Small Business, Big Hair

Tracy DiMarco, left, and Olivia Blois Sharpe are two of the stars in a new reality show that focuses on a small business—but with a big New Jersey personality.

Image: Style Network

I admit, as a native of a state that can't seem to stay out of the news for one reason or another, I was relieved the first time I saw an episode of Jersey Shore. It was embarrassingly entertaining, but it proved to me that the South is not the only place that has people with over-the-top personalities whose actions often defy explanation.

Well, there are differences—after all, if you're a goofy party boy who wants to hook up with girls, on Jersey Shore you're called "The Situation," but in South Carolina, you're called "The Governor." But, I digress.

A new reality show with that familiar Jersey theme, Jerseylicious, debuts on the Style Network on Sunday. Now, it promises to be filled with many unique personalities, such as Olivia Blois Sharpe, a makeup artist who will be one of the stars of the show, who tells the New York Daily News, "I get depressed if I don't tan."

The big difference is the basis of the show. While Jersey Shore is about partying and being an irresponsible young adult, Jerseylicious looks at, yes, a small business—the Gatsby Hair Salon.

Or, as Sharpe said in the Daily News interview, "All those kids, their main priority was just partying. Our main priority is our job."

The salon is like many small businesses in America, owned by a husband-and-wife team, looking to expand to new locations and coming off of a renovation that the salon hopes will draw new customers.

Of course, no matter how crazy the personalities will be, the salon is poised to be the ultimate winner. After all, since Style is paying to produce the show, the salon essentially gets free advertising. And as long as the old adage that any publicity is good publicity holds true, any antics the stylists might get into should only up viewer interest. I would think that any small business would think the constant filming is a small price to pay for what might be a very big return.