This morning, the cast of "Jersey Shore" -- with the notable exception of Ronnie -- took to the "Today" show stage to confirm that they were all coming back for a second season. On one hand, this is phenomenal news, because "Jersey Shore" is one of the greatest gifts my generation has given America. On the other hand, now that the "Jersey Shore" kids are household names, there's little to no chance that Season 2 will recapture the magic that was the premiere season of the show.

So while it's bittersweet, there are still some enjoyable things left for The Situation, Snooki, J-Woww, Pauly D, and Co. to teach America. Take the "Today" crew's attempts at embracing the "Shore" phenomenon, for example. Here are some things this interview teaches us about our heroes form Jersey, old people trying to understand them, and our culture in general.

1. There are still some people who don't know what "Jersey Shore" is: Sometimes -- like when you earn your living on the Internet, for example -- it's easy to forget that to a lot of the country still has no idea what to make of "Jersey Shore." Take the first three minutes or so of the clip above as proof; this show isn't really aimed at moms. I mean, "Today" included "The Jay Leno Show's" "Shore" spoof to explain the show's cultural relevance. Sometimes it's important to remember that there are people over 35 who watch television.

2. Meredith Vieira is NOT impressed: Watching Meredith Vieira first harp on M.I.A. Ronnie -- he was so excited about Season 2 he overslept, explains The Situation -- then chime in with a "fist pumps for everybody" after introducing the cast...it's enough. She doesn't have to explain that she doesn't watch the show -- we get it.

3. The cast earned $200 per episode for Season 1, and will earn $10,000 per episode for Season 2: I don't know if this is true, but if Vieira's got her facts straight, then 2010 is truly a year of miracles, smiles, and happiness. $200 an episode!? To publicly humiliate yourself? There's highway robbery and then there's what MTV did to those poor kids. They've truly earned their 50,000% salary increase.

4. The "Jersey Shore" cast members have their priorities straight: Yes, "Jersey Shore" is a cultural phenomenon amongst the cast's peers, because we can truly enjoy the ridiculousness of the show's situations (no pun intended). But, if you haven't recently been to a bar at 2 AM, or to a frat party, or in any other circumstances where young people are encouraged to be idiots, you can understand that seeing kids get celebrated for being drunk louts would be offensive. Fortunately for the cast members, they seem to be living in a blissful bubble, where they genuinely don't care that everyone their parents' age thinks they're wastes of space. In the words of the Fresh Prince: Parents just don't understand.

5. "Jersey Shore" Season 2 may take place elsewhere: As I noted above, this show's first season caught lightning in a bottle, and if this cast were to return to Seaside Heights, NJ next summer, it would be a disaster. That being said, I'm not sure "Jersey Shore: Hamptons" or "Jersey Shore: Malibu" is the answer; the locals would hate them. What we need is to find a lawless, seaside, bar-filled location where the cast's ridiculousness will be fully embraced. I've got it: "Jersey Shore: Cancun." Make it happen, MTV!

6. Ronnie and Sammi are "Happy": At the end of the interview, Meredith's 25-year-old production assistant slipped in a question for her to ask about the albatross hanging around the neck of the show: The relationship between Sammi and Ronnie. Look, I'm all for young love, but not when it prevents the rest of America's favorite cast from having a good time! Apparently, the two are "happy," but perhaps not "together," which is great news. Ronnie should've followed his own rules and never fallen in love on the Jersey Shore.