The Pauly D Project

Pauly is still Pauly--but he's a more grown-up version who cares about his friends, ailing dad and career.

Nothing in the first two episodes of The Pauly D Project is more than mildly diverting, but that's still more than can be said for the reboot of the candid-camera prank show "Punk'd."

You can take the spiked head out of Jersey but you can't stop his "Shore" ways.

This spinoff of Jersey Shore has possibly even less substance, as the high-haired DJ from Rhode Island gets a residency gig at a Las Vegas casino, and brings his motley crew of homeboys with him to marvel at their swank new digs.

Pauly's home-state hangers-on simply aren't a very interesting bunch.

The group's personalities and their exploits pale in comparison to the Ron Ron juice-chugging, Jersey Turnpike-dancing cast of the "Shore." And as those sunscreen-shunning, sloppy drunks will attest, pale is never good.

Alas, this Joey-ish spin-off is pure hagiography.