'Buckwild' and More 'Shore' Things

MTV is praying that lightning strikes twice when it premieres this new reality show, which follows good ol' boys (and girls) as they cavort through a small Mountain State town, in Jersey Shore's old time slot. They have reason to be optimistic — weeks before its debut, Buckwild has already been labeled a ''travesty'' by a West Virginia senator.

Think Jersey Shore might be a little more refined when transported to the quaint shores of Newcastle upon Tyne? Think again. MTV UK hit pay dirt with this brash, alcohol-soaked rip-off, which took a leaf out of its drunk parents' book by traveling to a sunnier locale — Cancun, rather than Miami — after season...er, series 1. The next round of Geordie airs this spring.

From its club-heavy setting to a character who calls himself the ''Situ-Asian'' (seriously), this series is an unrepentant Jersey clone...in almost every way — though originally developed for TV, K-Town ended up premiering on the YouTube channel LOUD instead, where it's currently airing its second season. Gym, tan, wait for buffering?

Lifetime's short-lived series about nouveau riche Russian-Americans living in Brooklyn was an unholy Real Housewives-meets-Jersey Shore hybrid. Originally, the show was even titled Brighton Beach. But, for whatever reason, club Rasputin never held as much appeal as Karma.

Before this Bravo show ever aired, Ryan Seacrest and his production company were sued by an L.A. resident who claimed she was subjected to ''demeaning and humiliating situations'' while filming the series. While veteran viewers shouted ''Par for the course, sister!'' Shahs extended its initial six-episode arc to a second season order this past December.

While TLC's My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding focused on extravagant nuptials, the NatGeo docuseries centers on the day-to-day lives of the members of one Romani family in New York City. But don't think it's missing the trashy allure of the other shows on this list: Gypsies, executive produced by former Karate Kid star Ralph Macchio, is as boisterous as any afternoon at the Jersey Shore.

TLC's series about a group of young exiles from Amish and Mennonite communities attracted plenty of controversy, eventually prompting the net to admit that several aspects of its show were misleading or downright false. Perhaps more importantly, Amish generated big ratings — it became TLC's most-watched freshman series ever. That's right. The bonnets are even bigger than Honey Boo Boo.

Even EW's Ken Tucker was taken in by VH1's ''floridly funny, vicariously vicious reality series,'' which he said ''exerts a vulgar charm.'' The show, which follows a group of Staten Island women whose husbands or fathers have all been arrested for Mafia-related crimes, has already spawned two spin-offs: Mob Wives Chicago and Big Ang. A third season of furious feuding and drama, Italian style, premieres Jan. 6.

What is it about the Garden State? The same year Jersey Shore took over MTV, The Real Housewives of New Jersey and Cake Boss brought their own loud-mouthed stars to TV. The next year, two more Jersey-centric programs — one about a Green Brook salon (Jerseylicious, pictured above) and one about a boutique (Jersey Couture) — hit the Style Network and Oxygen, respectively. Just call them extensions of the Jersey subculture brand. Somewhere, Chris Christie is weeping.

History's beloved series shines a spotlight on the people of the Atchafalaya River Basin swamp, who make their living by hunting alligators. Fighting guidos or fightin' critters — what's the difference? Both scare up huge ratings, making these People some of the most-watched on TV. Get your treble hooks ready 'cause season 4 debuts Feb. 14. How romantic!

The Soup's favorite target focuses on a pair of fisherman who specialize in ''noodling,'' or nabbing catfish without using any equipment or bait. (Noodlers are encouraged to wiggle their fingers so that the critters take them for worms.) While the Animal Planet series is an extension of reality TV's obsession with America's backwoods (see also: Duck Dynasty, Moonshiners), it might not exist if Jersey Shore hadn't exploded the sub-sploitation trend.