Michael Cera’s Bizarre Jersey Shore Cameo Explained

Here’s Michael Cera’s strange Jersey Shore cameo explained, and how it happened. MTV reality show Jersey Shore aired for six seasons between 2009 and 2012 and became a pop culture phenomenon during its run, popularizing everything from the “fist pump” dance move to catchphrases like “G.T.L.” (“Gym, Tan, Laundry”). The series earned itself quite a few celebrity fans including Ashton Kutcher, Beyoncé, Anne Hathaway and Jennifer Lawrence – the latter of whom watched Jersey Shore to help perfect her New Jersey accent for American Hustle.

Michael Cera is also a card-carrying member of the Jersey Shore celebrity fan club. Best known for playing socially awkward characters like George Michael Bluth in Arrested Development and taking on roles in lo-fi indie films, Cera’s persona doesn’t seem that compatible with the brashness of a show like Jersey Shore. But, as the actor’s encounter with the Jersey Shore cast proves, he’s more than comfortable hanging out with hard-partying reality TV show stars.

Back in 2010, Cera met up with the gang in Manhattan where he was treated to a Jersey Shore makeover that saw Pauly D style the actor’s hair in his signature blowout look before JWoww slathered his face in fake tan and the cast gifted him his very own garish Ed Hardy t-shirt. Cera also enjoyed a few intoxicating beverages with the cast and was treated to a masterclass in dancing led by Pauly D, Vinny and The Situation before concluding his time with the reality show with a quintessentially Jersey Shore soak in a hot tub. Watch Michael Cera’s Jersey Shore cameo below.

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As comfortable as actor Michael Cera was with the Jersey Shore gang, he didn’t have designs on joining the cast or ditching his acting career for reality TV stardom during his appearance His cameo was actually part of an MTV special created to promote Cera’s then-upcoming movie Youth In Revolt. This was a coming-of-age romantic comedy co-starring Portia Doubleday that was adapted from writer C.D. Payne’s book series of the same name.

As strange as Michael Cera’s Jersey Shore cameo was, it looked like he had a great time mixing with the cast. In a post-cameo interview with Vulture, the actor confessed he loved the series and said meeting the cast “…was fun, it was really nice to have Pauly’s fingers in my hair.” While he may have complimented Jersey Shore star Pauly D blowout look, Cera didn’t retain that hairstyle for very long following his cameo.