MTV’s new t.v. show Skins has caused an uproar since it first aired in the U.S. last Monday. I hate to admit it, but MTV is a guilty pleasure of mine. As I was watching Jersey Shore last week with some friends, every other commercial was for a new show called Skins, so naturally I had to see what all of the hype was about. Within the first ten minutes of the episode, I decided that the title Skins totally encompassed what the show stood for.
It idealized teenage kids talking about sex and partying. I compare it to a modern day Degrassi. The producers subtracted some clothes and added more drugs and language and came up with a new show! The show is so “explicit” that I knew it would cause controversy. Controversy was an understatement. The show caused a complete uproar. Adverstisers like H&R Block, Taco Bell, GM, Schick, and Wrigley have pulled their ads from airing during the show. Also, according to perezhilton.com, Skins is under investigation for child pornography. One of the main characters, who is played by a seventeen year old, is shown naked in one of the future episodes.
MTV says that Skins “has earned the loyalty of fans across the globe for its thoughtful and honest portrayal of teen life today.” I may sound like too much of a mom, but I think that MTV is crazy for playing such a racy show that early into the night. A thirteen year old does not need to think that drugs and alcohol are part of a normal teenagers life. I understand that the show is supposed to depict the trials and tribulations of a teenager’s life, but MTV made a pretty risky move with this one. I miss the good old days when MTV played music videos all day!
MTV is in a dangerous place with this show “Skins”. I know this makes me sound like an old fuddy duddy, but I don’t see the relevance of MTV anymore. They completely forgot that MTV stands for Music Television and went for only shows. Don’t get me wrong, I still love the Jersey Shore for its all out honesty about people wanting to party that are above age! However, “Skins” is daring more and more teens embrace drug use and engage in sexual activity without protection. It is on this very network that you see a show called “16 and Pregnant” that shows what happens to teens when they are irrisponsible. I know that teens will do some things that are dangerous, and I know that I did some stupid things myself. However, I don’t think teens need anymore influence to do dumb things.
I couldn’t agree with you more Megan! I too think Skins is a little to inappropriate for MTV. I remember watching MTV when I was seven years old and they were definitely not playing shows like this. Sure times have changed and so have I, but I still don’t think its right. I hate how the producers of this show are saying “this is an honest portrayal of a teenager’s life”. I think that that statement is FAR from the truth. Sure, in high school some people were sexually active and did partake in drugs, but it’s not like that for every teenager. And I don’t think all teens are having threesomes, making agreements for sex, and crashing Escalade’s into lakes on a daily basis. I think this show is over exaggerating…a lot.
I completely agree with this post. I too was watching Jersey Shore and decided to watch Skins. However, I was taken back by how racy the show actually was! It claims to depict the lives of real teens, but honestly I don’t think that every teen experiences a life so full of drug abuse and sex. And showing a naked 17 year old on TV is unnecessary. I can see exactly why the viewings for the second episode were down so much from the first. MTV made a bad call on airing this show if you ask me.
I totally agree MTV is taking it too far. Shows like this take a small portion of problems teenagers face and blow it up like every teenager is sleeping around and doing drugs. Yes, there are those who do, but why not show the many nights I spent driving around town listening to the radio with my friends or the many wild Friday nights I had going to see a movie. Shows like this make kids feel this is how they are supposed to act because it’s “normal” when that isn’t the case.