SORRENTINO
Michael

• 1. Career

Michael Paul Sorrentino, also known as The Situation, is an American television personality. He appeared on all six seasons of the MTV reality show Jersey Shore from 2009 through 2012, and has since returned to the franchise with Jersey Shore: Family Vacation.

Career

Sorrentino was a cast member of Jersey Shore, which ran from 2009 to 2012. Since appearing on that show, Sorrentino has been a guest on TV series including The Howard Stern Show, The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, The Jay Leno Show, Lopez Tonight, SportsNation, Chelsea Lately, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Conan.

In 2010, Sorrentino made more than $5 million, the second highest of any other reality star after Kim Kardashian. This money was accrued through endorsements with Devotion Vodka, Reebok Zigtech shoes, as well as a ghost-written autobiography, a rap song, a workout DVD, a vitamin line for GNC, a clothing line, and appearances on Jersey Shore and season 11 of Dancing with the Stars. His partner was Karina Smirnoff. He made it to the 4th week before being eliminated. That year, he also appeared with Bristol Palin in a public service announcement for The Candie's Foundation, as part of its Pause Before You Play campaign to prevent teen pregnancy.

In January 2011, Sorrentino signed on to star as a judge in the YOBI.tv talent-show web series New Stage. In March 2011, Sorrentino appeared on the Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump. His performance was poorly received by audiences and critics. During his set, Sorrentino's jokes elicited jeers from the audience, prompting veteran roaster Jeff Ross to intervene. In August of that year, Sorrentino was offered $10,000 by fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch not to wear the company's clothes. A spokesman for the company explained that "Mr. Sorrentino's association with our brand could cause significant damage to our image." In November 2011, Sorrentino filed a lawsuit against A&F after they made shirts that read "The Fitchuation" and "GTL...You Know The Deal." This case, however, was dismissed before proceeding to trial.

In 2012, On February 22, 2012, Sorrentino appeared in a small cameo role on ABC's Suburgatory. Sorrentino made a cameo in The Three Stooges, released in April 2012, alongside his fellow Jersey Shore cast members such as Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, Sammi “Sweetheart” Giancola, and Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi LaValle. In June 2012, he participated in FOX's dating game show The Choice. On August 15, 2012, he became a housemate on the tenth series of Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 5 and on September 7, 2012, he came in fourth on the series final. In October 2012, he appeared in a PETA advertising campaign promoting the spaying and neutering of pets.

In 2014, he appeared on a reality show with his family, which aired on the TVGN network. In the following year in 2015, he was a participant on the fifth season of Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars with his partner, Lauren Pesce.

In April 2017, Sorrentino appeared on We TV's Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars Family Edition with his brothers Marc and Maximo Sorrentino.

In 2018, Sorrentino reunited with most of his Jersey Shore cast members in Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, a reboot of the series. The first and second seasons aired in 2018 with Sorrentino as a main cast member. It was confirmed in May 2019 that he will “be a huge part” of the third season, including documentation of his wedding, court sentencing, and events leading up to his jail time.