Source: ‘Jersey Shore’ Cast On Strike, Wants MTV To Pay Up

The contract dispute rages between MTV and the Guidos and Guidettes of the Jersey Shore. The first footage of season three was to begin filming today, but some members of the cast are holding out for bigger paychecks.

A source close to the cast tells Crushable “nobody really knows” how things will proceed, but they do want to participate in the third season. It’s just that many housemates can make more money doing promotional appearances than they would filming the runaway hit MTV reality show. The source says MTV feels a “vested” ownership over the castmates, and will not allow the cast to make potentially lucrative cameos at clubs at parties while production on the show is in session.

The source says the network wanted the cast to continue on with the same contract they signed for the second season, which taped this past spring and is slated to premiere July 29. (A representative for MTV did not immediately respond to requests for comment.)

“They’re like, ‘We negotiated for season two – why wouldn’t we do that for season three?’” says the source, relaying the cast reaction.

Filming on the Shore for season three would last a period of two months, and that could translate into thousands of dollars lost making photo ops and capitalizing on their tremendous fame. Meanwhile, the crew sits waiting, TMZ reports.

“Some are holding out, some are broken off,” says the source, adding that The Situation is in talks to get a book deal.

At the moment, the cast nets between $10,000-$20,000 per promotional appearance (typically they show up at events and mingle with fans). Pauly D makes up to $20,000 for his DJ sets, while Vinny, Ronnie and JWOWW are at the lowest end of the totem pole, charging $10K per appearance. Each cast member makes $10,000 per episode of Jersey Shore, so counting in 12 episodes of the upcoming second season (which airs July 29), they’re making some $120,000 each in total.

“The Hills cast made $100,000 per episode, and they’ve blown The Hills out of the water” in the ratings, the source says.

What do you think: Should The Situation make as much as Spencer Pratt?