Apparently we can add “threat” to the long, long list of words the cast of Jersey Shore doesn’t understand. The guidos and guidettes have gone on strike, and “threaten” not to return for Season 3 unless MTV meets their salary demands. It would have been infinitely more frightening if they’d threatened to sign on with another network, working for minimum wage and making twice as many episodes. Perhaps you will not be completely surprised to learn that this entire mess is the cast’s own damn collective fault:

The fallout comes days after the cast failed to individually negotiate new contracts for season three by MTV’s Friday deadline, according to RadarOnline.com. “None of them did,” a source close to the cast told the gossip website. “So when the 16th passed and there were no new deals, MTV took the position that all the cast’s original contracts were still in force at their $10,000 an episode fee.” The cast was ordered to return to work Monday, or else. “The ‘or else’ part is that if they don’t come back to work tomorrow, it goes to legal,” the source explained.

The show’s producers at 495 Productions say the whole cast is “expendable,” but MTV isn’t so sure. Right now they’re tempting The Situation with a cushy contract that would massively boost his pay and give the rest of the cast yet another reason to hate him. But unless the (*ahem*) situation is resolved soon, you can say goodbye to Snooki et al and hello to the Jersey Shore farm team. That might actually be interesting. I’m honestly wondering what MTV can come up with that will make me feel nostalgic about these gel-heads, but I’m confident they can rise to the challenge.