Vinny Guadagnino

Vinny Guadagnino had the best summer of his life when he joined the cast of "Jersey Shore" (MTV, 2009-12), a reality series in which cameras followed every hookup, every boardwalk fight and every fist pump from a group of young Italian-Americans living together in New Jersey.

Guadagnino walked into the shore house as a "mama's boy" with a mission - to celebrate his 21st year surrounded by plenty of single women and alcohol - and it helped turn the freshman series into a reality franchise for the network. Even though "Jersey Shore" was mired by controversy, with Italian-American organizations offended by the housemates' questionable use of the terms "Guido" and "Guidette," Guadagnino maintained a positive attitude and unwavering pride for his traditional Italian roots throughout the show's breakout first season.

Vinny Guadagnino was raised in a traditional Italian household in Staten Island, NY. The self-confessed "mama's boy" had just turned 21 when he packed up and moved to Seaside Heights, NJ in the summer of 2009 to film "Jersey Shore."

The MTV reality series followed a rambunctious and outspoken group of individuals - all advertised as of Italian-American descent - as they lived, worked and partied together. The cast included New York party girl Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi and fitness club manager Michael "The Situation" Sorrentino, who also hailed from Staten Island.

While Polizzi and Sorrentino became instant viewer favorites - for her notorious bar fight with a male patron during the fourth episode and his constant third-person reference to his toned abdominals as "The Situation" - Guadagnino maintained a relatively low profile on the show. It was evident from the first episode, however, that the Staten Island native was also the most impressionable cast member.

He had the least amount of experience when it came to flirting with the opposite sex while his co-stars boasted of nightly conquests and random hookups. In an effort to outdo his male housemates in the romance department, Guadagnino flirted with his boss' daughter as well as Sorrentino's sister during the show's first season.

Guadagnino's "mama's boy" persona and youthful energy - his "fist pump" dance was imitated by nightclub-goers across the country - made a lasting impression on the show's female viewers. However, not everyone was happy with the series' portrayal of Italian-Americans.

The cast's frequent use of the terms "Guido" and "Guidette" angered cultural groups such as the National Italian-American Foundation and UNICO National, which called for a boycott of the show. Several advertisers including Dell and Domino's Pizza pulled their commercials after the first episode of "Jersey Shore" aired.

MTV declined to give in to the threats by UNICO and its advertisers and defended the program, even releasing a statement that said the cast's use of the term "Guido" was meant in a positive manner. The controversy helped boost the show's ratings and furthered its stars' "promotional" careers. Suddenly Guadagnino commanded a $3,500-per-club appearance following the first season.

In January 2010, the reality star confirmed to The New York Daily News that the original cast of "Jersey Shore" was asked to appear for the show's second season.

By Marc Cuenco