Photo: Instagram
Do they really have a...shot? (I'm so sorry)
By Rebecca Jane Stokes — Written on Jul 02, 2019
There's just something about the cast of MTV's infamous and legendary reality show, The Jersey Shore. You don't have to be from the East Coast, hell, you don't even have to be from this country, to appreciate the splendor of a posse of self-identifying guidos taking to the beaches of New Jersey to GTL to their hearts' content when the summer strikes. For whatever reason, it was pure magic.
Two of the standouts of the show were Vinny Guadagnino and DJ Pauly D. The hilarious duo have stayed relevant though the show is long over with a string of their own spin-offs series. Recently, they both appeared in A Double Shot At Love, where they were supposed to meet their soulmates. So what's the haps, is everyone still together? Are Vinny and Alyssa still together? Let's sort this mess out!
1. The Finale
When Vinny Guadagnino first laid eyes on Alysse Joyner during the filming of Double Shot at Love With DJ Pauly D and Vinny, he was sure that she was something really special. Their chemistry was immediately visible to anyone who was around the couple, be it fans watching them on TV or those who got a chance to connect with Vinny and Alysse in person. Vinny proved it wasn't all for the show when he made it clear that he chose her to be his "shot of love" in the show's finale. “Since the first minute we chilled with each other, I’m always drawn to you. It’s effortless when I hang out with you. I know you’re shy and introverted, and I am too. But if you’re ready for a shot at love, so am I," said Vinny to Alysse.
2. Reality Won
Unfortunately, however real that spark between them was, it faded away thanks to the rigorous requirements of reality TV. “Unfortunately, Alysse and I weren’t allowed to see each other publicly after filming for five months until the finale aired to not spoil the ending. Very weird situation to be put in after the finale," Vinny revealed to his fans on Twitter.
Vinny went on to explain that while he and Alysse did their best to stay connected in spite of all the rules, it was very difficult. Text messages are great, but Vinny “struggled to keep [the relationship] alive through text” while spending time away from each other. But Vinny isn't better. He added onto his thread about their time together and their split saying, “Still think she’s amazing. Wish her the best.”
3. Pauly D
Of course, the show wasn't just about finding love for Vinny, either. Fan favorite Paul "DJ Paul D" DelVecchio Jr. was also looking for his own "shot" at love (god help us all), and by the season finale he managed to whittle down his options to just two potential romantic partners, Derynn Paige and Nikki Hall. When he chose to send Derynn home, it seemed like his answer was clear.
But Pauly had another surprise in store not just for Derynn, but for Nikki who pretty much assumed that she was going to be dating Pauly from there on out. She was mad wrong. Instead of proclaiming his undying love, he also sent Nikki home letting her and everyone else know that he just wants to "roll single" for a little while.
4. Vinny Now
Every since Jersey Shore ended, Vinny's been doing his darndest to make it as a successful actor, and he's definitely racked up credits. He appeared on The Hard Times of RJ Berger, 90210, and he even hosted his own MTV talk show, The Show with Vinny, in 2013. In 2016 he and his mom Paola Gaudagnino starred on a reality travel and food show called Vinny & Ma Eat America.
But not all of Vinny's gigs following his breakout success on MTV are as g-rated as going out for a nice lasagna with Ma. In fact, recently Vinny's been in the headlines for his work as a dancer in the all-male strip revue, Chippendale's. In fact, while the show doesn't traditionally go full-frontal with its nudity, Vinny begged to be allowed to take it all off!
5. Pauly D Now
Since the end of Jersey Shore Pauly D hasn't had any problem bringing in the bigs bucks. In fact, rumor has it that the dude actually racks in millions of dollars every single year for his residency as a DJ at Harrah's casino in Las Vegas! He also has his own line of clothing and men's cologne that do the heavy lifting when it comes to paying for his lavish lifestyle.
For those who have been following Pauly's career since the show ended, hearing he's decided to stay single is no surprise given just how tumultuous his love life has really been. Since 2016, the DJ and erstwhile reality star has been in an on-again-off-again relationship with pop star Aubrey O'Day. He's also reproduced, his daughter was born in 2013.
Rebecca Jane Stokes is a writer living in Brooklyn, New York with her cats, Batman and Margot. She's an experienced generalist with a passion for lifestyle, geek news, pop culture, and true crime.