Cliffnotes ‘Jersey Shore’ 2.3: Critical Analysis On ‘Creepin’

In this follow-up to the first edition of our easy to read, comprehensive guide to the generational classic Jersey Shore: Miami, we will be focusing on the neuro-linguistic patterns of “creepin,” along with “smooshin.” While originally these two stations could not seem farther away on the partying spectrum from our heroes, in this chapter we ask: Are they?

After all, what we see in Chapter 3, the major hurdle that both the characters and us as viewers encounter is a lack of verbal communication. Thus, when Angelina apologizes to Pauly D. for slapping him repeatedly in the face the night before (how sick was that when Pauly freaked out, btw? Soooo sick), a closer analysis will reveal that she is not at all sorry, and is merely trying to get sympathy from the two “alliances” she has left in the house. Although never explicitly stating that she is lying, Angelina makes use of several nonverbal “cues,” including crying, raising her voice, and refusing to understand what the word apology means. Pauly D.’s face, as we can see from the image on the right, is “honest” in that it expresses one of the four key emotions characterized in the series: Anger, horniness, drunk, and “creepin.”

Later on, we will see this Vinny emote “creepin” towards Snooki, which one might conclude is an ironic gesture of Vinny’s part. After all, if “The Situation” is so fake that he has actually become the only true (or “true to himself” i.e. his behaviors and mannerisms would not change whether or not their were cameras on him) member of the household, than Vinny is the opposite, always staying at least partially removed as a casual observer from the household drama. His creepin’ (or “Smooshin”) towards Snooki, a roommate he previously had little interest in, however seems genuine: His eyebrows raise, his pupils dilate, and he tells Snooki she looks hot. This is a set-up for what astute viewers will have already gathered to be the inevitable Snooki/Vinny hookup romance beginning with a late night cuddle session and the most romantic phrase heard yet on the show, “Do you wanna f****?” “Sure.”

For secondary examples of creepin’ in this episode, Ronnie presents the absolute opposite of Vinny’s self-aware shame of attraction. Instead of sympathizing with his audience or breaking the fourth wall with an ironic nod, Ronnie immerses himself in the Quixotism task of becoming the biggest jerk on the show, looking to steal Angelina’s title from the previous week. Except he pushed a lady, and you never push a lady, even if she’s Snooki. You may want to note that Ronnie probably has a coke problem.

That leaves us with The Situation, who in previous installments of this series has been crowned the king of “creepin.” Determined to prove in this sequel that the characters have evolved (or in some cases, devolved), it is Michael who literally splashes water on his face in the hot tub to see the women he has brought home are actual grenades. In all of literature, a better metaphor could not have been written.