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Man Sues MTV, Says They Stole 'Jersey Shore' Idea

By Cynthia Hsu, Esq. on November 21, 2011 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

A man has sued MTV, claiming in a new Jersey Shore lawsuit that the network stole the show idea from him. Bruce Hulse filed the case in Los Angeles. He said he met up with the network in 2006 and pitched an idea called Jersey Shore.

To make matters more interesting, Hulse said he even showed a video of what his show idea would be like - he screened a clip to MTV execs that showed "stereotypical young men and women from New Jersey who were spending their summer in and around the New Jersey shore and cities."

Stop us if this sounds familiar.

Hulse claims that MTV promised to give him a cut of the money if they decided to use his idea. But he was never contacted.

Whether or not Hulse will prevail in court is largely dependent on the facts alleged in his complaint, and if they can be countered by evidence that MTV has.

One interesting facet of this case is that Jersey Shore has been airing since 2009. If MTV really did steal Hulse's idea, one wonders why he waited two years to file a lawsuit.

And strangely enough, this isn't the first time the MTV has faced similar allegations. In 2010, another man, Christopher Gambale, claimed that he pitched the network the idea in 2006. In response to Gambale's claims, MTV sent a letter stating that they aren't the first to focus on "young Italian Americans." The network then went on to cite examples like Saturday Night Fever, My Cousin Vinny, Kiss Me, Guido, and Growing Up Gotti.

Maybe MTV will respond to this latest Jersey Shore lawsuit with another list of pop culture references and movies that depict young Italian Americans.

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