Ratings are heaaaa! *Pauly D voice* MTV’s hit reality series Jersey Shore is definitely NOT slowing down!! Last night’s finale finished off the show’s third season up 20 percent from the Season 2 ender. Read the full story after the jump…

@ItsLukieBaby

(HR)–MTV’s hit reality show delivered its highest-rated season finale Thursday night, drawing a 7.3 rating in the persons 12-34 demographic, up 20 percent from the Season 2 finale. About 7.6 million total viewers tuned in to the telecast. Jersey Shore’s third season is the top TV show of the year in the 12-34 demo.

Season to date, Jersey Shore is up 35 percent from its second season average (7.7 vs. 5.7) in the demo and a whopping 196 percent from its first season (7.7 vs. 2.6).

Immediately following, The Hard Times of R.J. Berger’s second season debut drew a 3.2 rating in the demo (up 19 percent from the series premiere), with 3.1 million total viewers tuning in. R.J. Berger continues in its normal time slot beginning Monday at 10 p.m.