The premiere of MTV’s Skins caused a big uproar but ultimately the show wasn’t interesting enough to keep viewers coming back each week. As a result, Skins has been cancelled after one season of 10 episodes.
An adaptation of the British series of the same name, Skins became one of the most-talked about shows on television last January. The Parents Television Council called it “the most dangerous television show for children that we have ever seen” and asked authorities to open an investigation into possible child exploitation and pornography. This led advertisers like Taco Bell, GM, Wrigley, H&R Block, and Subway to drop out.
You might think that this controversy would attract viewers to the series but it didn’t happen. Skins debuted to a solid 3.3 million viewers but half of the audience didn’t come back for the second episode. The numbers kept falling week after week but rose a bit for the finale, reaching 1.2 million viewers.
While other MTV shows have been renewed with similar ratings, Skins posed a unique problem. The series was difficult to repeat because it carries a “Mature Audience” rating and so episodes couldn’t be rerun before 10pm.
The show’s creator, Bryan Elsley, knew the show was in trouble and tweeted last month, “I think if you would like to see more MTV Skins, maybe say so to MTV.” The cable channel has now made it official and cancelled the TV series.
In a statement, MTV said, “Skins is a global television phenomenon that, unfortunately, didn’t connect with a US audience as much as we had hoped. We admire the work that the series’ creator Bryan Elsley did in adapting the show for MTV, and appreciate the core audience that embraced it.”
Of the cancellation, Dan Isett, The Parents Television Council’s director of public policy, said, “I’m not sure if it comes as much of a surprise, but its a message for MTV and other cable networks that there are some lines that aren’t meant to be crossed… Life would be easier if MTV and other networks would take the concerns of parents and families seriously before even beginning production on something like this.”
What do you think? Are you sorry there won’t be a second season of Skins? Was the show worth watching?
Image courtesy MTV.
Newer and/or Related Articles
-
107 Ending or Cancelled TV Shows for the 2011-12 TV Season
May 22, 2012 -
Skins: UK Series Cancelled; No Series Eight
Mar 7, 2012
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
I love Skins. Both the American and the English one. But however, I don’t think it worked in the U.S. because of three reasons. 1) The actors were not believable. They all seemed a little too goody-goody to be in this show. I think you need someone who is clean cut, but once you get to know them you see they are a real party animal. and 2) Americans are wild. I like in the “burbs” of VA. It seems like a nice place to have kids, no crime. Ha, not true. Kids come to school high and leave school to go have sex. It was nothing new and shocking to them. lastly number 3) It came on waaaaaay to late. 10:00? I am knocked out by then. if it is on MTV, then paremts should know that it is going to be a little more sexy. I should have came on at 9 and ended at 10. But this is all what I think.
I liked the show.
I really enjoyed the show because it was real and showed what our teens are going through.. I’m 40 years old but I can understand the logic of the show..not all kids have perfect lives of parents so consider that before condemning a child 4 making stupid choices..
this show was made to show people what NOT to do. and the lives of typical american teenagers, who are learning their lessons along the way. whether children watch the show or not, they may or might not encounter those things. if parents didn’t want their children watching it they could’ve controlled that or blocked MTV. simple as that. i LOVED that show.
Wow, that sucks. I was so looking forward to a second season.
Well i think that the show was amazing and it upset me severely when it was “dropped” off the air.
I dont like the PTC for canceling the show. My parents dont mind me watching it and im only 13 they say that its a good learning experience. they should make a second season! i have a website for UK and US skins and if anyone would like to view it contact me on twitter (@alexistheduder) i have a weekly vlog on you – http://www.youtube.com/user/talkaboutskins and my email account is talkaboutskins@live.com please contact me !
Pretty funny the show was better than 16 and pregnant and Jersey shore but yet those are still on the air and there are 13-19 year old’s watching it, how funny and ironic, I blame the parents for doing a poor job on controlling what content is being viewed by their children, parents always hold the blame for every one else but themselves, start doing your job and less complaining about how tv shows and video games are corrupting your children, who bought the television, who bought the gaming system who’s buying the video games, who is paying for the internet and cable. The parents. Get over it. And I love how I read what the PTC said about Skins saying it was a plague like seriously look at Jersey Shore, its worse than Skins and they are worried more about taking a show on a scale from 1-10 jersey shore being 10 and skins being like a 3 or 4 compared to it, “Parents” are to blame.
That show was amazing. Yes, it was for mature viewers. If parents had a problem with it, they shouldn’t have let their kids watch it. It’s as easy as that. They should make a second season!
← Previous Comments