Michael Sorrentino

Michael Sorrentino
Michael "The Situation" Sorrentino (on the right) with Paul DelVecchio in Florence, Italy (May 2011)
Born	July 4, 1982 (1982-07-04) (age 29) Staten Island, New York, U.S.
Other names	The Situation, Mike, Sitch
Occupation	Television personality, model
Years active	2009–present

Michael Sorrentino (born July 4, 1982^[1]), publicly known by his nickname The Situation, is an Italian American television personality. He has appeared on the MTV reality show Jersey Shore since its premiere in 2009.

Early life

Sorrentino was born in West New Brighton, Staten Island, New York, and grew up for most of his childhood in Manalapan Township, New Jersey.^[2] Sorrentino attended Manalapan-Englishtown Middle School and Manalapan High School.^[3]

Sorrentino worked as an assistant manager of a fitness center in Staten Island.^[4] When he was 25, he lost his job; and according to Sorrentino, he then began underwear modeling.^[5]

Career

Sorrentino has been a cast member on all four seasons aired thus far. Season 5 also recently finished taping in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. Since appearing on Jersey Shore, Sorrentino has been a guest on many outlets, such as The Howard Stern Show, The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno Show, Lopez Tonight, SportsNation, Chelsea Lately, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Conan.^{[citation needed]} He began taking bookings at nightclubs and other private events.^{[citation needed]}

Sorrentino was a contestant on Season 11 of Dancing with the Stars,^[6] eliminated on the 4th week. His partner was Karina Smirnoff.

In fall 2010, Sorrentino appeared with Bristol Palin in a public service announcement for The Candie's Foundation, as part of its Pause Before You Play campaign on to prevent teen pregnancy.^[7]

In January 2011, Sorrentino signed on to star in the YOBI.tv "Random Talent" webseries co-starring British comedian Ben Green.

According to news sources, Sorrentino made more than $5 million in 2010, the second highest of any other reality star after Kim Kardashian.^[8][9] This money was accrued through endorsements with Devotion Vodka,^[10][11] Reebok Zigtech shoes,^{[citation needed]} as well as a ghost-written autobiography,^[12] a rap song,^{[citation needed]} a workout DVD,^[12][13] a vitamin line for GNC,^[4] a clothing line,^[14][15] and appearances including Jersey Shore and Dancing with the Stars. His book release was described as a failure, selling an estimated 12,000 copies as of January 2011.^[16]

In March 2011, Sorrentino appeared on the Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump, most of which was booed.^[17] In August of that year, Sorrentino was offered a "substantial" sum of money by fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch not to wear the company's clothes. A spokesman for the company explained that "Mr Sorrentino's association with our brand could cause significant damage to our image."^[18][19]

References

1. ^ Michael Sorrentino at the Internet Movie Database
2. ^ "PHOTOS The Jersey Shore’s Mike Sorrentino ‘The Situation’ Myspace and high school yearbook pictures". Starcasm. http://starcasm.net/archives/28884. 
3. ^ "Jersey Shore's The Situation Before He Hit It Big". Radar Online. http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2010/09/exclusive-photos-jersey-shores-situation-he-hit-it-big. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Cast Announced for "Dancing With the Stars"". Salt Lake City Tribune. 08-30-2010. http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogs/tv/50191897-63/television-hit-role-starring.html.csp. Retrieved 09-04-2010. 
5. ^ "A Quick Word: Mike Sorrentino". The New Zealand Herald. 09-02-2010. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10670579. Retrieved 09-04-2010. 
6. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (08-31-2010). "Comedy and Politics Mix in New ‘dancing’ Lineup". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/01/arts/television/01arts-COMEDYANDPOL_BRF.html. Retrieved 09-03-2010. 
7. ^ Bitch Magazine: "Bristol Palin and The Situation Bring Us the World's Most Awkward PSA", November 17, 2010.
8. ^ "Stars turn out in force for Bill Clinton's Birthday Bash; 'The Situation' Rakes in the Dough; Jay Leno Lends a Hand to the Gulf Coast". Kansas City Star. 08-23-2010. http://www.kansascity.com/2010/08/23/2169802/stargazing-happy-birthday-bill.html. Retrieved 09-04-2010. ^{[dead link]}
9. ^ "Dallas Chef Cut from 'Top Chef'; Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino Rakes in the Dough". The Dallas Morning News. 09-03-2010. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-peo_0903gd.ART.State.Edition1.359f396.html. Retrieved 09-04-2010. 
10. ^ "Jersey Shore star The Situation set to bring his famous abs to Dancing with the Stars". London: Daily Mail (U.K.). 08-25-2010. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1305883/Jersey-Shore-star-The-Situation-bringing-famous-abs-Dancing-Stars.html?ito=feeds-newsxml. Retrieved 09-04-2010. 
11. ^ "Can this new protein-infused vodka help with bodybuilding? Ask The Situation". Toronto Life. 08-31-2010. http://www.torontolife.com/daily/daily-dish/bottoms/2010/08/31/can-this-new-protein-infused-vodka-help-with-bodybuilding-ask-the-situation/. Retrieved 09-04-2010. 
12. ^ ^{a b} "The Situation? Ha! Call him the Corporation". MSNBC. 08-23-2010. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38814253/ns/today-entertainment/. Retrieved 09-04-2010. 
13. ^ "Abs-fab! The Situation releases a workout DVD (that's if you REALLY want to look like him)". London: Daily Mail (U.K.). 08-13-2010. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1302579/The-Situation-readies-Ab-fab-workout-DVD-release.html. Retrieved 09-04-2010. 
14. ^ "Here's The Situation: You can Soon Dress Like Him". MSNBC. 08-10-2010. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38646435/ns/today-entertainment/. Retrieved 09-04-2010. 
15. ^ "The 'Jersey Shore' Side Show: Money-Making Schemes Galore". ABC News. 08-20-2010. http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/jersey-shore-side-show-money-making-schemes-galore/story?id=11438790&page=1. Retrieved 09-04-2010. 
16. ^ Friedman, Megan. "Shocker: Snooki Book Not A Shore Thing in Sales", Time magazine, January 29, 2011
17. ^ "Show Tracker". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/03/donald-trump-and-the-situation-bring-strong-ratings-to-comedy-central-roast.html. 
18. ^ Sweney, Mark (08-17-2011). "Jersey Shore's The Situation offered cash not to wear Abercrombie & Fitch". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/aug/17/jersey-shore-situation-abercrombie-fitch. Retrieved 08-17-2011. 
19. ^ Holmes, Elizabeth (August 16, 2011). "Abercrombie and Fitch Offers to Pay ‘The Situation' To Stop Wearing Its Clothes". The Wall Street Journal. http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/08/16/abercrombie-and-fitch-offer-to-pay-the-situation-to-stop-wearing-their-clothes/.