If you watched the crazy antics on MTV’s Jersey Shore during its six controversial seasons, there may have been moments where you felt like murdering some of the residents. Don’t worry — some of the cast members felt the same way! Just ask Jenni “JWoww” Farley, the executive producer of the new film Jersey Shore Massacre, a gory spoof in which a familiar looking group of fist-pumping guys and gum-cracking blow-dried girls become the unsuspecting targets of a deranged killer. Be forewarned — this film is not for those with queasy stomachs! But you may enjoy figuring out which of the characters are the counterparts to JWoww, Snooki, “The Situation,” Pauly D, Vinny, Deena, Ronnie, and Sammi.
Since Jersey Shore ended in 2012, Jenni Farley has been shooting the spinoff reality show, Snooki & JWoww. The tone of that show changed dramatically when Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi gave birth to her son, Lorenzo, with her boyfriend, Jionni, and when Jenni announced her own pregnancy with her fiancé, Roger Mathews. Farley gave birth to their daughter, Meilani, on July 13. I spoke with Jenni “JWoww” Farley a few days after the premiere of Jersey Shore Massacre.
Danny Miller: I always thought you were the most level-headed of the Jersey Shore bunch. If only your roommates had listened to you more, they could have saved themselves from a lot of trouble!
Jenni “JWoww” Farley: I agree! But then we wouldn’t have had a show, right? I can’t tell you how many times during that show I thought, “Why the fuck are you doing this?” But they never listened to me.
You’re pretty busy for someone who had a baby five weeks ago! Is producing movies something you’d like to do more of?
Yes, I’d love to do more. I especially like the comedy horror genre — I’m not sure I’ll be producing heavy dramas any time soon. I really enjoy making fun of myself which is what I think we do in Jersey Shore Massacre.
And you let people watch some of their meanest fantasies about you guys!
That’s it! There were definitely times on the show that I wanted to kill those guys and this was the perfect way to live out that fantasy. I really wanted to keep it authentic to the TV show with the humor, the “grenades,” the “GTL” (Gym, Tanning, Laundry), and the completely over-the-top “guidos” and “guidettes.”
I assume the resemblance to some of your former castmates, especially the guys, was intentional?
Yes, that was very intentional but I’m not going to say who’s who — I’d rather let the fans decide. To be honest, it’s kind of easy, but I’ll never admit it because I’m kind of making fun of my roommates who I love dearly!
I hope they didn’t take any offense.
I actually sat next to Ronnie at the premiere a few days ago and there were times when he just looked at me and said, “Really?” I turned beet red.
You don’t appear in this film yourself. Do you have any acting ambitions?
I did a role on the soap One Life to Live and appeared with my roommates in the Three Stooges movie a few years ago. I’m down to play characters that are true to me and my JWoww persona but that’s about it, I don’t think I’m up for any dramatic roles. I mean, I think I could play a really good dead body on Law and Order — that I could nail! But appearing on Broadway or something like that? Not so much.
I can imagine you in something like the musical Chicago, playing Roxie or Velma. Can you sing?
Oh hell no! You don’t want to hear me sing — trust me on that one.
This movie does not hold back on the gore, to say the least. Have you always been a fan of those kinds of movies?
Yes, I’m a huge fan. But when I watch this movie, I honestly laugh from beginning to end! I know some people are cringing and screaming at the violence, but I’m laughing my ass off thinking that roommates are getting killed one by one. It’s so much fun to watch.
Ha — what would your therapist say? Do you see JWoww as a separate character from the real Jenni?
Roger always talks about that. He thinks JWoww is very different from the Jenni he knows at home. But everyone is different at home, don’t you think? We all kick up our feet and relax. Hell, I hardly even speak when I’m at home!
But the difference with you is that because of your TV shows, we feel like we have seen you at home even if that’s not really your true self.
But it is! I mean, when we’re shooting Snooki & JWoww, we’re not sitting there with our cell phones as we probably would be at home. So we’re definitely going to interact more and do things we wouldn’t normally do because we wouldn’t usually be given the opportunity to do such crazy things. But it’s all stuff that Nicole and I might do in our actual lives if we had the chance — except these days we’re usually way too tired. I mean two young kids? Hello! But that’s what Roger and I are always fighting about. He says, “You wouldn’t have done that in real life,” and I say, “Yes I would if I was given the chance!” I think he’s finally realized that Jenni and JWoww are the same person — it’s just that one of them is at work and one isn’t. You have to express yourself more when you’re making a TV show. But those are my real thoughts.
Roger also seems very level-headed compared to some of the guys that have been on the show. Did you have drag him into being on TV with you?
Every step of the way — and I’m still dragging his ass! Look, Roger is a 9 to 5 union worker. He loves his woman, he just opened up his own landscaping company, he’s a regular good guy. But since we started dating while I was on Jersey Shore, he had to get involved. It wasn’t his choice, but it is what it is!
You two seemed like the opposite of everyone’s favorite tormented couple: Ronnie (Ortiz-Magro) and Sammi (Giancola). Their fights were pretty nuts. I haven’t heard much about them since the show ended — are they still together?
Ronnie just announced at the Jersey Shore Massacre premiere that after five years they are no longer together.
Aww.
Believe me, I don’t even ask at this point. You never know what’s going to happen with those two. I wish them the best.
People have a lot of opinions about you guys. Are the fans you encounter usually pretty respectful?
Yes, knock on wood! We get a ton of Internet bullying, of course, but I’ve never had a negative encounter in person. It’s all positive, which is awesome.
And you’re still doing Snooki & JWoww?
Yep, we’re shooting for the next couple of months. I’m super excited. I can’t wait for everyone to meet Meilani.
Do you have any other films in the pipeline?
Right now I’m working on a TV show with another network — a reality show that I created from beginning to end. Keep your fingers crossed!
Yikes, how do you have enough hours in the day — especially with an infant? Do you have a lot of help?
Nope, just me and Roger but we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Does it ever make you cringe when you see yourself on old episodes of Jersey Shore?
Yes, it does. I don’t watch myself, I can’t! It freaks me out because I don’t want to start censoring myself. If I start worrying about how I present myself I know I’ll turn into Stuttering Stanley.
But even in the early years of Jersey Shore, you never came off as crazy as some of the others.
You learn very quickly in the world of reality TV that if you don’t say it, they can’t make it happen in the editing, no matter how much they try.
And if you do say something really inflammatory, you can bet they’re going to use it!
Of course! But the shows I’ve been on lately have changed — now I really think we’re just being ourselves. There are times when we still fight on Snooki & JWoww but we’re able to move past it and learn from it. But if I get mad and feel like I want to say something unnecessary that I might regret later, I’ve learned to bite my tongue. How you feel then is never how you’re going to feel by the time the show airs — and it can really sting to see that stuff months later.