One Grand Valley State University senior may have a “Situation” on his hands after working on the newest YOBI.tv web series, “New Stage.”

GVSU student Tyler Howe had an acting role and played his own music in the series, which starred Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, made famous on MTV’s “Jersey Shore.”

The first episode of “New Stage” will be shown at 11:15 p.m. Tuesday on www.YOBI.tv.

“It was an awesome experience,” Howe said. “I worked with musicians and actors from all over Utah, Idaho, Georgia and even the Bahamas. I had no idea how much went into making something like this.”

YOBI.tv is an online talent network that creates a web series each year to give aspiring performers the chance to go head-to-head in new and inventive talent competitions, with the prize of exposure to a global audience via the Internet. Each year the series feature young Hollywood stars, such as Sorrentino and Audrina Patridge from MTV’s “The Hills.”

Howe said he felt intimidated on set at first, but that the director did a great job making everyone feel both comforable and productive through the duration.

“It was a lot of hard work but everyone was really awesome and it made the whole experience amazing,” Howe said.

Director Joshua David Evans worked on the first web series by YOBI.tv, “Dream Maker with Audrina Patridge,” and for this project amped up his participation by co-writing “New Stage,” as well.

Sorrentino’s show, “New Stage,” is a spoof on the judged talent TV programs such as “American Idol” and “America’s Got Talent.”

“‘The Situation’ is the judge and the show is scripted but we have real musicians playing their real music for the show, and I have an acting role in it as well as playing music,” Howe said.

Howe said it was a great experience to meet Sorrentino, saying that his “Jersey Shore” persona translates to real life.

“He was awesome. He’d come sit with us and talk about everything from life to showbiz,” Howe said. “He and his brothers would tell us about their life and how they started out. He would tell us about ‘Jersey Shore’ and he encouraged us all to follow our dreams.”

“It’s great exposure for an artist, especially from a show that has someone well known from it,” said Michael Lihan, a musician. “It’s different getting music out now than it used to be because of social media sites. It’s easier now but exposure like that is still awesome for the artist that can use it,” he said.

“I would definitely check it out,” said Christina Choriatis, a GVSU junior. “It’d keep my attention more than an hour-long episode because [as a student] I don’t have that much time to sit and watch every week.”

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