Legislator: Shore is More Than Just Snooki and Co.

Snooki and JWoww will no longer be the national faces of the Jersey Shore under a plan unveiled Thursday by a legislator.

Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) announced a video contest showcasing the "real Jersey Shore," in an attempt to change thoughts on the MTV reality show. Challenging residents to develop 30-second videos about what they like about the Shore, Bramnick will give awards out during a film festival of his Shore clips.

"I consider it a bar fight," Bramnick said of the reality show. "I don't think the Jersey Shore is one big bar fight."

Bramnick admits to watching between five to 10 minutes of the antics of Snooki and friends as they summer in Seaside Heights and Miami. A close ally of Gov. Chris Christie, Bramnick said he agrees with the governor that the show, which debuted its second season this week, is not helping the state's image. Bramnick did say he did not think it mattered that most of the cast came from New York, which Christie brought up on Sunday during an interview on ABC's This Week.

"The truth of the matter is whether they are from New York, New Jersey or Oklahoma, a bar fight is not the Jersey Shore," he said. "I grew up going to the Shore, and there are boardwalks and all kinds of entertainment."

Bramnick, the number two Republican in the Assembly, said he has no problem with people watching the show or the popularity the show has gained nationwide. He did say that he wants to be able to put a new face forward for the Shore. 

"I assume people want to watch it," Bramnick said. "There is cage wrestling too, and that is not 'War & Peace.' There are all kinds of things on TV. Why not have the real Jersey Shore too?"

Bramnick is asking residents to send 30-second videos to asmbramnick@njleg.org showing their favorite Shore moments. He will have a panel of Shore-based legislators judge the best and plans to host an event to showcase the clips. He said he is still in the process of putting the showcase together. 

Bramnick said he realizes that the drunken antics of the "Jersey Shore" cast is part of Shore culture in the summer, but he stressed it is only one component. 

"If you shot the Jersey Turnpike and all you did was Friday afternoon at a toll booth, all you'd see is traffic."

Bramnick, who moonlights as a stand-up comedian, said he is taking this all in good fun. He said he just wants to showcase that the Shore is more than Snooki.

"I am having fun showing the alternative," he said. "I have no animosity to the entertainment business."