Inside MTV Reality: Double Shot at Love with Pauly D & Vinny - Part Deux in Vegas

BY DC CUEVA                      

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB

Right now amidst the chaos in this country and the pandemic that shut down just about everything in our world, the City of Las Vegas has just reopened its doors for the first time in nearly three months. Many of its biggest hotels, casinos and attractions are opening back up as the state of Nevada returns to normalcy in something it does better than any other place on earth: provide everyone who comes to Sin City with the time of their lives. It's also the venue for this summer's attraction for those who love the romantic side of MTV Reality... and those who love the biggest bromance on the channel.

Right now, the ninth overall season of the most-popular franchise in MTV history, Jersey Shore, is hosting the second wedding to take place in twelve months when, after Mike the Situation got hitched last summer, it's the turn of Angelina Pivarnick to don the wedding outfits as the hamster & fiance Chris say their "I dos." There still is the reception as the newlyweds get to mark the first hours of them being a couple along with some drama taking place afterwards. But after what goes down there, the Jerzday focus will shift to where the second season of the Family Vacation began: Las Vegas, and the only two members of this iconic cast who are still single, DJ Pauly D. Delvecchio and Vinny Guaganino, who are ready for A Double Shot at Love, once more.

Last year, the franchise that marked the TV breakthrough for Shore matriarch Sally-Ann Salsano, A Shot at Love, returned to MTV a decade after the wild hot mess featuring Tila Tequila. Double Shot saw Pauly D. & Vinny become the bachelors and saw a familiar face to MTV fans lead a group of ladies compete for the guys' love and affection. They navigated through many challenges and cab ceremonies with the help of their Jersey Shore friends, but in the end though, Pauly & Vinny decided to not give their roses to the ladies as it was friendship that they found.

Now almost exactly a year later, as the weather heats up into triple digits in the Southern Nevada desert, the guys are reuniting with some of the exes from last year's battle for love, but this time they're not competing for roses. And much like what we had with a certain redhead last year, they'll be mixing love with work as they'll be joining the guys in living in a luxury suite on the Strip and working at a Day & Nightclub there. But there will sure be plenty of drama, hookups and the occasional blowup - all in the style you've become accustomed to from MTV.

After the jump, we take a look back at last season when the guys went for love, before we take a look ahead at Season 2 and faces old & new who are about to spice things up in the Desert.

 SEASON 1 REWIND 

The Jersey Shore installment of A Double Shot at Love saw Pauly and Vinny take their talents out west to Los Angeles and the revival of the original A Shot at Love format from 2007, which saw contestants be dwindled down to when a handful are left. But unlike when Tila ruled the world - and with things done a bit more tame & funny than it was all those years ago, the ladies held power in their own hands of deciding which of the two guys they are choosing... unlike in Bachelor Nation where it's that one.

Among the twenty contestants who were chosen for A Double Shot at Love is someone who, two years ago this summer, was in this position of looking for love on MTV in Are You The One? Season 7's Maria Elizondo, who spent only a few weeks in the love shack when she & her perfect match were already on their way to the honeymoon suite, but it didn't work it for them. She earned another chance at romance last year in a house of various ages and backgrounds that gave those tuning in the world of MTV Reality romance, with a Jersey Shore twist.

Below, the big moments from Season 1 of A Double Shot at Love, starting with when they moved in, and continuing all through the spring of 2019. It also includes guest spots from some familiar faces...

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 SEASON 2 PREVIEW 

Now, almost 350 days after a night that saw Pauly decide to ride solo and Vinny give his rose to Alysse, here we are again. This time, the focus shifts from a mansion with cabs outside waiting to take out those eliminated to a city where the taxis are always available 24/7... and in the place where the man with the blowout & a quarantine beard regularly does his thing on the 1's and 2's.

We were in Las Vegas two summers ago when the OG's began their eighth journey together there to celebrate Ronnie's entry into parenthood (and with a cameo at the baby shower by his good friend Mikey P. and then-girlfriend Kailah of The Challenge), and then returned there later on when the Keto King took his talents to the stage of the world-famous Chippendales strip troupe, among other things in Sin City.

As the epicenter of what is always a major city in this country during the summertime, you can't ask for a fitting location for Part Deux of A Double Shot at Love. But this time, the cast will be a little bit different but there will be familiar faces: only six of the original twenty suitors from Season 1 are back for another shot at love, though it will be very much different for them as they'll be living in the same quarters and partying all day & night. They'll be calling a suite at The LINQ (the former Imperial Palace where I stayed for my 2007 #DCVegas trip) their home, and they'll be working at a pool at the nearby Cromwell, a boutique hotel & casino on the Strip that famously saw Vinny ride in a cartmobile when he had that sore leg rehearsing for his Chippendales residency.

The aforementioned AYTO alum had her thing for Vinny, but Maria is back for another chance... so is Nikki after letting Pauly go, and they'll be joined by B-Lashes, Derynn, Marissa & Suzi for this summer together. And three of those who call themselves the Beast Coast Crew are so looking forward to doing this again that they invited three guys to join them in the desert who know a thing about partying it up & living the good life. MTV.com puts the words to them and our six returning stars below.

 MEET THE CAST 

(Bios Courtesy MTV.com, names linked to suitors' IG accounts)

❤️ BRITTANI "B-LASHES" SCHWARTZ - Lake Grove, NY: "B-Lashes's personality perfectly matches her sparkly and over-the-top style -- so it's no wonder the Lake Grove, NY, native made lifelong friends as part of the East Coast, Beast Coast Crew on the first season of Double Shot at Love. Although she didn't find love, B-Lashes continued to party it up with Pauly and Vinny at the Shore. When the guys invited her to spend the summer in Vegas, she seized the opportunity to move out of her parents' house and have an adventure. B-Lashes is excited about the opportunities Sin City has to offer and hopes to find her dream job working in the Vegas club scene. But will being away from home be a lifeline or make her too homesick?"

❤️ DERYNN PAIGE - Franklin Lakes, NJ: "While this self-proclaimed "crazy cat lady" didn't win Double Shot at Love, Derynn stayed close friends with Vinny and Pauly after the competition. When they asked her to leave Franklin Lakes, NJ, for Las Vegas and bring her friends, this social butterfly knew she could assemble a killer crew. Derynn always dreamt of opening her own nightclub and knows that spending time in Vegas is an invaluable experience that will bring her one step closer to her goal. And even though she is often the center of attention, Derynn has found herself in a little bit of a dry spell in the love department. Will she be able to quench her thirst in Las Vegas, or will love leave her high and dry again?"

❤️ MARIA ELIZONDO - West New York, NJ: "On the first season of Double Shot at Love, Maria's confident yet quirky personality left a lasting impression on Vinny. While their chemistry was undeniable, Vinny eliminated Maria when he felt a stronger connection with the other ladies and didn't want to lead her on. After the show, Maria had some strong words (or tweets) for Vinny, which put a strain on their relationship. Vinny hopes that inviting Maria to Las Vegas is an olive branch to mend their friendship. Maria is excited to leave West New York, NJ, and join her friends in Las Vegas for the summer, but will the awkwardness with Vinny get in the way of her good time?"

❤️ MARISSA LUCCHESE - Massapequa, NY: "The youngest member of the epic East Coast, Beast Coast Crew (with Derynn and B-Lashes), Marissa may not have connected romantically with Pauly and Vinny on the first season of Double Shot at Love, but they all formed a close bond. Don't let her little sister status fool you. Marissa isn't afraid to keep it real with her friends and roommates. When the guys invited her to live in their suite in Las Vegas, she jumped at the chance to leave Massapequa, NY, and move in with her besties in Sin City. But this time around, Marissa is not looking for love and is excited about a no-strings-attached summer. When she meets someone who catches her eye, will she stick to her plan or get her heart broken again?"

❤️ NIKKI HALL - Los Angeles, CA: "There is no denying Nikki is a passionate person with a ride-or-die sense of loyalty. On the first season of Double Shot at Love, her passion was laser-focused on Pauly. And when Pauly didn't pick Nikki at the finale, she was crushed. Looking back, they both hate the way things ended between them, so Pauly invited the Los Angeles native to move into his suite with the rest of the ladies. Will this peace offering be enough to squash their beef?"

❤️ SUZI BAIDYA - Irvine, CA: "It's nearly impossible not to smile when you hear Suzi's signature laugh. As the life of the party on the first season of Double Shot at Love, Suzi caught the guys' attention, so Vinny and Pauly knew she would love the Vegas nightlife. Suzi is leaving her family and responsibilities behind in Irvine, CA, to have a summer of fun in Sin City. Will it be as carefree as she has imagined it?"

🕶️ ANTONIO LOCKE - Staten Island, NY: "This hardworking NYC construction worker is a self-proclaimed class clown who loves to have a good time. So, when his friend Derynn invited him to Las Vegas, Antonio jumped at the chance to trade pouring cement for popping bottles on the strip. However, Antonio is leaving behind a serious girlfriend in Staten Island, NY, and his new roommates are quick to tell him that being in a relationship in Sin City is a disaster waiting to happen. With temptation coming at him from all angles, will Antonio prove everyone wrong and stay faithful?"

🕶️ BRANDON STAKEMANN - Manalapan, NJ: "Brandon prides himself on being a "lovable douche" and thinks of himself as quite the ladies' man and life of the party. He and Derynn became close friends while partying and hosting events in New Jersey. She knew his confidence would thrive in Las Vegas, so she invited him to leave Manalapan, NJ, and join them this summer in Sin City. But with Brandon's polarizing energy, will his confidence catch the eye of one of his roommates or ultimately rub them the wrong way -- or both?"

🕶️ NICKY CURD - Staten Island, NY: "Nicky is an OG "cugine," which in Italian means "cousin," but on Staten Island, NY, it means "pretty boy." A car salesman and entrepreneur, Nicky is always looking for the next opportunity to make money. Knowing that his grind would flourish in Las Vegas, Derynn invited Nicky to join her and her friends for the summer. One thing Nicky loves more than hustling is smiling, but will his infectious grin win over his roommates?"


Among the questions we should have answered this summer will be: Will Pauly & Nikki put aside their exes drama? Will Maria prove the adage that a third time's the charm in MTV love? Will Derynn take the attraction she had for Pauly last year to the next level? And will the new guys make any of these girls their perfect match?

Since MTV first dove into the world of reality dating TV a few years ago, we've been used to taking trips into the Truth Booth like Maria did on Are You The One?, and delving into the Shack of Secrets on Ex On The Beach. This time, this passion for love we've enjoyed during the heat of this time of year will be combined with another slice of summer to create what should be a fun time in Vegas... and it's not one, but two guys as the stars. Care for a Double Shot?

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As we have covered Maria's original AYTO show from the start as well as the Jersey guys' cousins in Florida, we're excited to add A Double Shot at Love to our summer 2020 schedule of Inside MTV Reality to join the ongoing season of The Challenge: Total Madness (with Floribama Shore's newbie Mattie) and the summer half of Season 3 of Siesta Key, which premieres a week from now. Us adding Double Shot marks our debut covering a slice of the Jersey Shore franchise, and we'll have weekly episode WRAP's each weekend as part of our weekly series of posts with the week's top moments and some of the social media reaction through our SocialPulse section. We'll see you tomorrow night after this week's Total Madness episode for a new edition of ExtraTime, and enjoy the sunshine...

- I AM DC
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