The new Jersey Shore?

THINK beaches, bikinis, tans, toss in some lovely Australian accents and a huge dose of drama/reality and you've got The Shire.

This show, set to air on Australian TV screens tonight, will follow the highs and lows of a group of 20-somethings who live and work in the sandy Sydney paradise, Sutherland Shire.

TANNED: The girls of The Shire.

It's been referred to as Australia's answer to Jersey Shore and like the latter has sparked contraversy before it's even hit the screens.

The filming location, the Sutherland Shire, already gained an infamous reputation before the show's inception.

Located in Southern Sydney, the Sutherland Shire was home to one of Australia's most infamous race-related riots between youths of Australian and Lebanese descent.

The riots on Cronulla Beach, located in Sutherland Shire, lasted a few days and caused minor property damage in the area and resulted in one non-fatal stabbing.

TENSION: A photo taken in 2005 at the Cronulla riots shows the anger of local youths.

The riots were a media frenzy and for those of us sitting at home, we got the impression the Shire was a cultural melting pot waiting to explode.

The creators behind the show say they chose the Shire for its "colour".

To say the local government representatives are unhappy about the "colour" the show will display about their council area would be an understatement.

When footage of the show was leaked on Youtube, the Shire's mayor voiced his disappointment stating the show would have a "negative" effect on their council.

Politics aside, it looks like it would be a bit of a hoot.

BUFFED: Boys of The SHire.

And if reality TV trends are anything to go by, viewers are really into "learning" more about youth sub-cultures that they would never truly experience.

We followed a group of party-hunting Italian Americans through Seaside, learnt what chavs were in Geordie Shore but will we learn more about the inner workings of the young Australian through The Shire?

Probably not, but it would be great to see what Bogans get up to in Sydney, no?

On a side note: The show creators have also been quick to clarify unlike Jersey Shore, their show is a "dramality" that like The Hills which placed real people in structured situations.

Lesson of the day: TV is never real.

BONUS: Here's a funny spoof of the show.

UPDATE:

Signed into Facebook after watching the show and this is what I saw!