Jersey Shore - Season 1 Boxset

RRP: £19.99

Best Price: £4.99

Reality TV is a controversial subject. However addictive Big Brother, Pop Idol and I’m A Celebrity might be, it’s undeniable that there’s a certain dumbing-down at play - television that appeals to the lowest common denominator and, tragically, takes airtime away from more cerebral drama. Reality TV is at times exploitative, at times ridiculous, and at times fluff to fill the endless hours.

Never is this more true than of Jersey Shore, a US production which drops 8 New Yorkers at the Jersey Shore for the summer, out of their element and lost in a whirlwind of romance, betrayal, sex and sun. In some ways, the tone of the show is best summarised with a quick glance at the nicknames of the key players - if you’re not impressed by JWoww or Snooki, this might not be the show for you. They’re as obnoxious as they sound and, in every single episode, it’s their outrageous behaviour that’s on show.

Controversially, these 8 uniquely idiotic individuals are Italian American and, as a result, there’s been some controversy with regard the representation of a minority. In truth, it’s more representative of the self-obsessed than it is of any cultural background - you get the distinct impression that these people would be awful regardless of their heritage! That said, it’s not politically correct, in the same way as it’s not smart, and it’s not particularly enlightening.

What Jersey Shore is, though, is entertaining. Not in a healthy way, but in the kind of way that lets you judge people in an instant, get to know them over a season, and then decide that your initial diagnosis was correct. These characters are so extreme - but ultimately so two-dimensional - that the show reads more like a cartoon. For all the things that it’s not, it’s remarkably easy to watch and addictive.

Yes, Jersey Shore is perhaps the world’s single best example of TV dumbing down, inconsequential fluff that is a waste of your time to watch. But - and let’s be honest - it’s only wasting your time because it’s addictive, it’s funny, and there’s just something about it that will keep you coming back.