and revealed that he planned on penning a tell-all book documenting their relationship titled “Confrontation with Situation.”

Mike eventually sued his father, who is divorced from The Situation’s mother, Linda.

Mike dropped the lawsuit in July when his father filed legal documents apologizing to his son and agreeing to stop using the Jersey Shore star’s name, image and likeness to make a dollar. Frank took down the website.

Speaking on his FilmOn internet television show SituationTV, the reality star said: “He (Frank) tried to write a tell all book about me and it didn’t work out.”