Sabato In, Situation Out on 'Jersey Shore'-Themed 'Bones' Episode

Anyone who wanted to see Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino die a violent death is going to be disappointed.

The ab-tastic MTV reality star had been in talks to play a murder victim on an upcoming 'Jersey Shore'-themed episode of Fox's crime procedural 'Bones.' But the talks have fallen through, reports Entertainment Weekly's Ausiello Files. However, another familiar hunk has been cast in a role on the episode: Antonio Sabato Jr.

According to TV Guide, Sabato will play a bouncer at a nightspot on the Jersey shore, a club where Booth (David Boreanaz) and Brennan (Emily Deschanel) go to question a person of interest in the murder case.

As for the potential victim himself, "the Situation is not going to work out," 'Bones' executive producer Stephen Nathan told EW. The snag had nothing to do with Situation's as-yet-unproven thespian talents. In fact, the problem was a legal one, albeit one that did not involve someone getting thrown into the Seaside Heights drunk tank. Rather, Nathan said, "there were so many contractual difficulties with MTV that it just became an impossibility."

Nathan said that the show would have to go with another actor (probably one with a less impressive six-pack) to play the corpse. "But the episode will still be our little tribute to 'Jersey Shore," Nathan said, "and it will do what many people in America would like to see themselves -- which is one of those people dead."

According to EW, Nathan followed that last remark with a faux-villainous laugh that sounded like this: "Muhahahahahahaha."

Earlier this month, the 'Bones' principals described the upcoming episode, which will air in October. According to EW's Ausiello Files, Situation would have played a fitness guru named Richie "The V" Genero. The character was to have what casting notices described as a Victoria Gotti-esque mom.

Series creator Hart Hanson described the plot of the episode: "A guido is killed, and Booth and Brennan enter that world to find out what happens." According to Boreanaz, Brennan will "understand them because she considers [guidos] a tribe." Deschanel added that Brennan "anthropologically studies them and knows the lingo and the behavior. [She's] down with the whole guido stuff."

Even if the episode is Situation-free, Boreanaz promised plenty of shoutouts to 'Jersey Shore.' "I guarantee that there will be a fist pump," he said.

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