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.
Why would MTV go and cancel the best show it has? All that other ***** they broadcast especially music videos these days advertise whoreishness, drug addiction & general BS. The prudes that got it cancelled probably never had sex or did drugs as teenagers right?
Retarded hypocrites…they just can’t handle the fact that kids these days have a shyteload more fun than they did back in the 20th century, I hate when A holes do this…
Thanks PTA!! You’re incredibly awesome at being total douches! 🙂
i love this show, i don’t understand how they can show 16&pregnant and jersey shore which is all about having sex, and being drunk but they can’t show this! soo disappointing i was really looking forward to a second season, this show also had the best soundtrack!
WOW THIS IS BULL****, I LOVE THAT SHOW! I WANT TO SEE MORE OF IT. I THINK ITS PRETTY STUPID THAT THEY HAD A “SKINS” IN THE UK AND THEY GOT TO SEE ALL OF THE STORY, YOU GIVE US AND INTRO AND THATS IT. IT DIDNT EVEN GET TO THE PLOT YET AND YOUR ALREADY TAKING IT OFF THE AIR?!?! WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU!
They should’ve just shown the original UK version. But I’m glad this version’s gone. Put more music (back) on MTV instead.
…and you know what, MTV? Don’t blame the U.S. audience for your crappy version of Skins failing. Plenty of the U.S. audience loves the original Skins.
It’s no surprise the show was getting the ax eventually. Based on surrounding controversy, I predicted 3.5% chance SKINS would last on television. As for the original UK version, I think it’s safe to say their show is more successful.
That show blew as an adaptation of the UK Version (which rocked). I’m glad it’s gone and can’t say that I didn’t see this coming. They should have never made the show in the first place.
Actually MTV has gone from “Music Television” to “Media Television” in my opinion. But that’s beside the point. The real point is that kids have been doing drugs and having sex since before The Beatles were singing “Love Me Do”. This is nothing new. But it seems that when we want to talk about it or, God forbid, show it, it becomes a problem. Sigh. Guess I need to get with the times and realize the 60’s are over and we lost. Ultra conservatism beat out free love and expression…
The PTC reminds me of Helen Lovejoy screaming, “oh won’t someone please think of the children!?” I grew up watching “controversial” programming like Beavis and Butt-Head and the pre-warning years of Jerry Springer. It didn’t damage me or turn me to promiscuity or any of that. If you don’t like what your kid is watching do what my parents didn’t, turn the damn thing off! We don’t need nanny groups like the PTC to inform out of touch parents what’s on tv. I mean this isn’t the “leave it to Beaver” days anymore. You see milkmen delivering, Mom staying at… Read more »
Yes and no, to answer the question. Yes because I think it’s stupid that this country views sex as something that should be hidden from young teens but no because the show just wasn’t good. It tried to be risque instead of actually trying to have some dramatic worth.
my sister watched it a bit. I saw some, I But who is anyone kidding. The is called Music Teleivision. And their airing that crap?
BRING BACK SKINS!
SKINS WAS AN AWESOME SHOW AND WE THE FANS WANT IT BACK **** THE VIEWS WE WANT OUR 2ND SEASON OR MTV IS NEVER GETING ITS VIEWS BACK.
I want the show back, and like ann said, if any show should be canceled it should be 16 and pregnant. they are just making people think it is cool to become a young mom.no its not,that **** is bad.the next generation is going to be filled with young moms because of the stupid ******* doing it now.
MTV really has some nerve canceling the only good show they have. Honestly if any show gets cancelled it should be My Life as Liz because it is extremely boring. So is RJ Berger and 16 and Pregnant. MTV definitely just lost alot of viewers with this choice.
Haah. One cool show about kidz having s*x doing dru*s and trying to make most of life they were given, I allways saw USA as hardcore state, with so much kil*ing, s*x trafficking, and all other vices in abundance (maybe just media hype). I like the show (watched just european version) and i didn’t see anything that would offend even a oldest fundamentalist nanny, jusst kids having fun. It seems that america lost that free spirit in fear of it, the kids are doin’ it, we can’t stop them, so ban a show that connects with them. you just blinded… Read more »
First of all, **** the PTA right up their self-important asses. Second, the Mtv remake was utter garbage and 2/3 of the cast sucked… glad it’s gone.