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.
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32 Comments on "Skins: MTV Series Cancelled; No Season Two"
I really like the tv show ” SKINS US ” and if i had the money and phone number behind my back, I would give out a vote and debate to see if this show should still air on Nation tv or should be purchase only from Itune store. Again i really miss this Tv show ” SKINS US”. Yes parents right it should not be air on national tv but should be purchase only from the internet such as Itune or Amazon.
I think that the us version of skins was a great show because it was she only show on tv that was real, I think that’s what scared parents but it was the only show that really connected with teens around the ages of the kids on the show. I think MTV should either try again setting the show tho air at a later time or just make it into a series of movies.
I personally can’t take the UK version seriously (only because of the difference in slang) but I would really like to know what happens next 🙂
i loved it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they need to make a season 2 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Agree
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 !
This made me so happy ^^ Although you wrote this over a year ago… you proved me wrong by thinking most people really are f*cking stupid xD I Especially like this part: ‘ I blame the parents … Get over it’. ty 😉
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!