Italian American foundation condemns MTV's 'Jersey Shore'

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) on Friday lambasted what it characterized as "pejorative" stereotypes of Italian Americans on the MTV hit reality show "Jersey Shore."

The statement comes as MTV is in the process of negotiating a second season of the show, which chronicles eight young people who share a summer house on New Jersey's Atlantic shore. In its first season, two characters were jailed for assault and a female character was involved in two separate physical altercations. A number of the actors have Italian last names, and the house is decorated with maps of Italy and Italian flags.

The stereotypes NIAF takes issue with have resonated on Capitol Hill, where Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) said this fall that "Jersey Shore" gave the Garden State "a bad image."

MTV originally used the term "guido" to describe some aspects of the characters, but discontinued the word in voice-overs and promotional spots after complaints from viewers and advertisers.