Fifteen years ago, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi boldly declared these words as MTV launched a groundbreaking reality show that would take the world by storm. This series followed the lives of seven vibrant 20-somethings navigating life together in a beach house, all while their outrageous antics were captured on film for an unforgettable summer in Seaside Heights, New Jersey.

What began as a project that the cast was uncertain would even air transformed into a cultural phenomenon for MTV, leading to six successful seasons and spawning a revival series — Jersey Shore Family Vacation — now in its seventh season, along with numerous international adaptations, spin-offs, and imitations that continue to thrive across the globe.

Throughout this incredible journey, cast members such as Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, Jenni “JWoww” Farley, Pauly “DJ Pauly D” Delvecchio, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, Samantha “Sammi Sweetheart” Giancola, Angelina Pivarnick, and Deena Nicole Cortese became household names, while phrases like “Guido,” “Guidette,” “Grenade,” “GTL” (Gym, Tan, Laundry), and “Beat the Beat” permeated the cultural lexicon, highlighting the show’s significant impact on language and lifestyle.

In honor of the show’s fifteenth anniversary, TooFab engaged in an exclusive conversation with The Situation, Snooki, and JWoww, reflecting on their experiences filming that iconic first season, the whirlwind of fame that followed, their encounters with celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, and whether any moments went unrecorded that they wish had been captured on camera.

The cast first came together at the Shore, unaware of the immense impact this experience would have on their lives and the deep friendships they would forge. When it comes to first impressions, Jenni “JWoww” has a particular moment she still wishes she could take back, reflecting on how those initial perceptions shaped their future interactions.

“I always regret my first impression of Nicole. I often say it was enhancing, but she’s quick to remind me, ‘No, it’s not, you actually did that,’” JWoww reminisced. “When Nicole first came in, I thought, ‘Dude, you look like a rabid chihuahua,’ due to her overwhelming energy. I even made a disgusted face at her, and of course, that moment was aired. I was mortified.”

“Fifteen years later, she still holds that against me. She always tells me, ‘You weren’t my friend at first; it took me getting punched for you to become my friend,’” Jenni continued, emphasizing that her admiration for Nicole dates back to those early days. “I found her intimidating; she was loud and confident, while I was more introverted. She loves bringing that up, but my reaction was rooted in my affection for her. I liked you before that moment!”

Mike, known as The Situation, admitted that their initial judgments of one another were likely misguided, showcasing how perceptions can evolve over time.

“Fifteen years later, we’ve all experienced so much growth and change. That’s what makes us relatable and human,” Mike reflected, highlighting the transformative journey they’ve all undergone since their debut.

During the filming of the inaugural season, Mike reflected on how he approached the experience with a mindset of simply being “in the moment,” fully immersed in the excitement and spontaneity of the reality show environment.

“I definitely wasn’t thinking beyond that first season. I was just so grateful for the opportunity and thrilled to be getting my big break,” he shared, noting how none of them anticipated the massive success that awaited them. “We were simply living in the moment and, looking back, I realized we had captured something truly special, and then everything exploded from there.”

“We didn’t know anything about television. We were there for the free summer, the free Shore house, just to enjoy ourselves,” Nicole added. “I always dreamed of being on a reality show, and I thought, ‘This is my chance; I’ll just do this and go back to my normal life.’ We didn’t see it as a career back then; we were total newbies.”

While Mike admitted they were all in it “for the drinks at that time,” Nicole humorously remarked she was “happy for the $200 for the Shore store,” showcasing their light-hearted attitude during the early days of their reality TV careers.

Jenni confessed to feeling anxious about the show’s potential success during filming and grew increasingly concerned when they learned the first commercial for the series would not air as planned.

“At the end of filming, we did a photoshoot and shook hands, feeling uncertain about what was next. We were still using Blackberries and attempted to create group messages on them. Do you remember those?” she reminisced about wrapping Season 1. “I recall Pauly handing out his DJ business cards as that was our only means of communication back then. Then it all went silent.”

While Jenni mentioned they were informed a commercial might air during the MTV Video Music Awards that September, it ultimately did not happen, leaving them in suspense.

“I got all my family and friends to tune in, but it never aired. I just remember being frustrated,” she recalled. “They wouldn’t even tell us the title of the show. Fast forward, I had MTV on while cooking, and suddenly I heard my own voice on television. I rushed from the kitchen to the living room, shocked to see the first chaotic commercial.”

“When I heard ‘Jersey Shore,’ I was like, ‘That’s what they named it?’ I had no idea,” she added. “I immediately called all my family and friends back, saying, ‘See, I told you I was going to be on TV!’ and hung up. Nobody believed me because we had filmed it months prior. We finished filming on Labor Day weekend, and it didn’t premiere until December.”

Although Jenni expressed that they had no clue the show was destined to become “iconic,” she is grateful for the genuine approach they took while filming the initial episodes — they entered the experience with zero expectations and simply focused on being themselves.

On December 3, everything changed for the cast when the show premiered on MTV. It quickly became a cultural touchstone, catapulting its stars — who were previously unknown — into instant fame.

“It was completely petrifying,” Jenni described the overwhelming sensation of overnight stardom. “You have to understand, we experienced Kardashian-level fame without the financial backing. I was broke as hell during that time.”

“People were looking through my windows, following me in my car, stealing my trash. I’d wake up to find people rummaging through my belongings,” she recounted. “There were times I’d glance out my second-story window to find someone staring back at me. It was pure insanity.”

She noted that their rise to fame was organic, occurring without the aid of social media platforms, which were still in their infancy when the show debuted.

“I remember Ashton Kutcher signing us up for Twitter, and Nicole was always urging me to join Facebook. I was hesitant,” Jenni reflected. “At that time, we relied on traditional media, magazines, and paparazzi. Social media, cell phones, and TikTok were not the driving forces behind fame. It felt charming yet chaotic.”

“We were ecstatic about our new fame,” Nicole expressed. “I had never visited California before; my travel experiences were limited to Florida. So, I was like, ‘Wow, I’m going to California, and everything is covered for us! We’ll meet celebrities!’”

“We were thrilled because we clearly loved attention; we still love attention. We thought, ‘This is fantastic!’” Nicole added, capturing the excitement that came with their newfound visibility.

“It exploded so quickly, but I believe we managed to stay true to ourselves for a long time,” Mike noted. “We would go out and focus on how we felt, enjoying each other’s company. We had no idea what was coming next or what fame would entail.”

As they transitioned into stardom, the cast of Jersey Shore had the opportunity to meet a plethora of celebrities, first at red carpet events hosted by MTV and later receiving invitations to glamorous events around the world.