Jersey Shore

According to the manager, Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino "believes he and MTV have reach [sic] a great new arrangement." No mention of dollar amounts, but interestingly, the manager says the deal was sealed (though he never says it's been signed) with MTV, and not JS producers 495 Productions.

TMZ broke the story ... MTV offered The Sitch anywhere between $27,500 to $45,000 per episode over a period of time -- he was making $10k for season 2, so not bad.

But move over Moses -- Sitch's manager says, "Mike decided in order to get season 3 done he was going to have to lead the pack and wants to encourage the rest of his cast to follow his lead."

SallyAnn Salsano, executive producer of the show, tells TMZ they are ready to shoot. Salsano says they are "committed to the show" and "ready to go."

As we first reported, the cast has refused to shoot scenes for season three until a new deal is in place.

Snooks accidentally posted her BBM to her Twitter account -- which has over 310,000 followers -- and we're told her phone exploded nearly instantly with the torrential wave of messages she received from fans.

According to sources close to the reality star, Snooks had to ditch her phone and get a new one -- making her completely unreachable for hours.

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.