Jersey Shore

It was apparently picking up its dry cleaning.

Jersey Shore takes over Italy August 4.

In anticipation of the glorious fourth season, MTV has released some hilarious, cringe-inducing promo pics melding the guido lifestyle with the renaissance.

Think GTL meets the Sistine Chapel.

Images of the Garden State lowlife culture defacing European masterpieces may not help America's standing in the Old Country, but man, the duck phone serving as a Venetian gondola? High-fives to MTV's marketing department there:

Vinny Guadagnino returned to Jersey Shore over the weekend, a little over a week after getting into an altercation with a cast member and bolting.

Reports say The Situation, who walked off the set in a similar huff, is also back into the fold. But the network is far from pleased with their antics.

MTV has instituted a "zero tolerance policy" for the Jersey Shore stars, threatening to fire any cast member who even thinks of going AWOL.

TMZ says the network is serious this time. Walk off the show again and you're fired, your contract will be terminated, period. No exceptions.

With two cast members nearly jumping ship in the same week, MTV wants to reassert a degree of authority and show the cast who's in charge.

Of course, it's an empty threat if they won't back it up, or the cast doesn't care. The Sitch firmly believes he doesn't need the show anymore.

For now, all is well in Seaside ... but give it a few hours.

[Photo: WENN.com]

Vinny Guadagnino has returned to Jersey Shore. His self-imposed hiatus at home on Staten Island lasted roughly 10 days, but he's reportedly back in the mix.

The reality star enjoyed dinner and drinks over the weekend in Seaside Heights with his roommates, who banded together in an attempt to woo him back.

After Vinny peaced out July 4th weekend, he said he was done with Jersey Shore. Apparently he had a change of heart after dining with Snooki & Co.

The cast, who just returned from filming Season 4 in Italy, was put right to work on Season 5 back in the Garden State. Tension arose early and often.

Vinny left following an altercation with a cast member, the details of which have not been made public. But it sounds like that was the tip of the iceberg.

Guadagnino was reportedly not happy being bossed around by MTV execs, and threatened to leave, saying he was "homesick" and feeling "burned out."

The Situation stirred up similar reports when he ripped off his mic and walked off the set last week after an altercation with his co-stars and producers.

In any case, Guadagnino returned. Sitch is still MIA. Stay tuned.

[Photo: Pacific Coast News]

The wheels may be coming off the Jersey Shore money train.

Last week, Vinny Guadagnino peaced out abruptly in the middle of filming, walking out of the house, heading home to Staten Island and not coming back.

Now reports say The Situation has done the same.

Sources say Sitch (real name Mike Sorrentino) abandoned his costars and decided to head home early: "Mike walked off the show. He's so over the whole thing ... I don't think he's coming back. Everyone in the house is so unhappy."

The cast returned from Italy to begin filming Season 5 of Jersey Shore where it all began in the familiar confines of a Seaside Heights, N.J. beach house.

It's unclear what sent The Situation and Vinny packing. Maybe a lack of break from filming between seasons is taking its toll? Something is amiss.

What is the Jersey Shore without The Situation and Vinny? Something you would even watch? Are other cast members days away from bailing too?

Stay tuned, and share your comments with us below ...

[Photo: WENN.com]

Yesterday's video of a drunk Snooki dancing with a plant amused many.

Her ex, Emilio Masella, is not among those laughing for some reason.

Snooki's former boyfriend, who dated her for a few hours last year, says he's worried and claims MTV is to blame for "turning Nicole into an alcoholic."

"[MTV and Jersey Shore] are killin her liver. That's not the Nicole I knew! Poor girl," he wrote on Twitter, where he somehow has over 12,000 followers.

Snooki Dances With Plant

"This is Disgusting," he adds. "The Vid with Nicole Dancing with the plant, is a total embarrassment. I blame Production. They won't learn till she hurts herself."

Perhaps not, but come on, it's effing Snooki. This is what she does!

We know effing Snooki will get it on with anything that moves.

Apparently she'll also make advances on things that do not.

The drunk Jersey Shore star did her thing in Seaside Heights on Saturday, sloppily grinding on a standing, decorative plant like it was Jionni LaValle.

Check out the thoroughly amazing display below. This isn't Snook's first romantic encounter with an inanimate object, nor will it be the last ...

Snooki Dances With Plant

Vinny Guadagnino bailed on the Jersey Shore house following an altercation with a fellow cast member last night, and reports say it may be for good.

Sources say Vinny bolted after the fight, saying he felt "burned out," and went back home to Staten Island. He is in Staten Island with family now.

Vinny threatened to leave a few days ago, after he complained of "being homesick."

The cast was able to talk him out of leaving ... temporarily.

As for what sparked his departure specifically, that's unclear.

Whatever issue he had with one of his co-stars must have been the nail in the coffin. Such blowups are becoming commonplace. In Italy, Ronnie pounded The Situation senseless, but he couldn't exactly drive home from Florence.

In season three, Sammi fled after an EPIC fight with Ron, only to reappear a few days later and instigate slightly less violent fights with Ron.

Will Vinny do the same? TMZ claims Vinny has "been a pain in the ass" and no one will beg him to return this time. Executive producer Sally Ann Salsano said, "We do not comment on the production of the show."

[Photo: WENN.com]

A simmering feud between Situations has been settled.

Jersey Shore star Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino filed papers today to dismiss a lawsuit he had set in motion against his dad, Frank. Son had been angry that father had been blasting him the press and attempting to profit off his (hilarious) name.

Frank has promised to avoid the same mistakes in the future, but he also places most of the blame on Robert Fletcher, a publishing agent who Frank claims was behind this video.

Frank has taken down his anti-Situation website and writes in court documents: "I regret getting involved with Robert Fletcher and I am sorry that I participated, to the detriment of my son Michael."

Fletcher actually paid Mike $5,000 as part of this settlement. What a ridiculous... sorry, but it's true... situation.

[Photo: WENN.com]

After six weeks in Italy, the cast of Jersey Shore is back where they belong.

Seaside Heights, N.J., will once again have to beef up its police force and the staffing of its free clinics. JWoww, Sitch, Vinny, Ronnie, Sammi, Deena, Pauly D and effing Snooki gave returned to their familiar cesspool stomping grounds:

The gang was reunited with loved ones at a private party at Captain Hook's, a popular bar in the area. Filming has already begun on the fifth season.

"We love the current cast and their summer adventures have just begun," an MTV spokesperson said. "We currently have no plans to recast the show."

Jersey Shore Season 4, depicting the misadventures of the crew in the old country, is set to premiere Thursday, August 4. Prepare yourselves.

[Photo: WENN.com]