Welcome to Lorenzo, Snooki's "Little Guido" Has Arrived

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Sun Aug 26, 2012 at 04:19:42 AM EST
Tags: Snooki (all tags)

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Baby Lorenzo arrived just after 3 a.m. Must have been a long night of labor for Snooki. Congrats to Snooki and Jionni LaValle.

The world just got another Guido!!!" a rep for Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi told MTV. Lorenzo Dominic LaValle has entered the world weighing 6lbs, 5oz. Nicole, Jionni & Enzo are doing great!"

MTV shared in Snooki's excitement: "We couldn't be happier for Nicole and Jionni on the healthy delivery of their baby boy! We look forward to Lorenzo's first trip to the Jersey Shore and can't wait to see his first animal print onesie."

Me either, I'm a big Snooki fan.

Pics soon, no doubt. CNN has more: Snooki spin-off 6 pound 'Guido.'[More...]

From the Jersey Shore Handbook:

Guido [m], Gouidette [f], n. Originally an ethnic slur against Italian immigrants to America, since Guido was a common Italian Christian name (cf the Florentine poet Guido Cavalcanti, the Benedictine music theorist Guido d’Arezzo, the graphic artist Guido Silvestri), the term has been reappropriated, Judith Butler-style, by some Italian-Americans along the Jersey Shore [see entry] and now refers to a complex of aesthetic and moral choices made by young Italian-Americans. Among the values espoused by the self-described “Guidos” of “Jersey Shore”: heavy tanning, muscular definition, a labor-intensive toiletry regimen, family and hooking up.

Also see, The Real Jersey Shore Dictionary.

Update: Snooki's tweeting already:

I am SO IN LOVE with my son Lorenzo Dominic ! I had my little man last night, healthy at 6lbs! HE'S MY WORLD!

MTV has more.

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Welcome to Lorenzo, Snooki's "Little Guido" Has Arrived | 29 comments (29 topical)

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Guido?? really (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by johncecil123 on Sun Aug 26, 2012 at 09:19:50 AM EST

In case you haven't noticed, guido is a derogatory term for an urban lower class Italian American and just because it is used internally among Italians doesn't give you the right to use it. Much like African Americans use the "N" word quite liberally but my guess is you would not use it under any circumstances...I find it offensive for you to say or repeat it.

She did not use the word/name: (none / 0) (#2)
by the capstan on Sun Aug 26, 2012 at 10:12:03 AM EST

It was contained within a quote. Go address the real author.


She did repeat it in the (none / 0) (#3)
by the capstan on Sun Aug 26, 2012 at 10:14:05 AM EST

subject line: still from the quote, tho.


If that's the case the ... (none / 0) (#4)
by Robot Porter on Sun Aug 26, 2012 at 10:19:38 AM EST

term should be in quotes.

Still very surprised to see Jeralyn use such a term in any context. She's usually incredibly sensitive to this sort of thing.


have you ever watched the show? (none / 0) (#5)
by Jeralyn on Sun Aug 26, 2012 at 10:36:06 AM EST

they use the word all the time to describe the males while the females sometimes refer to themselves as a "guidette." From the Jersey Shore Handbook:

Guido [m], Guidette [f], n. Originally an ethnic slur against Italian immigrants to America, since Guido was a common Italian Christian name (cf the Florentine poet Guido Cavalcanti, the Benedictine music theorist Guido d'Arezzo, the graphic artist Guido Silvestri), the term has been reappropriated, Judith Butler-style, by some Italian-Americans along the Jersey Shore [see entry] and now refers to a complex of aesthetic and moral choices made by young Italian-Americans. Among the values espoused by the self-described "Guidos" of "Jersey Shore": heavy tanning, muscular definition, a labor-intensive toiletry regimen, family and hooking up.

I can put quote marks if it makes people feel better, but anyone familiar with the show would not take offense.


It's one of the reasons I DON'T watch the show (none / 0) (#6)
by rdandrea on Sun Aug 26, 2012 at 10:38:35 AM EST

As an American of Italian grandparents, I find the term demeaning and offensive.


: then don't read my posts (none / 0) (#8)
by Jeralyn on Sun Aug 26, 2012 at 10:53:29 AM EST

on the show. If you see a topic you aren't interested in, and I can certainly see why readers of legal and political blogs would not be interested in Snooki or Jersey Shore, just scroll on by it.
I happen to be interested in pop culture and they have been a phenomenon in the past several years. They, or people who think like them, could be called for jury duty. Lawyers who try cases need to stay on top of these kind of trends, even if it's just by reading People Magazine. Personally, as I said, I like the show and the cast. Considering how they have marketed themselves into financial successes through a multitude of ventures, they must be resonating with a large group of people.

I thought Snooki was originally (none / 0) (#13)
by Amiss on Sun Aug 26, 2012 at 02:40:17 PM EST

South American?


she was born (none / 0) (#14)
by Jeralyn on Sun Aug 26, 2012 at 05:41:33 PM EST

in Chile and adopted as an infant by the Polizzis who are Italian-American. She grew up in Marlboro, NY which is about 10 miles south of Poughkeepsie.

JWOW explains, who also isn't Italian, explains:

Living the guido/guidette life isn't dependent on your heritage.
"It's a lifestyle and the scene that we're in...it's not like Italian," she said.

Snookie makes $150,000 per episode of Jersey Shore and is worth about $4 million now.

Snookie explains similarly here.


: thanks Jeralyn. (none / 0) (#16)
by Amiss on Sun Aug 26, 2012 at 09:26:27 PM EST

N/t

In case you haven't noticed... (none / 0) (#19)
by kdog on Mon Aug 27, 2012 at 10:01:05 AM EST

it's 2012, not 1922...guido/guidette hasn't been a derogatory term in 20-30 years.

It's a lifestyle now...hairgel, tanning salons, track suits, gold chains, cheesy dance music, attitude. Got nothing to do with Italian heritage anymore, in my high school the guido/guidette click included Italians, Irish, Latinos, you name it.


Not nearly as rosy a picture in my HS in NJ. (none / 0) (#20)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Aug 27, 2012 at 11:36:45 AM EST

Catholic HS, so lots of Italian-Americans, many weekends at the Jersey shore, etc...


From wiki: (none / 0) (#21)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Aug 27, 2012 at 11:38:49 AM EST

Modern usage and the Italian-American reaction
The term is used in metropolitan areas associated with large Italian-American populations, such as New York, Ohio, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Jersey.[6]
Although some Italians self-identify as "guidos", the term is often considered derogatory or an ethnic slur.[4][7]

It's a strange scene... (none / 0) (#22)
by kdog on Mon Aug 27, 2012 at 12:00:12 PM EST

You know you're a guido if you've ever blasted Diamond Girl on your car stereo...;)

It's just like "redneck", what was once derogatory is now just a noun, often used with pride or just used to describe the people of a particular sub-cultural scene. Maybe in a certain context it is still derogatory, but if you're looking to offend Italians there are other terms you would use..."wop", "greaseball", "guinea" are still derogatory. You wouldn't call any old Italian a guido, nobody under 40 would anyway.

Sh*t the biggest guido on my football team has the last name Conroy. A McGuido!


I was at the Jersey shore this summer (none / 0) (#23)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Aug 27, 2012 at 01:07:13 PM EST

for the first time in about 25 years, near Seaside.

I had forgotten just how Italian the summer tourists are the the Jersey shore. Groups of old guys on the boardwalk talking in Italian, probably half the (summer only) restaurants are Italian food.

When the locals call the tourists "guidos" it's not a compliment, though not nearly as offensive as the terms you mentioned. (btw, J deleted a comment of mine yesterday that had those exact same three terms in it.)

Anyway, I'd forgotten about the insane tanning that's pretty commonplace at the Jersey shore, like there's a contest or something. You really don't see tans like that here in Cali, outside of a couple old retired dudes that pedal their bikes around the beach with no shirts just about every day of the year...


Maybe not a compliment... (none / 0) (#24)
by kdog on Mon Aug 27, 2012 at 01:15:51 PM EST

but I don't see it as an insult either...it's just a descriptive noun.


Ya know, also a lot depends on who's saying it (none / 0) (#25)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Aug 27, 2012 at 01:25:33 PM EST

and why. Clearly J's quoted headline was not intended to be a slur, and I can't imagine Snooki read the headline as a slur.

But, hey, my brother used to be a Guido...and I do say that with a little bit of an intended slur!

And also with a little jealousy as he got the olive skin from my Italian dad, while I got my mom's Irish freckles, so spending all day in the sun on the beach was never something I could ever really do...


: Like I always say... (none / 0) (#26)
by kdog on Mon Aug 27, 2012 at 01:34:54 PM EST

it's all the context...I concur, J's context is obviously not derogatory. PC police never look at the context, or they willfully ignore it so they can take offense.

never seen the show (5.00 / 2) (#10)
by desmoinesdem on Sun Aug 26, 2012 at 11:13:24 AM EST

never plan to watch it, but the birth of a loved baby is always something to celebrate.

His parents may intend to raise him (5.00 / 4) (#15)
by Peter G on Sun Aug 26, 2012 at 08:35:52 PM EST

as a "little Guido," but children have minds and personalities of their own, and become the person they become. Perhaps Ms. Snooki et vir will be blessed, or cursed, with a future CPA, or a progressive activist, or a kindergarten teacher, or a Talmudic scholar, or something.

You added quotes but (none / 0) (#7)
by johncecil123 on Sun Aug 26, 2012 at 10:43:19 AM EST

when would you ever, if obvious choices like Chris Rock or others use the "n" word, that you headline a blog post with that word and then say its okay because you put it in quotes and justify it because they say it....It really doesn't work that way...a derogatory term is a derogatory term and it is okay because you watch the show??? You are kidding aren't you?

: not at all (none / 0) (#9)
by Jeralyn on Sun Aug 26, 2012 at 10:58:03 AM EST

I don't see the need for quotes because anyone who knows who Snooki is gets it. I just added them because of comments in the thread from people who don't get it.
Now, can we get back to welcoming Lorenzo into the world?

: johncecil, enough (none / 0) (#11)
by Jeralyn on Sun Aug 26, 2012 at 11:14:25 AM EST

I deleted two of your comments for insulting me personally. You made your point. I disagree. You are done commenting in this thread.

Strange that Guido (none / 0) (#17)
by fishcamp on Mon Aug 27, 2012 at 07:21:32 AM EST

is such a derogatory word because for the entire 40 years I lived in Aspen Guido's Restaurant was one of the most popular. Also it was a Swiss restaurant which makes it even stranger. Guido Meyer, the owner, was a long time supporter of ski racers.

Perhaps if you had spent those 40 years (none / 0) (#18)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Aug 27, 2012 at 08:37:19 AM EST

in the tri-state area you would have a different, more accurate, perspective...


yes, very true (none / 0) (#27)
by fishcamp on Mon Aug 27, 2012 at 02:21:23 PM EST

and while I'm not glad I missed your perspective I'm really glad I spent 40 years in Aspen :-)


: I spent one year in Telluride. Pure heaven. (none / 0) (#28)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Aug 27, 2012 at 02:34:14 PM EST

a fan of snookie (none / 0) (#29)
by Jlvngstn on Wed Aug 29, 2012 at 07:49:32 PM EST

but not palin. one serves her country, the other serves it to her country. you decide which.

: one pretends to be something (none / 0) (#30)
by Jeralyn on Thu Aug 30, 2012 at 01:46:52 AM EST

she isn't -- an intelligent leader. The other makes no pretense as to who she is. I'll take the latter.