Jersey Shore

TMZ broke the story ... members of the cast went on strike yesterday, refusing to shoot over the weekend for Season 3.

Sources connected with 495 Productions tell TMZ the cast is ultimately hurting the show. As one source put it, "The show is not about famous rich people with managers coming to the Shore."

495 would like to keep a few of the cast members -- notably The Situation, Snooki and Pauly D -- but they think the strike by the cast is the last straw.

We're told the cast feels like they've been tricked, because they felt their contract -- which gives each of them $10,000 an episode -- was only supposed to cover Season 2 in Miami. They feel they're being screwed now that producers want them to go to the Shore and shoot another installment under the existing deal.

As we first reported, The Situation is being tempted with a sweet new contract and we're told it's pissed off some of the other cast as well as the crew.

Here's the rub ... Sources say MTV thinks they have "magic in a bottle" with this group and wants to keep the cast intact.

The cast was supposed to begin shooting "at home" scenes today for season three, but we're told Jwoww, Ronnie, Sammi, Pauly D and Vinny -- who are spread out between New York and Rhode Island -- told the crews they weren't shooting without new contracts.

The Situation and Snooki are supposed to shoot tomorrow, and we're told Snooki plans to do the same. No word yet on The Situation, but as we first reported ... he's having contract issues of his own.

Sources close to the show tell TMZ the cast feels they can make more money doing appearances for two months, rather than filming the show.

According to the proposed deal, MTV is offering Mikey a one-time bonus for the impending Season 2 in Miami, ranging from $60,000 to $180,000, depending on ratings.

So why, you ask, would MTV offer Mike more money if he already has a contract for Season 2? Turns out MTV plans to split up Season 2 -- using the second half (Seaside Heights) for Season 3 -- and they want Mike to sign on for a possible Season 4.

Under the new proposal, The Sitch would pull in between $27,500 - $45,000 an episode for Season 4. Not a bad bump ... considering he's making $10k an episode for Seasons 2 and 3.

MTV wanted The Sitch to sign on the dotted line by this past Thursday, or the deal was off the table. But we've heard they are now giving him a few more days to mull it over.

Best case scenario -- The Situation walks away from "Jersey Shore" far filthier than he was before ... rich, that is.

TMZ has obtained this cast reel for the new show -- which has only shot its pilot and hasn't been picked up by a network yet. There's definitely a Situation or two, a Snooki, a Pauly D type (who is most likely a club promoter, not a DJ) and their version of Jwoww goes by Jwao (kidding).

As we previously reported ... Snooki, JWoww, MTV and Viacom are being sued by a Chicago woman who claims the guidettes beat her up in a Miami club back in May.

Carrie Malec is suing the pair -- along with MTV and Viacom -- over a fight that allegedly occurred in a Miami nightclub on May 6, this according to the NY Post. The lawsuit could have a huge impact on season two -- Malec wants to make sure the episode which shows the fight never makes the air.

TMZ has learned the tanorexic DJ checked out a souped-up Chopper Edition Lambo at Towbin Automotive in Vegas the other day -- the same dealership featured in the A&E show "King of Cars" -- and while he didn't drive anything off the lot, we're told it's "very likely" he'll buy the car.

During an event in Beijing on Wednesday, Will Smith's son flashed his Hollywood royalty six pack.

Our spies tell us ... the footage that was already shot of Sammi, Ronnie, Vinny and Angelina has "underwhelmed" MTV honchos. As for replacing them for Season 3, one source said, "They should be very worried."

As for The Situation, Snooki, Pauly D and Jwoww ... they're sold for next season.

Fist pumps all around.

Sammi from "Jersey Shore" is officially in the clear after allegedly popping a girl twice in the face at a Miami club last month -- but it's only because she got the hell out of Dodge in the nick of time.

The Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office tells TMZ, the case of Sammi's fists of fury is closed -- because "as a matter of policy, we do not file charges involving misdemeanor crimes when the accused is beyond [our] jurisdiction."

But here's the rub ... if Sammi ever shows her face in Miami again, she could face battery charges.

According to the State Attorney, "This case could be revisited if and when the accused returns."

We're told Sitch is now convinced he knows more about producing the show than the producers or MTV. As one source put it, "It's gotten ridiculous. If we tell him not to cross the street, he will. He just defies us."

What's worse ... producers are trying to keep the cast real ... so they're not making deals on the phone or bragging to castmates and others about their fame or their wallet. In that department, The Situation is out of control. As a result, a lot of what's already been shot is unusable, because it doesn't even resemble a reality show.

And here's what's pissing off producers the most. We're told the cast gets one time a week where they can take care of their personal business deals off camera. Sitch is on the phone all the time. We're told he thinks people want to see him wheeling and dealing on the phone, and it has driven producers crazy.

Whether you like it or not, ab-flasher The Situation is releasing a rap song -- and we've got the first clip.

The "Jersey Shore" star's song -- aptly titled "The Situation" -- is a collaboration with Fatman Scoop, DJ Class, The Disco Fries and a whole lotta auto-tune.

Sitch's club banger hits iTunes this week.

You've been warned.

Snooki wasn't telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth when she said she didn't use tanning beds anymore because of President Barack Obama's harsh comments.

Our "Jersey Shore" spies tell us Snooki is now doing what's called a cocktail -- she goes in a high pressure tanning bed, and then tops it off with a spray tan.