Season 6 of "Jersey Shore" just dropped another major bomb, TMZ has learned ... Snooki will NOT be shacking up with her fellow castmates this summer -- instead getting her own private nest nearby.

Sources tell us ... the mama-to-be is taking her pregnancy very seriously, choosing to live NEAR the "Shore" house rather than IN it because it's not worth it to be surrounded by boozy, loud roommates while pregnant.

If you recall, Snooki announced she was knocked-up in February -- when she was already 3 months along -- which means while filming this summer she'll be in prime popping position ... all the more reason to have a pad of her own.

The guidette's absence is just another in a slew of "Shore" changes this year ... which includes a sober Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino (who just got out of rehab) and the possibility of adding a Snooki-baby to the cast.

It's shaping up to be the most boring BEST season ever!

She looks like Snooki ... she talks like Snooki ... and this weekend, a woman who bears a striking resemblance to the MTV star took a brutal shot to the face ... like Snooki.

TMZ obtained footage from Saturday's Rockfest concert in Kansas City, MO ... where Slash was performing ... when an unidentified Snook-alike took a hard boot to the face from a very angry, very large male.

Sources at the scene tell TMZ ... the man had already gotten physical with other concertgoers when the Snook-alike decided to tell him off with a few choice words.

The man -- who didn't appreciate the criticism -- responded by planting his foot right in her grill ... dropping her to the floor like a sack of potatoes ... and igniting a massive brawl involving a bunch of scary looking individuals.

Eventually, the fight was broken up ... and sources at the scene tell us the Snook-alike appeared to be OK.

More tan-on-tan aggression -- this time it's "Tanning Mom" firing back at Snooki ... claiming the reality star is "the biggest a**hole in the world" for criticizing her life decisions.

Patricia Krentcil -- who's been under fire for allegedly taking her 5-year-old daughter to a tanning salon -- was out in New Jersey yesterday ... when someone asked about the comments Snooki recently made to "Extra" -- "that b**ch is crazy."

Tanning Mom shot back ... saying, "She's the biggest a**hole in the world. She's fake, she's fat, her t*ts are fake, she's disgusting."

Yet, after all that ... she continued, "When this is all said and done, I'd like to meet up with 'Snoopy'."

Yes, she called her Snoopy ... and she probably owes Charles Schultz an apology.

Proving they're totally prepared for parenthood ... Snooki and her alleged baby daddy Jionni LaValle have successfully managed to go 4 whole days without misplacing or damaging their plastic infant training doll.

The pregnant "Jersey Shore" star has been carrying around the fake child since last week ... in what seems like a crash prep course on how to care for an actual living, breathing child.

No word on when the baby is due ... but all signs point to late August/early September ... right around the time "Jersey Shore" Season 6 is expected to debut.

With Snooki pregnant and The Situation getting sober, the people behind "Jersey Shore" are FREAKED the show will lose its sex-crazed alcohol-fueled edge -- so they're looking to phase the two out ... in favor of newer, wilder castmates.

MTV released a statement earlier this week -- following news Sitch was seeking substance abuse treatment -- claiming the network expects the entire cast to return for Season 6 ... but sources close to 495 Productions tell TMZ, the production company is currently looking for new talent.

According to sources, 495 desperately wants to keep things fresh -- and folding in new castmates will help transition the show into a new generation ... while still keeping old fans hooked.

We're told 495 plans to limit Snooki and The Situation's roles on the new season -- giving new cast members more screen time instead.

The show is set to begin filming this summer. 495 had no comment.

Only one of them is really pregnant at the moment, but Snooki and Jwoww both got practice being moms as they were spotted holding fake babies while filming their new "reality" TV show in Jersey City on Thursday.

For once, these two really did get all dolled up.

Snooki and her "Jersey Shore" spinoff co-star Jwoww decided to spend part of yesterday playing with dolphins in Cancun. 

Looks like their new show is shaping up to be a sober good time.

*Yawn*

Mom-to-be Snooki enjoyed her first sober Spring Break party in Cancun today ... while her "Jersey Shore" spinoff castmate Jwoww enjoyed the kind of cocktail an unwed pregnant reality star cannot. 

Soon Snooki will be enjoying her first sober St. Patrick's Day. Then her first sober Passover. Then her first sober Easter. Then her first sober Earth Day. Then her first sober Cinco de Mayo. Then her first sober Memorial Day. Then her first sober Flag Day. Then her first sober July 4th. Then her first sober ...

Snooki's ex-boyfriend Emilio Masella doesn't give a rat's ass about her lawyers' legal threats -- telling TMZ, "I’m able to express my own opinions about her ... If they want to sue me, they're not going to get much."

TMZ broke the story ... Emilio thinks Snooki's pregnancy could have devastating consequences on her life -- claiming, "I hope for her sake ... not to be rude or anything ... but I hope she has a miscarriage."

Snooki's legal team had sent Emilio a cease and desist letter over offensive comments he made to the media earlier this year -- but after the "miscarriage" comment, they're now revisiting the possibility of a defamation lawsuit.

But Emilio's not worried -- saying, "If they want to sue me for being my own person that’s screwed up."

Emilio tells us, "I feel like they're trying to scare me for expressing my own opinions ... How can they sue me for stating how I feel? I don’t get why they have it out for me."

He adds, "My wish is to sit down and talk with her for 5 minutes, no cameras, face-to-face, and have a conversation with Nicole not Snooki. I know she'd fall in love with me again."

Snooki's pregnant AND sporting a massive rock -- which can only mean her "Jersey Shore" spin-off show is headed in one frightening direction ... a "Big Fat Fugazi Italian Wedding."

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Snooki's ex-BF Emilio Masella says he's just a schmuck who misspoke when he wished a "miscarriage" on the MTV star ... but says he still HOPES TO GOD she's not really pregnant.

Emilio just called in to "TMZ Live" to explain himself ... saying, "What I meant by the statement was that I hope she doesn’t have the child. I just hope the test was wrong ... I think she's too young. I don’t think this kid is in it for her."

He continued, "If she's pregnant with this kid I guess I can't associate with her."

Promise?