Wow. It must be pretty bad if even the network is saying enough is enough. It's not like they're ones to turn down publicity.

The head honchos at MTV are reportedly pulling the plug on the cast of Jersey Shore and all of the club appearances they've been making because they're afraid of overexposure!

WTF??

A source claims:

"MTV has told the 'Jersey Shore' crew they can only do two personal appearances a week, and that all of their gigs have to be approved by producers. They've threatened the cast that they will be fined if they flout the rules — but some don't care and are blatantly going ahead to earn as much cash as they possibly can."

Another source says:

"We have to put in controls to protect the brand. We don't want them out all over the map at every single bar in the country. They have to get permission from MTV prior to doing a personal appearance — we don't want one of these kids appearing in a topless bar. Pauly D's fan base is about 85 percent women between 12 and 21, we have to protect that."

Oh, goodness, yes. You don't want to ruin the cast's squeaky clean image!

Michael Schweiger, who manages the cast with the exception of our beloved Snookerdoodle, says:

"We're incredibly busy. It's a hell of a ride right now. This is something like America hasn't seen before as far as reality TV goes. Rather than let it run like a train out of control, there has to be some rules put in place."

We don't think there's much about the show that would fit the term 'in control,' so we think they just want to keep the cast under their lock and key so they don't bring their business elsewhere! This is not going to end well.