No matter how you look at it, the "Jersey Shore" cast is having an interesting week.

In case you missed the news (and all of the subsequent criticism), Snooki gave birth this week, to a precious little guido named Lorenzo Dominic LaValle. He weighed in at 6 lbs, 5 oz. and promises to be a spiky-haired fist-pumper in just a few short years.

But for every celebration, there is a disappointment: also this week, "Jersey Shore" was canceled.

...I mean, that is a disappointment, right?

To some people, sure. "Jersey Shore" gave MTV its highest ratings since… well, since the network stopped playing actual music videos. That’s a long time for the network execs to wait for a gem like "Jersey Shore," and I can only imagine the tears they’re shedding over the lost ratings and advertising dollars. (Fortunately, Snooki and JWoww got their own successful spinoff show, so there is hope yet for the GTL community.)

But for the rest of us, the cancellation of this show should also be a celebration. When taken at face value, there are a lot of logistical reasons for "Jersey Shore" to be taken off the air. For one thing, Snooki, JWoww and DJ Pauly D are all moving onto other TV programs, rendering "Jersey Shore" almost pointless – assuming there was a point to the show to begin with. And the fact that Snooki is now a mom should obviously take precedence over whatever rager is going down in Seaside Heights, N.J.

When we look deeper, though, it seems there could be a greater significance to "Jersey Shore"’s cancellation. Could we finally be seeing an end to pointless, trashy television?

If we look at it too closely, the answer is likely no. The "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills/Orange County/New Jersey/Atlanta" franchise is, in itself, powerful enough to take over all of television. And who doesn’t like a good episode of "Toddlers and Tiaras"? The list of mindless reality TV series is endless, and a little frightening at that.

But perhaps "Jersey Shore"’s cancellation is the sign of a new day. After all, the generation that fell in love with "Jersey Shore" is growing up, much like the cast members themselves. We’re moving onto new phases of our lives, and getting nostalgic for television programs of our childhood. ("Legends of the Hidden Temple,” anyone?) For many of us, the thrilling days of watching The Situation show off his torso are, well, not so thrilling anymore. And that’s a good sign.