‘The Situation’ In Rehab For Substance Abuse? Rep Denies Claim

After TMZ reported that “Jersey Shore” star  Mike ‘The Situation’ Sorrentino had checked into an inpatient treatment program, a rep was quick to say that it wasn’t rehab, it was just rest and recuperation ‘at an undisclosed location.’

Of course, if the rep wanted to make the ‘situation’go away, they could have simply said that he was on vacation. But they didn’t. So the rumors continue.

To be specific, the rep’s statement claims that Sitch “has spent the past several weeks at an undisclosed location for much needed rest and recuperation after his extensive production and appearance schedule.”

TMZ is reporting: “several people noticed he was “acting paranoid” on the set … and the unusual behavior was evident in certain Season 5 episodes that recently aired on MTV. During the ep when the gang goes camping, Sitch can be seen acting jittery, sweating profusely and just plain acting bizarre.”

While it may not be spelled out in the show’s TV Guide description, it’s well known that “Jersey Shore” centers around the central characters drinking too much and acting foolish. There was no loss of irony when co-star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi got pregnant – raising questions about her spinoff series, and just WHAT cameras would follow her doing without alcohol in the equation. If Sorrentino is in fact in rehab for alcohol abuse, it’s hard to ignore the fact that the show – while it may not blatantly encourage drinking by its cast members – certainly doesn’t discourage it either.

We certainly wish Sorrentino well whatever he’s being treated for, or resting up from.

So what will Jersey Shore’s place in TV history be? It’s too early to tell. But if in fact its central character ultimately owns up to problems with alcohol, it may be as much a cautionary tale about addiction as it is a phenomenal ratings success.

Season 6 of “Jersey Shore” is set to begin shooting this summer.