Senator Calls For Cancellation Of MTV's 'Buckwild' Before It Airs

The new MTV reality show Buckwild, which follows nine young people in their 20s from West Virginia who, judging by the show's trailer, do what looks to be pretty much exactly what the castmates of Jersey Shore did, has already caused a fuss before even airing an episode.

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin was so disturbed by the content that appeared in the preview that he wrote MTV on Friday asking the network to cancel the show, believing it is deceiving and exploiting the cast members, depicting the state in a negative light, and disrespecting the state’s war veterans. “Instead of showcasing the beauty of our people and our state, you preyed on young people, coaxed them into displaying shameful behavior — and now you are profiting from it,” Manchin wrote in a statement. “That is just wrong.”

For his part, Buckwild producer John Stevens believes Manchin is jumping the gun on his judgement of Buckwild and argues that the show offers a unique lens on an under-appreciated part of America. “It’s not like looking at a train wreck,” Stevens told EW. “That’s not what it is. That’s the part I’m really excited about. There is a certain coolness to it. It’s different than a lot of the stuff that has been produced. I think it’s going to get people talking and it might change people’s perspectives. These kids are totally wild and carefree. It will be very refreshing to the MTV audience.”

In less than a month viewers will be able to include their own take on the show. Buckwild, which was filmed in Sissonville, W. Va., will have 12-episode first season and will air in Jersey Shore’s old time slot on Thursday, Jan. 3 at 10 p.m. EST.

Watch the show's teaser trailer below: