Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino

Few reality stars can boast of a life story more inspirational than that of Mike Sorrentino.

But even the greatest of comebacks is bound to face a few setbacks ...

There was a time, not even all that long ago, when the Jersey Shore cast only cared about three things:

Doing laundry. Getting a tan. And going to the gym.

Even following a season that featured a prison release, an arrest for domestic violence and the most controversial wedding reception speech in reality TV history, many thought this was it for Jersey Shore.

In its reboot seasons, Jersey Shore has occasionally tested the limits of viewers' patience with filler episodes in which next to nothing transpires.

But while we've lowered our expectations from the show's wilder days, we never thought we'd see the day when a meeting with a prenup lawyer is considered a storyline.

These days, life has pretty much ground to a halt thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, but as we were reminded during last night's episode of Jersey Shore, a lot happened during the eight months that Mike Sorrentino was in prison.

Deena welcomed her first child; JWoww started dating Zack Carpinello; Vinny became a stripper ...

It may have been the most long-anticipated scene in the history of reality TV. Or at least in the second coming of Jersey Shore.

As you probably recall, Mike Sorrentino pled guilty to tax fraud back in January of 2018.

Well, another season of Jersey Shore is upon us.

In many respects, Thursday night's season premiere offered more of what we've come to expect from our favorite gang of guidos.

A new season of Jersey Shore kicks off on MTV tonight, and while that's certainly a phrase we didn't expect to be writing in 2020, we have to credit the show for remaining fresh by not shying away from the many hardships its cast has faced in recent years.

It was the guidos love of partying that made Shore a sensation, but it's the honest and humble ways in which they've faced an array of challenges together that have kept them hanging around.

MTV has announced the return date for Jersey Shore: Family Vacation.

The network has also unveiled the official synopsis for the continuation of Season 3, and you won't believe this, but...

Last month, Mike Sorrentino, a.k.a. "The Situation" shared some utterly heartbreaking news with his fans.

The formerly incarcerated Jersey Shore star revealed that his wife Lauren Pesce had suffered a miscarriage.

Big congratulations go out to The Situation today!

The formerly troubled Jersey Shore star announced this week that he's officially been sober for four years.

Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino and his lovely wife, Lauren, recently celebrated their one-year weddning anniversary.

Sadly, however, we just learned that the Jersey Shore couple also recently suffered one of life's worst nightmares.

Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino would like to make something abudantly clear:

He is no Alex Rodriguez.

It feels like just yesterday Mike Sorrentino married his college sweetheart Lauren Pesce.

It also feels like just yesterday authorities took the Jersey Shore star away in cuffs for committing tax evasion. 

“The comeback is always greater than the setback.” 

That's one of the cringe-inducing aphorisms that Jersey Shore star Mike Sorrentino took to spouting in the months before his prison sentence.

After eight long months on the inside, Mike Sorrentino was released from prison on September 12.

And as anyone who's been watching recent episodes of Jersey Shore knows -- Mike's absence has been keenly felt on the show.

Last week, Mike Sorrentino was released after serving eight months behind bars for tax evasion.

Despite his relatively short sentence, The Situation missed out on quite a lot during his time in federal prison.

When Mike Sorrentino pled guilty to tax evasion back in January of 2018, the news led many to express disbelief at the reality star's financial situation.

After all, one can't hide millions in assets without first amassing millions, and for those who had remained ignorant of the Jersey Shore phenomenon, the revelation that a guy named "The Situation" was earning 7 figures annually came as quite a shock.

Break out then Funfetti cake, folks!

Big Daddy Sitch is coming home!

Look out, bars, tanning salons and gyms around the country.

You're about to have a situation on your hands.

Back on January 15, Mike Sorrentino turned himself over to authorities to begin serving an eight-month sentence for tax evasion.

At the time of his conviction, Mike's loved ones were vocal in their belief felt that the judge in his case had decided to "make an example" of the Jersey Shore star by doling out an unusually harsh punishment.

When Mike Sorrentino was sentenced to eight months in prison last year, the ruling came as a stunning blow to the family, friends, and army of loyal fans who had witnessed his transformation from hard-partying douche to compassionate, responsible pillar of his community.

Unfortunately, in the eyes of the criminal justice system, that transformation happened too late.