EXCLUSIVE: The Jersey Shore cast share their reactions to the shocking return of Sammi Sweetheart – and the unlikely co-star behind it – as they tease the most ‘epic’ season yet

Is it a ghost? Is it AI?

No, it’s the real Sammi Sweetheart, whose dramatic and shocking return to Jersey Shore after 11 years caused her unsuspecting former co-stars to double-take.

The cast stopped by New York’s DailyMail.com ahead of the show’s premiere Thursday night, where they urged fans to “prepare” for an “epic” second half of season six – which they described as “totally unlike any season we’ve seen’. ever shot.’

For starters, fans will reunite Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino, Vinny Guadagnino, Jenni ‘JWOWW’ Farley, Angelina Pivarnick, Paul ‘DJ Pauly D’ DelVecchio, Deena Cortese and Nicole ‘Snooki’ Polizzi with original cast member Sammi Giancola – who famously swore that she would never return to the hit MTV series after the original six-season series came to an end in 2012.

The entire Guido crew (with the exception of Angelina) revealed that they were so “shocked” by her unexpected return that they thought she was an “impersonator” or “AI” when they first came face to face.

Sammi, who made a name for herself as the self-proclaimed “sweetest b***h you’ll ever meet,” spoke alongside her co-stars and also got candid about her sudden change of heart, and which co-star helped make it work.

The Jersey Shore original series that catapulted the cast to reality TV stardom ran for six seasons between 2009 and 2012. The show was an instant hit, featuring the cast’s wild drama and fun phrases like ‘Gym, Tan, Laundry’ that became embedded in pop music. culture.

The reboot Jersey Shore: Family Vacation premiered in 2018 and at the time Sammi was adamant that she would never return, even repeatedly declining invitations to come back.

“I think I’m just in a good place,” Sammi said of her decision to return. “The minute they decided to do the show again, I just couldn’t see myself going back into an environment where I was, you know, in a bad relationship.

“It was very toxic to me at the time. And I was also 22 when I did it. I am now 36 and have had a good time. So I thought, “Why not now?”

While Sammi’s decision to appear on the show shocked fans when it was announced earlier this year, none were more baffled than her own co-stars who never expected her to return to reality TV let alone walk her through the doors. of their rental. home in the Poconos Mountains.

‘We never thought that Sammi would come back. She promised she would never come back and after so many years we wrote it off,” says 35-year-old Vinny.

‘I think is this AI? A Sammi impersonator?’ Jenni, 37, said. “I think my jaw fell off.

“We really thought that chapter and that whole book was close. Like, we never thought she would come back a million years. We respected her boundaries.

“Right now it’s been a decade, there’s no way. So we were amazed. Like shaken.’

“I was absolutely shocked when it happened because I usually know about a lot of things,” said 41-year-old Mike. “When she came in I was like, ‘Wow, we definitely have a situation.'”

Snooki, 35, revealed she was “already wine deep” during Sammi’s unexpected arrival, “so when she walked in I was like, ‘Is she for real? Am I hallucinating?”

Deena, 36, said she felt like she was ‘seeing a ghost’ but added it was a welcome surprise.

“I was just so happy because we’ve been asking Sam to come back for years,” she said. “I was really glad she finally felt comfortable coming back.”

The only cast member who knew about Sammi’s arrival was Angelina, as she was the one who made it all happen.

“I DMed Sam hoping she would respond to me and she did. It was around November. I got chills,” said Angelina, 37.

Fans are now ready to see how things will turn out between notorious former rivals Sammi and Jenni, who were known for their epic outbursts in the original series.

But Jenni admitted that all the beef from years ago has settled and she and Sammi are in a good place now.

The cast described the upcoming season as a “rollercoaster, hit, wild, epic, mayhem and emotional.”

In another surprising twist this season, Sammi also finds herself face-to-face with ex-boyfriend, former original cast member Ronnie Ortiz-Magro.

The pair met on the show in 2009 and their volatile toxic relationship was heavily documented over several seasons.

Ronnie has taken a leave of absence from the Family Vacation reboot to focus on his mental health for the past two years.

When asked about the surprise meeting with her ex, Sammi played coy and teased, “You’re definitely going to see some craziness. You will see it.’

While Pauly D was absent from our interview – busy being a hotshot DJ all over the world – the cast assured that he’s still in the mix and fans can see a lot from him this season.

And everyone unanimously agreed with Angelina as the cast member who brings the most drama this season.

Angelina even agreed.

‘It’s not my intention. It just happens!’ she said.

The new episodes of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation premiere Thursdays at 8 p.m. EDT on MTV.