New Jersey TV Shows Pull in Record Cable Ratings

NEW YORK – Manhattanites may crack jokes about New Jersey, but cable network shows based in the state are chalking up big ratings, the New York Post highlighted Wednesday.

Not only MTV hit Jersey Shore continues to draw record ratings.

Comcast-owned Style Network, now part of NBCUniversal, saw the final episode of season two of Jerseylicious, which features Jersey stylists, become its highest-rated telecast ever and drew 925,000 viewers. The show has doubled its viewership since season one, the Post said, adding that it will be part of the channel’s counter-programming on Super Bowl Sunday.

The Post also highlighted Discovery Communications-owned TLC’s success with Jersey-based Cake Boss, which has led to spin-off The Next Great Baker. The season four premiere of Cake Boss drew 2.4 million viewers on Jan. 31, just shy of the series’ highest-rated episode, which drew 2.5 million viewers, according to the Post.

But not every cable show that puts the spotlight on New Jersey is a big ratings success. Oxygen’s Jersey Couture about an upscale dress salon launched last spring with so-so ratings. A spokeswoman told that Post that the network was still considering a second season.

Administration Would Back Subway Line To Jersey

The plans are still preliminary, but the concept has the city administration excited: A New York City subway stop in Hoboken. 

According to a ?story by the Associated Press earlier this week, an extension of the Metropolitan Transportation Organization's #7 line under the Hudson River into New Jersey would include a stop in Hoboken, before ending in Secaucus. 

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg made the proposal, pointing out that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority was already extending the #7 line west all the way to 11th Avenue and the line could be further extended into New Jersey just as it currently extends on the other side of Manhattan under the East River into Queens.

The proposal comes in the wake of the cancellation of the plans to build a new rail tunnel from Manhattan to New Jersey, which was killed by Gov. Chris Christie for being too costly. The ARC Tunnel would not have been accessible from Hoboken, but would have alleviated the traffic into the city, in turn making the commute from Hoboken into Manhattan easier. 

In response to the cancellation of the ARC Tunnel, Mayor Dawn Zimmer wrote the governor a letter, asking him to re-consider "a much better alternative that achieves equivalent connectivity for rail passengers?, preserves the economic and job benefits of a major infrastructure project, and saves billions of dollars and years of construction time."

The plan the mayor is proposing is the "Hoboken Alternative," a plan put forth in 2005, according to Zimmer's Oct. 12 letter to the governor.

Zimmer writes also that the "Hoboken Alternative" would cost less than $4 billion, would use an existing rail structure under the Hudson and provide direct connectivity to New York Penn Station. 

A subway line from Manhattan to Hudson County could also provide Hoboken with the same perks the ARC Tunnel would have brought, said Director of Transportation and Parking Ian Sacs. He said that additional trains would lighten the pressure on Hoboken's PATH terminal. It would also ease congestion in the Hudson and Lincoln tunnels, he said, which—in turn—would make the commute from Hoboken to Manhattan easier.

Zimmer said she already had a meeting scheduled with New York City Department of Transportation Director Janette Sadik-Khan? on Dec. 4. 

"It's perfect timing," said Zimmer about the preliminary subway proposals. "I will definitely talk to her about this."

Assemblyman Ruben Ramos Jr. also supported the idea. "I hope to see this project come to fruition," he said in a press release, "especially for the benefit of Hoboken and all Hudson County residents and businesses.?"

The subway stop for the 7 line, which runs from Manhattan's Times Square across town all the way to Queens, would probably be at the Hoboken Terminal, said Sacs. An addition of an MTA line into Jersey could also mean that the PATH and the MTA could start talking about a joint payment system. 

However appealing, it may take a while until these ideas actually turn into plans. According to a New York Metro article, there's a distrust of New Jersey among New York and federal officials ever since the governor cancelled the ARC Tunnel. 

Cake Boss' is a Jersey boy at heart - BostonHerald.com

When it comes to reality shows about New Jersey, Buddy Valastro, star of TLC’s “Cake Boss,” isn’t too frosted over how his home state comes off.

“I think it doesn’t show Jersey in the best light,” said Valastro, who was in town the other day to sign his new book “Cake Boss: Stories and Recipes from Mia Famiglia.”

“But it’s another form of entertainment. I know some people from the other shows. . . . I made Teresa’s wedding cake.”

He refers, of course, to infamous table-throwing Teresa Giudice of “Real Housewives of New Jersey.”

“There’s a lot of positive things the housewives do that are not on the show. Dina alone, I’ve been to 20 charity events of hers.”

As for the most famous TV trainwreck, “Jersey Shore’s” Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Buddy said she’s just an average American girl!

“She was going to be on ‘Cake Boss,’ because she had missed Mother’s Day and wanted to show that she cared and loved her mom,” Buddy said. “We made a big cake for her mom and delivered it to them at their house. They’re loving people, normal people.”

Besides running the family’s 100-year-old Carlo’s Pastry Shop in Hoboken and doing his reality show, Buddy currently is touring the country on the “Bakin’ with the Boss” tour.

“It’s kind of like this interactive tour where I get on stage and tell my story of who I am. It gives CB fans an idea of who I am what I’m doing in my life,’’ he told the Track. “I call people up from the audience and ask them to help me decorate a cake. It’s good, family fun.”

Don’t forget to watch ’Track Gals’—the Inside Track’s new TV show—at noon on Sundays on TV38 and at 12:30am Sunday mornings (Saturday night) on WBZ Channel 4. Or watch the latest episode now at

Jersey Shore star Snooki good enough to eat on reality TV ...

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 5:42 PM on 9th November 2010

Snooki was literally the icing on the cake on last night's special episode of the TLC show Cake Boss.

The pint-sized Jersey Shore star was immortalized in chocolate and icing as part of a special birthday cake that she ordered for her mother.

And it wasn't just Snooki that got the sugary treatment - some shirtless, fist pumping Guidos were included along with a little effigy of her mother herself, Helen.

Caring daughter: Snooki appeared on last night's Cake Boss in a bid to score the perfect birthday cake for her mother, Helen

When reality collides: Snooki brought her Jersey Shore attitude and philosophy to the Hoboken bakery

Bakers at Carlos Bakery in Hoboken, New Jersey, which features in the popular weekly reality show, recreated Snooki perfectly.

Made in chocolate to recreate her dark mahogany tan and with her signature hair 'poof' in place, dressed in a low cut black mini dress and a designer handbag slung over her shoulder, the mini version was the perfect homage to the Jersey Shore star.

The show's stars, cousin Anthony and younger cousin, Buddy, were starstruck by the new client, and tried their very hardest to impress her.

For her part, Snooki flirted shamelessly throughout the show, as well as trying to educate the Cake Boss cast about the fineries of the Jersey Shore mantra, GTL (Gym, Tanning, Laundry).

Homage: Ralphie created the perfect little Snooki out of chocolate, complete with her signature hair 'poof' and designer handbag

Masterpiece: In the finished result Snooki is on one side surrounded by fist pumping Guidos whilst her mother is immortalized on her garden

But the team did Snooki proud with their end result, reducing the outspoken and controversial star to tears of laughter.

The finished result consisted of a rectangular base followed by two little round tiers next to each other that were used to resemble two different cakes in one.

One side was Snooki's and the opposing was her mom's.

Snooki's part of the cake was a cool blue, with a mini-she, created by Ralphie and was surrounded by shirtless, buffed up Guidos on the brown-sugared beach. 

Snooki's mom's side was neon green, with piping flowers and miniature flower pots, along with a sculpture of her as a gardener.

Loves it: Snooki was obviously thrilled by the cake they created as she was reduced to tears of laughter

'Cake Boss' -- 'Jersey Shore's' Snooki Appears, Causes a ...

'Jersey Shore's' Snooki is everywhere these days, so why not have her on top of a cake as well? It seems that Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi failed to remember Mother's Day. So she tried to apologize to her mom on the new 'Cake Boss' (Mon., 9PM ET on TLC).

The 'Cake Boss' shop is located in Hoboken, New Jersey -- not the shore. Still, maybe the fellow "Garden State" residents could solve the family drama.

Buddy Valastro and his team tried to make Snooki happy -- which included letting the reality star flirt with Buddy's cousin Anthony. Upon meeting Anthony, Snooki found the young man to be severely untanned. She suggested that he needed a heavy dose of "GTL" -- that's "gym, tan and laundry" for you 'Jersey Shore' newbies.

Anthony took Snooki's advice to heart. When the 'Cake Boss' team brought the dessert for Snooki's make-up event, he looked like a man transformed. Anthony was newly tanned, newly buff, and was sporting a "Guido-appropriate" outfit -- including a tank top and gold chain.

Snooki was pleased that her flirting had worked out. Hopefully, her mom was pleased with the "I'm Sorry" cake -- it was topped with a replica of her daughter in all her tall-bouffanted glory. (By the way, we can neither confirm nor deny that "Snooks" missed Mother's Day because she was drunk. But she seemed pretty tipsy during the cake-related party. We're just saying ... )

Morning Rush: Hoboken proposes permanent 9/11 memorial, 'Cake Boss' Buddy Valastro expands to Jersey City

Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal"Cake Boss" star Buddy Valastro speaks at the welcome luncheon at Lackawanna Center in Jersey City Oct. 19.

The Lackawanna Center, an eight-story industrial building outside the Holland Tunnel, was transformed yesterday into the set of a future "Cake Boss" episode as politicos, bankers, developers and real estate agents gathered to welcome the famed baker to his new home in Jersey City. Check out the photo gallery here.

Nine years after the Sept. 11th attacks on the World Trade Center, Hoboken is unveiling conceptual drawings for a proposed 9/11 memorial. Mayor Dawn Zimmer expects it to be completed next year in time for the 10th anniversary.

For full stories, read today's Jersey Journal.

Jersey City to get its own slice of Hoboken's Cake Boss

Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey JournalBuddy Valastro of the reality TV show, "Cake Boss, " in Hoboken, arrives in Bayonne to deliver the cake to Buon Appetito Restaurant in Bayonne where reality series "Jersey Shore" star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi is holding a belated Mother's Day celebration for her mother, Helen. Jersey City will soon be getting its own slice of Hoboken's "Cake Boss."

Sometime next year, Buddy Valastro will be expanding his century-old family baking business to the Lackawanna Center, an 8-story industrial building outside the Holland Tunnel on Grove Street in Jersey City.

The "Boss" will take over 30,000 square feet on the ground floor of the Center in order to build a state-of-the-art baking facility and distribution center. A larger headquarters for the bakery's administrative offices is also in the works.

The storefront at Carlo's City Hall Bakery on Washington Street in Hoboken will remain to serve customers and of course, for tapings of the TLC reality series now in its third season.

"It's exciting...," said Jonathan Ratner, Vice President of Emmes Asset Management, LLC which co-owns the Lackawanna Center. "He now has international demand and he's basing his business expansion out of our property."

It is not yet clear when the Valastro's will be moving in, but construction has already begun on their new digs.

Courtesy of Emmes Asset ManagementA rendering of the Shops at Lackawanna, a new retail project that could bring several new businesses to the Lackawanna Center in Jersey City."Cake Boss" is one of several new tenants who could be moving into the Lackawanna Center in the coming years. Emmes Asset Management is in the planning stages of a new project called "the Shops at Lackawanna" which aims to revamp the ground floor of the building with 200,000 square feet of new retail businesses.

The plan will have to go through the Jersey City Planning Commission before construction can begin, which could take some time, according to Ratner.

The building owners have also begun a four-phase capital improvement project. Phase one has already started with infrastructure and elevator improvements. Next up, construction will begin on two new parking lots with room for 300 spaces each. 

Cake Boss returns Monday with visit from Jersey Shore's Snooki sneak peek video

Cake Boss returns Monday with visit from Jersey Shore’s Snooki sneak peek video

TLC’s hit series ‘Cake Boss’ returns Monday, October 11, 2010 at 9:00 p.m., for a special one hour episode.   During the special episode ‘Familia, Fishing and Family History, the Valastros travel to Italy and while there, Buddy is asked to specifically make a cake for his cousin who is getting married.   Of course, the request is picky and he is to make a seven tier wedding cake.

The Valastros time in Italy isn’t all work, however.  Buddy finds time to go fishing with his son and is determined to catch enough fish for the entire family or ‘familia.’  During this episode home movies will be shown and it will give the fans a closer look at Buddy Valastro, his roots and heritage.

There will be a special visit from Jersey Shore’s Snooki, as well.

From the Cake Boss website, “Buddy Valastro is one of the most successful and renowned cake artists in the United States. Master baker of Carlo's City Hall Bake Shop in Hoboken, New Jersey, Buddy is the cake boss. He supervises a team that includes his mother, four older sisters and three brothers-in-law. And when you're working with family on a daily basis, there is bound to be a lot of drama.”

Hoboken's Cake Boss receives a warm welcome to his new home: Jersey City

Katie Colaneri/The Jersey Journal"Cake Boss" Buddy Valastro poses with three of his sisters, employees of their family business Carlo's City Hall Bakery in Hoboken. Today, the family was welcomed to the future location of their expanded baking facility at the Lackawanna Center in Jersey City. PHOTO GALLERY The Lackawanna Center, an 8-story industrial building outside the Holland Tunnel, was transformed today into the set of a future "Cake Boss" episode as politicos, bankers, developers and real estate agents gathered to welcome the famed baker to his new home in Jersey City.

Last week, Emmes Asset Management, LLC, the building's co-owner, announced its new tenant who has leased 30,000 square feet of the building's ground floor for a new state-of-the-art baking facility, distribution center and office headquarters.

"We've outgrown the space in Hoboken," said Valastro who arrived at the Lackawanna Center with the TLC camera crew, producers and three of his sisters in tow.

"It's very exciting," said his sister Grace Faugno. "It's a prime space in a prime location... Our Dad would have been so proud."

The famiglia vowed never to close their father's original storefront on Washington Street in Hoboken, Carlo's City Hall Bakery, where the "Boss" currently employs 130 people in 7,000 square feet of space.

Despite the fame, "I still feel like a baker from New Jersey," Valastro told the crowd that gathered inside the building which included Congressman Albio Sires, Jersey City Mayor Jeremiah Healy and several members of the Jersey City Council.

"We think that somebody like Buddy Valastro, we think that he can be a magnet for other tenants to come," said Healy.

Emmes is also in the initial planning stages of a new project called the "Shops at Lackawanna" which would bring several retail businesses to the ground floor of the building.

Today's welcome event will be featured as an episode on "Cake Boss" Season 4 in March.

"Cake Boss" expands to Jersey City

Carlo's Bakery, home of TLC's "Cake Boss," will be expanding to Jersey City, but don't worry; Buddy Valastro and the rest of Carlo's employees won't be abandoning Hoboken. With 130 employees in a 7,000 square foot facility, the business has outgrown the building. While Carlo's Bakery on Washington Street in Hoboken will remain open, the new home of "Cake Boss" will be used for filming and distribution. Also, with a larger production site, Carlo's will be taken to a new level as they will begin taking nationwide internet orders. Though an exact opening date is not set for the building, it is expected that Carlo's will be operating in the new building by early next year.
Carlo's Bakery will be moving into the Lackawanna Center in Jersey City. The building is a historic eight story warehouse. The warehouse is currently being renovated into a new retail plaza called The Shops at Lackawanna. Carlo's Bakery will be leasing 32,000 square feet of ground space out of the building's 200,000 square feet of retail space. Although Carlo's will be leasing retail space, they will not be opening a retail store in the Jersey City location. The new premise will be used as a headquarters and as a production facility. A common characteristic of Carlo's Bakery and the Lackawanna Center is their rich histories. While the bakery is 100 years old, the Lackawanna Center was built in 1939 by the Delaware Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company.
The building co-owner, Emmes Asset Management, LLC, announced in mid-October that Buddy would be leasing ground floor of the building. On October 19, a welcome event was held at the Lackawanna Center. Politicians, bankers, developers, and real estate agents, as well as the Jersey City mayor, were present at the event. The welcome event will be featured as an episode on "Cake Boss." And of course to top off the event, a cake replica of the building was unveiled.