On Monday, Jan. 25, MTV premiered their controversial new show, “Skins”, which is the American version of the racy five-years-and-running British show.
After the premiere episode, many sponsors, including Taco Bell, have pulled sponsorship of the show due to claims by the Parent’s Television Council (PTC) that the show is the “Most Dangerous Children Show Ever.”
The show has a rating of TV-MA, signifying that the show is intended for mature audiences only. This rating is totally within reason due to the depictions of teens using drugs, alcohol, and being sexually active. The cast of teenagers ranging from 15-17 describes “Skins” as “different, unique, real, raw, raunchy, awesome, truthful, and sexy friendship.”
The show is definitely less raunchy than it’s British counterpart of the same name, but the Americanized “Skins” has stirred much more controversy than it’s overseas predecessor.
The show’s real issue, according to the PTC website and the numerous online news articles and blogs, is that it is teaching America’s children that doing drugs, drinking, and having sex is okay.
This is definitely not acceptable behavior, but it’s a fact that there are teens actually doing these things. Several of the comments on the various news articles on the “Skins” scandal feel that it is the job of parents to either not allow their children to watch the show or to use it as a teaching tool by showing their kids how not to act.
The show premiered to 3.3 million viewers, but despite the scandal the show continues to receive very high ratings. Many articles think that MTV anticipated the scandal and is enjoying the controversial free advertising.
The downside of this questionable and opinionated press is the dropped advertising. Taco Bell and Subway, two major “Skins” sponsors, have already pulled their support, as have many other sponsors. If much more support drops, the show could be canceled.
Oscar Wilde said “Scandal is merely gossip made tedious by morality,” which applies well to the scandalized “Skins.” The show doesn’t curse or have as much sex or even drink as much as the reality “Jersey Shore” stars, but the main issue is that the “Skins” stars are all minors, which is the PTC’s cause for throwing morality into a show for letting go.
While “Skins” may show teens in questionable situations, it should not be chided for showing these things because the audience isn’t directed at kids. Parents have the option to regulate what their children watch or to use “Skins” to teach morals. It’s just a show showing a fantasy for some teens; whereas, others see it as reality.
