Our "official press release" about the award our blog won last week:
CONTACT: Steve Chernoski nsjersey@yahoo.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lambertville filmmaker Steve Chernoski wins award for his blog:
“Where is the line between North & South Jersey?”
LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. — Aug. 17, 2011 —Steve Chernoski, an independent filmmaker from Lambertville, N.J., recently won an Iglu Travel award for his blog, “Where is the line between North & South Jersey?,” under the category of “New Jersey Blogs.”
Steve’s blog, which can be found at nsjersey.blogspot.com, features compelling commentary about The Garden State and aims to shed light on the question, “Where is the line between North & South Jersey?” Iglu Travel’s website describes the recognized New Jersey blogs as “top of the chart when it comes to providing you with the information you need to plan your trip.” Iglu also notes their team “love[s] the New Jersey section” and “these blogs bring a bit of that New Jersey evening magic to their readers.”
“I’m really excited that my blog won this award,” said Chernoski. “I’ve always loved New Jersey and its unique culture, and I’m happy that I’ve been able to provide a forum for dialogue to our readers about New Jersey.”
As director of “New Jersey: The Movie,” Steve has immersed himself in New Jersey cultural studies, making this one of his biggest passions in life. “New Jersey: The Movie” has received critical acclaim from The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Star-Ledger of Newark, and Steve continues to research and explore everything New Jersey.
The complete awards list can be found at iglucruise.com/igluawards2011/categories/winners/new-jersey-blogs.htm
With a couple spinoffs resulting from MTV's Jersey Shore, other network execs are likely frothing at the mouth for ways to continue to exploit showcase our state. It appears NJ's time on stage has not yet expired.
But what if there are more chapters in the Jersey reality storyboard still unread that could leave a different kind of legacy to the world?
So television executives looking for that next big hit, I present to you a list of five reality TV shows that would broaden the narrow spotlight on us, while preserving the Jersey Shore as the centerpiece of action. If produced correctly, some serious ratings gold might be achieved.
1. The Other Side of Jersey Shore
PBS does a great documentary series entitled, POV, showing viewers controversial issues from different sides. This variation would examine the locals who have weathered rowdy crowds similar to the Jersey Shore cast for years, in this case, let's focus on the people at Benny Go Home. Put cameras on this loose alliance of locals and:
Follow their struggles with tourists littering, swelling traffic and the bad behavior we're already used to seeing on TV. They roll their eyes as the police come to break up another boardwalk brawl. They campaign against eminent domain and support independent businesses. They throw a huge party after Labor Day celebrating the end of the tourist season. You may disagree with their philosophy: but I dare you to find one group that bleeds Jersey Pride more.
Likely Channels: PBS, the CW or WB Hangout: The Wonder Bar during Yappy Hour (Can't we set something there?)
Watchability: 9 - BGH has a healthy relationship with the Jersey Shore Roller Girls out of Asbury Park. While the focus could shift from one group to the other, these two organizations often do events together and embrace the locals tag ferociously. Roller Girl matches would adrenalize any down times. Being set in and around Asbury Park, an added highlight would be the eclectic live music scene.
2. Ice Water Surfers
I've written about New Jersey surfing legend Dean Randazzo before, but it's also important to emphasize Alex DePhillipo's stunning documentary, Dark Fall the movie in which Randazzo and other Garden State surfers are featured. The film could easily be molded into a television format: Follow around these nomadic amphibians during fall and winter. Tension builds every time they check the weather for reports of a Nor'Easter barreling our way. They brace for the news, like firefighters awaiting the call bell.
In addition to seeing these protagonists brave the frigid temperatures of the North Atlantic, the show should also focus on the relationship surfers have with the environment. Many are already stewards of the sea. Learn a couple environmental tips while getting some hot coca and developing a deep respect for what these thrill seekers will do for a rush.
Likely Channels: National Geographic, Planet Green, The Weather Channel Hangout: The surfers would swap stories at the local Diner, where we could also introduce Taylor Ham Pork Roll to the world.
Watchability: 8.5 Surfers crave challenges. It could make the Jersey Shore a destination for every surfer: You go to Costa Rica in the winter? That's cool; it's like the kiddie pool compared to getting slammed by unpredictable frozen winter waves. Additionally, with Randazzo, DePhillipo and some other common Jersey surnames, it would doubly show that not every Italian American from our state is a member of the GTL crowd.
3. Sand in my Dancing Shoes
While the Harold and Kumar movies fall into the stoner comedy category, I thought the two actors were more notable for breaking prevalent Hollywood stereotypes about Asian Americans. So why not further shatter that ceiling while showing that New Jersey is actually a very culturally diverse place?
Use the Diwakar Bollywood Dancers: They're young, they're hot, they're from New Jersey and they do more than fist pump. They practice by day and tear up Jersey Shore dance floors by night. The guys came from breakdancing roots, the girls from classical and traditional styles. Some were born in India, most were born here. And then there's Alex, who refers to herself as, "the white girl." Founder of Dance Diwakar, Anil Diwakar, emigrated from India to New Jersey where he met and married an Italian American woman from Passaic County. East meets West with familiar cultural ties that would focus heavily on family, food . . . and footwork.
Likely Channels: Travel Channel, TLC Hangout: During the day, they'd be at the Dance Studio or eating on Oak Tree Road, USA. They'd hit up the Jersey Shore clubs at night. Bollywood dancing is very physical, so a nice twist would be to see if their athleticism could also translate to the beach volleyball courts.
Watchability: 9.5 It's true that Outsourced, failed on NBC just after one season, but this is about Indian Americans from New Jersey. This show has the versatility to include permanent judges. Maybe native Garden State son, Kal Penn, makes a couple appearances? Or maybe, like Jersey Shore going to Italy, they travel to India and compete giving the show the strongest international flavor? I was impressed enough, I'm likely signing up for a winter class
4. The Real Lifeguards of the Jersey Shore
It's fine if you imagine this as a New Jersey Baywatch, but it's much, much more than just chiseled tan bodies in the summer sun. These Jersey Shore lifeguard races are fiercely competitive and over one hundred years old (take that California). Stone Harbor captain, Sandy Bosacco, told me, "Many of these lifeguards are former division I and III athletes. It's intense."
Cameras document the initiations of freshmen lifeguards, the grueling training trials and feature the veteran lifeguards who compete in local, regional and national tournaments.
I'm betting many lifeguards find summer romance together; walks on the beach at sunrise would get our hearts racing.
Likely Channels: Any ESPN Channel, The History Channel, Spike Hangout: A Jersey Shore Bar/ Restaurant with a cool outdoor deck. Bonus if it has a colorful grandma-like owner who treats the lifeguards like family.
Watchability: 7You'd have a very attractive cast, but because they are public employees, it would be tough negotiations with a town to follow off-duty lifeguards out to the summer bar scene. But maybe we could just concentrate on the sport of it all? It would be good for families and promote healthy living. More action photos and some videos here.
Follows the courageous men and women of the New Jersey beaches who put their life on the line every day selling and checking beach badges. From the sweat box sellers (it gets to about 110 degrees inside those little outhouses) to the men and women walking the beach checking to make sure everyone has paid their $8 to use the usually free sand and ocean. In an early episode, all hell breaks loose when someone accidentally writes the wrong water temperature on the chalk board and Sally over on 5th street runs out of singles before 10am!
Likely Channels: NJTV, Comedy Central Hangout: City Hall Watchability: 10 Before every Memorial Day weekend, the mayor or captain to deliver the best motivational speech to beach badge patrollers will produce a video with the potential to go more viral than Jim Mora's famous 'playoffs' press conference. The end of each episode would be a slow montage of outsiders' reactions once they find out they have to pay to go on the beach, all set to AC/DC's "Money Talks."
The current offering of Jersey reality shows is like being stuck in the frozen foods section. Time to give audiences access to more than one aisle of the Garden State supermarket. Each of these shows has immense potential. Writers, if you develop something similar and it's a hit, please just add my name to the credits. If it flops, a maid in my hotel wrote this.
High fives to Chris Illuminati; Eli Kazin and Derek Tagliarino for the "watchability" inspiration and 95 Sports for the AC/DC idea.
We're thrilled to announce that our blog, "Where is the line between North & South Jersey," has won an Iglu Travel Award in the category of "New Jersey Blogs" for 2011!
"These New Jersey blogs are top of the chart when it comes to providing you with the information you need to plan your trip. Whether you're going for a long tour or a brief weekend, we've got the blogs that'll guide you through New Jersey.
Take in a beautiful sunset on the shores of the state of New Jersey or perhaps test your endurance on the many splendid mountains. If the cities are where you want to be heading then you'll get your fix in New Jersey - it isn't all countryside. America as a country prides itself in that everything it offers falls in the category of big and New Jersey as a state doesn't fail to deliver either.
The Iglu team love the New Jersey section. These blogs bring a bit of that New Jersey evening magic to their readers. We're sure that after reading these New Jersey blogs - whether it's about leisure, food or walking - you'll be eager to book your tickets."
Thanks so much for all the support you have given us over the years! We hope you continue to enjoy what you find here.
In a post a month ago, I discussed that roads in New Jersey contributed heavily to where we vacation down the Shore. They sometimes act as barriers and reinforce our beach patterns. But there is also evidence to the contrary:
We might be willing to endure longer and more unpleasant drives if we can be around our more familiar packs.
Packs, as in wolves? Yep. We're pretty animalistic, ritualistic and even nostalgic on where we go to the Jersey Shore. We like to be with our familiar crowd, where we can visit the places from our youth. Even though many people have relocated in New Jersey, sometimes their beach preferences remain the same. That sometimes requires longer travel for the people in the geographic fringes of the state.
Take my town of Lambertville. It's north of Trenton and on the Delaware River. The closest beach is Belmar. So I did a survey of 100 people of all ages in town. The results are below:
*Asbury Park, Belmar and Atlantic City combine surrounding towns. Seaside Heights was combined with Island Beach State Park.
Belmar ruled with day trippers and younger people. Seaside had bigger numbers because many go to Island Beach State Park. LBI continues to be New Jersey's cultural North-South mixing bowl (if you have a car - that post coming later). But geographically speaking, Monmouth County beaches should dominate this list. However, the pattern showed that locals here are willing to drive farther to LBI and even south. For a town not in South Jersey, the representation of beaches south of Atlantic City is pretty remarkable. Maybe it's because Lambertville and many of the Hunterdon river towns are different in character than the rest of the county. They're tied to Bucks County, PA economically and culturally. Maybe it's because Monmouth County beaches are more year-round residential. But overall, I'm finding a good portion of New Jerseyans who will drive a longer distance just for familiarity. If you own a house or have colleagues or friends that do, it might lock you into your Shore town forever, no matter where you move to.
One guy at a lumber yard in town said, "I go farther because I don't want to sit next to Yankees and Mets fans when I'm on vacation at the Shore." The people around nodded in agreement. Lynn Hetelson of Klines Court Antiques, who goes to Margate City told me, "I go where my friends are, where my family is. If I went to Point Pleasant Beach, I wouldn't know anyone."
But it also depends on a day trip or a week. Lambertville resident Cindy Ege said, "When focusing on one day, it's a different choice than one week."
But what about north, the upper Northwest of Jersey? To residents there, the day trip is not as attractive an option. To investigate, I called municipal offices in Milford, NJ and was told: Seaside Heights, LBI, Ocean City and Wildwood Crest. No Point Pleasant Beach and nothing in Monmouth County, the shortest trek. Going to LBI almost adds a full hour onto the drive, compared with any Monmouth County spot. So it got me thinking:
Do you drive longer to go to the beach? Why?
Comment below.
I'm particularly interested in hearing from those who live in the west Skylands: Sussex, Warren, parts of Morris and Hunterdon.
What person has helped New Jersey and the Jersey Shore's image the most?
The Boss often painted New Jersey as a "rust belt junk heap" on many albums. Sinatra usually claimed New York City as his hometown. And Bon Jovi has many thinking we still wearacid wash jeans. Maybe Chris Christie? Meh, maybe not.
For me, the person who has helped the Jersey Shore's image the greatest is Dean Randazzo, one of the world's premiere surfers for over two decades now. Dean helped break a psychological barrier for many NJ surfers and through his travels, taught others that New Jersey does indeed have a beach, an ocean and waves.
Randazzo's accomplishments are more impressive considering he is a cancer survivor and comes back to New Jersey often to support his charity, the Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation which assists individuals battling cancer while helping raise money for research and awareness. The charity is having two upcoming events down the shore. Mark them on your calendar:
On Thursday August 18 at 7:05pm it's Surf Night at the Lake BlueClaws game. It's also Thirsty Thursday. Dean will be there and Dark Fall the Movie will be screened. General Admission tickets are $8. To get in on the screening, contact Pete Walsifer 732-901-7000 ext. 171. If you want to see a movie, that will overwhelm you with Jersey pride, 'Dark Fall' is it. First Energy Park, 2 Stadium Way, Lakewood, NJ 08701
On Saturday, September 10 at 8am - ?? Surf for a Cause and Beachfest at the Benson Ave. Beach in Margate City with post party at Ventura's Greenhouse 106 S. Benson Ave, Margate City, NJ 08402. It will feature an amateur and professional surf contest, a co-ed beach volleyball tournament and a 5K Beach Run. Here is promo video for the day, featuring music by New Jersey band, Echo Movement:
Feel free to follow this guy's youtube channel too. . .
The band featured in that video, Echo Movement, is on tour right now and will be returning to Jersey in late August. They have a gig in Avalon on Saturday August 20th for another surfing charity, the Brendan Borek Fund.
If you think about these events, the Shore ends up being an attractive place to hold charitable gatherings in the summertime. When you can combine pleasure and a great setting with some competition and activism, it seems to be a win for everyone involved. Just look at how many NJ races are in the four beach counties this time of year.
Are there any Jersey Shore related charities you would like to give a shout out to? Plug away in the comments section.
And be sure to check out the DRCF's events page (they have some in winter too).
Unless the legislature vetoes it within a two-week period, after 43 years of programming, NJN is dead. The network will metamorphose into NJTV, produced by New York's WNET, or as many in North & "Central" Jersey know it, Channel Thirteen. . . you know, that channel Billy Joel mentioned under pressure.
So New Jersey is now left with two privately owned television networks: Channel 9 WWOR in Secaucus (North) and NBC 40 (South) in the Atlantic City area. And in one way, NJN's demise can be linked to how those channels perform.
Talk to people who live in those areas (I was on both sides for eight years). They're likely watching the New York or Philadelphia channels for news while passing over the more local option. Afterward, their remote controls stay out-of-state for the sitcoms.
Why is this? My guess is that people like to feel they're a part of something bigger. Maybe we think it somehow makes us more cultured, to be on a big city channel. That and they're more slickly produced.
But the death of NJN brings up a bigger debate about our identity in the Garden State.
There is something about Jersey Pride. But many of us still form our identities around major metropolitan areas: North Jersey with New York, South Jersey with Philadelphia and the Shore people tend to wrap their arms around the beach and dread the mainland (or at least anything 5 miles west of them). The rest of us might find something else to rally around: the Boss, a diner or Rutgers football.
But NJN never used its power to unite the Garden State in a way that spoke to the trendsetters, the people who don't just pass on culture, but create it.
NJN never made us cool.
Don't get me wrong, the network had some gems, including Down Jersey, NJ Fresh and other shows dedicated to tourism in the Garden State. One program last year showcased the Jersey Shore as an international tourist destination. It would have been great if that show got more publicity to counteract MTV's view.
But would they have broadcasted this? Or shown this full-length movie?
I don't think so. Or how about New Jersey: the Movie? (clearing throat) Yeah it is happening all over the country and it's all about funding. But if we all loved it, we would have fought harder for NJN.
For instance, look at the success of NJ 101.5 FM. They have done an excellent job since their inception of Jersey centric-branding, their call sign is just the tip of the iceberg. The traffic reports make them relevant and their controversial broadcasting keeps people there. True it's private, and I often can't stand the hosts, but they're very successful.
So New York will run a news incarnation of the old NJN with a reduced staff of only 15 - 20 people working on New Jersey issues. South Jersey will likely be ignored (preserving a historical trend).
So what does the future hold for NJTV?
Well, I have three suggestions:
1) Find a cool NJ town and broadcast from there. (This can be done) 2) Target the young and nerdy. 3) Embrace some of NJN's past, while evolving into the future.
I will separately detail each point in later posts. But whether you loved NJN, hated it or didn't even know it existed, New Jersey lost some of its identity this week. Problem is, it's an identity that's always been hard to find.
Ahhh Memorial Day traffic. When I traded my "shoobie" moniker for "local" upon moving to the South Jersey Shore in 1999, I learned quickly to bulk up on supplies for big weekends and hope that I didn't have to get in the car - or God forbid - cross a bridge to go to the mainland during this time. Early reports are that local tourists are flocking to the Jersey Shore and predictions are that visits will be up throughout the summer . . . weather permitting
Good news for the economy, but the report also got me waxing nostalgic. Since I moved from the Shore in 2005, I often miss that feeling of relaxation that makes so many pile in cars and brave the roads. But the traffic is intimidating. Despite advice on back roads, or leaving during different times, I usually I opt for day trips during the week now.
But yesterday, due west, away from the beach, my wife and I strolled around Lambertville, NJ and New Hope, PA (different states, symbiotic economies). And I noticed something: The Jersey Shore vibe. No guidos running around getting into fights . . . quite the opposite. Just a lot of relaxed people, escaping for the weekend, enjoying their days off. Very similar to my memories of the Shore.
A month ago, I tried to capture my feelings on moving to Lambertville in a short video:
As we had dinner at Bell's Tavern in Lambertville and drinks at The Landing in New Hope, I looked around and saw packed restaurants, lots of cargo shorts, flip flops and even some Hawaiian shirts. A lot of motorcycles. It was an overall sense of electricity in the air with a side of chill.
Many people in the area get away to the beach and enjoy the ocean. And some also come to the many NJ river towns: Lambertville, Stockton, Frenchtown & Milford to enjoy the scenery along this bucolic part of the Delaware River. It's a different vacation, and for many, a different vibe. But I had actually had many similar feelings last night as I did when I lived in Margate City. No beach, but the vacation relaxation vibe was apparent and intoxicating. Just more humid with no salt in the air.
There are many other local non-shore relaxation spots. Let's not forget the many lake towns in Morris, Warren Passaic & Sussex. Some people also do the Poconos in PA or Lake George area in NY.
So I needed to ask the question: Besdies the Jersey Shore, what local spots do you visit to chill out in the summer?
Look at Muhammad Ali hammering Chuck Wepner and you get an idea of what the media has done to New Jersey. The Bayonne Bleeder withstood a lot vs. Ali and even knocked the champ down during the fight, but for a more apt example, imagine if the media was Mike Tyson and New Jersey was Michael Spinks. That quick knockdown is what it's been like for New Jerseyans to defend against the media onslaught over the past decade.
The initial punches for this generation were The Sopranos. But it got a pass from many because it was fictional, well-written, on HBO and artsy, even though the opening credits were jabs to the gut. Then came the uppercut to the jaw, MTV's Jersey Shore, followed by the roundhouses: Real Housewives, Jerseylicious, & Jersey Couture. Everyone across America was watching the fight and the world viewed via satellite TV. Even Iranian secret agents who tortured dissidents were enamored by what they saw as exciting - fast forward to 42:25 to see.
But now comes a new round in the larger heavyweight fight. If you were on vacation, Snooki from MTV's Jersey Shore made $32,000 speaking at Rutgers University recently. Here were some students' reactions:
The story blew up because it was slightly more money than Noble & Pulitzer winning writer, Toni Morrison will make at commencement. (Although according to nj.com, Snooki's fee was split some ways by related parties). Some initially feared that Idiocracy was upon us; others noted she was a cheaper alternative to many higher profile and more expensive acts. Writers may have hopped on this bandwagon because local stories dried up; some are tired of it already. But it's significant. It matters because a punch has been thrown back.
If Springsteen comes to Rutgers, it would be bigger than just vindicating the University's image post-Snooki and after the tragedy of Tyler Clementi. It could be a winning round on the scorecard of a losing fight. It matters because what's going on at Rutgers could be a microcosm of New Jersey's overall pulse. Social media is being used to galvanize the grassroots and counter the media who have for so long used us as their punching bag.
Maybe Bruce will come. Maybe he'll play and not be political about how this came about (unlikely for The Boss these days).
But let's not underscore this: timing is everything.
The New Jersey-themed reality shows are mostly petering out. Their 15 minutes are up. Even Jersey Shore, a show that has staying power and whose cast just got big bonuses, is rumored to be ending after season 4. People will forget the shows, but the stereotypes will live on. A show by Bruce Springsteen on the campus of Rutgers would represent New Jersey fighting back, while these shows are still relevant to many.
Jersey guy Chuck Wepner went to round 15 with Muhammad Ali and became the inspiration for Rocky. We're calling for you Bruce. Make this matter.
