It’s been more than 15 years since the original Jersey Shore began its six-season run on MTV, and the continuation Jersey Shore: Family Vacation is still going strong, commencing its eighth season this past Thursday. The gang’s lives may look a bit different now, but they are still as close as ever. Snooki has been searching for her birth mother and recently tracked her down. Sammi is on an IVF journey and hoping to start a family with her fiance, Justin. Meanwhile, Angelina is on the outs with the shore gang again.
A Long Summer
More than half the shore gang are parents now, and the premiere started with them getting ready to send their kids off to school. Jenni is ready for school to begin after a “long summer”. Deena, whose kids are younger, is struggling to let go, and stays involved by joining the PTA and putting her planning skills to good use.
The Lonely Chooch
RSVP reunited in the season premiere and were on a mission to find Vinny a girlfriend. The boys went to the biggest Italian festival in New York, San Gennaro, to find Vinny the “perfect” Italian woman, “just like his mom.” He went on a series of speed dates, but it seemed to be slim pickings.
Um Hello?
Angelina wasn’t seen with the group at all throughout the premiere. According to her, she is estranged from them again, this time due to negative comments she made on her “Um Hello?” Podcast, stating that she feels after every trip she takes with them. The gang didn’t make any comments about the situation in the premiere.
Aside from her podcast, Angelina is also working on music. She says she has dreamed her whole life of being a pop star and is hoping to make that dream come true. Additionally, after a roller-coaster ride of a relationship, it appears Angelina and Vinny 2.0 are no longer together or at least taking a break.
Baby Blues
Sammi is continuing her IVF journey with the support of her fiance Justin. The couple has been open about their struggles with infertility, having previously suffered a miscarriage and sharing in this episode that they suffered a chemical pregnancy. In February, they announced they were expecting their first child together, due this August.
Mommy Dearest
Nicole is another member of the shore gang who’s opening up. The meatball has been a journey since the previous season of trying to find her birth parents. She has been working with a genealogist, who was able to track down her birth mother, sister, and brother, but not her birth father yet.
Jenni, Deena, and her parents were there for the reveal. Nicole has said in previous seasons that her parents struggled with her choice but ultimately supported her, and assures them that they will always be her parents no matter what. The premiere ended with Nicole getting ready to talk to her birth mother over the phone, and the next episode will pick up where they left off and continue their conversation.
New episodes of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation air on Thursdays at 8/7c on MTV. Previous seasons of both series are available to stream on Paramount+.