MTV has apparently agreed to take some of the Italian-American out of Jersey Shore.
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UNICO president Andre DiMino recently met with officials from MTV parent company Viacom Inc., which pledged to cut down on references to Italians, images of the Italian flag, and the use of terms such as "guido," The Associated Press reported Friday.
"I'm cautiously optimistic," DiMino told The AP. "With a program like this it's still trash television, and it would be unfortunate if they don't de-Italianize the program."
MTV spokeswoman Ariana Urbont said the network "made some adjustments" at DiMino's request.
"However, our role is to document the cast, and however they refer to themselves we don't interfere," she told The AP.
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Even before Jersey Shore's first-season premiered in December, UNICO -- the country's largest Italian-American service organization -- claimed its content was offensive to Italian-Americans and added the show should be pulled from the air.
Specifically, DiMino had a problem with the use of the term "guido," which he saw as derogatory.
Jersey Shore's second season will premiere Thursday, July 29 at 10PM ET/PT and begin with the cast living in Miami before they return to Seaside Heights, NJ for its conclusion.
Earlier this year, the National Italian American Foundation also expressed it has "continued concerns" about Jersey Shore and its depictions of Italian Americans.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio