Even though ratings have declined for the overhyped series in it's second week, and advertisers have pulled out from supporting the show, MTV has vowed to continue to put all their clout behind the controversial new series Skins.
“They are not canceling it,” an MTV insider tells FOX411. “Instead, they are putting the marketing machine full force behind promoting the show.”
So far Taco Bell, Wrigley, Subway, Foot Locker, L’Oreal and Shick have all withdrawn their support for Skins, an adaptation of the U.K. series. It all stemmed from a complaint by The Parents Television Council, who say the series is breaking child pornography laws. The youngest actor on the series is 15.
"Skins has earned the loyalty of fans across the globe for its thoughtful and honest portrayal of teen life today. An internationally acclaimed scripted drama, the show has been honored with a long list of prestigious awards. MTV stands by the US adaptation of 'Skins' and the vision of its creator Bryan Elsley," the network said in a statement.
"The show is the opposite of pornography," “Skins” creator Bryan Elsley said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. "It isn't us who are being provocative. I think that some of the people who object to the show are being provocative in the use of that word."
The series premiere brought in a healthy 3.3 million viewers, but by the second week it lost half it's audience, clocking in at 1.6 million viewers. Despite the audience loss, “Skins” ratings among its target demographic of 12- to 34-year-olds still compared favorably with the CW’s “90210” and “Vampire Diaries.”
MTV plans to air all ten episodes, which I'm hearing will include a brief butt shot from one of the male actors. I liked the U.K. version of the series, because it was gritty and portrayed teens in an honest way - something adults can't get their heads around. Teens are doing drugs, acting crazy in the streets, drinking, and having sex. Not all kids are doing that but if you did a show where you watched someone be a good catholic schoolgirl and never color outside the lines, no one would watch the show. MTV is pushing the envelope in a society that prides itself on being a conservative christian nation, even though they're no angels themselves.
I admire MTV for their moxie and sticking to their guns, something many networks wouldn't do if alot of negative press hit them in one shot. As for the U.S. version of Skins, it's tame by comparison, and it's not as bad as they are trying to make it out to be. I will watch all ten episodes and if this series comes back next season without getting better, I won't stick around to continue on the journey with these screwed up kids.
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