MTV's Skins

There's no doubt that most have heard of the new show on MTV titled "Skins". Initially, I was interested in this show because I'm a glutton for teen angst and drama-filled shows. I mean, who didn't love "Beverly Hills 90210", back in the day? I dare to say that even some of us watch the new version, simply called, "90210". I didn't tune in that first night of airing because I had totally forgotten that it was on, and to be honest, my DVR was probably already full from other shows. The day after the show aired is when my interest was really peaked. The Parent Television Council, referred to by some at the PTC, started a firestorm against MTV and the show. They said that it was, in a nutshell, child pornography. In my mind, I just thought that here was another show that this group was going to go up against. That all changed though when advertising sponsors starting backing out. I'm not talking about little sponsors that you don't necessarily care about. No! I'm talking about Taco Bell, Subway, Schick, Loreal, and General Motors, just to name a few. At that point, I had to see what the fuss was about. I'm never one to make a judgment about something just because of what someone else says. I want to see it for myself. So that's what I did.

Last Saturday, I sat on my recliner, computer in my lap and earphones on, as to not offend my 4 years old's ears, and watched the first episode. The show started off with a young high school kid getting out of bed and watching his neighbor lady undress. This turned into helping his sister, who looked quite haggard I must add, sneak back into the house. Then the debauchery continued. He calls his girlfriend, who he calls Nips because of her "weird nipples"(I know! TMI), to tell her that she needs to help devirginize their friend Stanley. Then it pans to Stanley who has fallen asleep with numerous porn magazines strewn on his bed. Basically, this goes on and on and on throughout the whole episode. Most of the time, it was the characters talking to each other very blatantly about sex and drugs.

After watching, I felt like I needed a shower. I was disgusted by what I saw. I couldn't believe that this is how teenagers were being portrayed. Now, I've read numerous articles about the show from people opposed to it and people that see it as harmless. The biggest argument for people that think it's harmless is this-"This is what teenagers are doing. You can either accept it or hide your head in the sand". It's hard for me to even describe how I feel about that quote because it's so ignorant. This is NOT what teenagers are doing, at least not the majority of them. Yes, some are having sex. Yes, some are on drugs. Yes, some are binge drinking. Again I say though, that this is not the majority of teens. As a friend of mine stated, "Skins takes the behavior of the minority, exaggerates it greatly and then portrays it as if it is normal teen behavior". Even if it was the majority of teens, why should this behavior be glorified on cable television? "Skins" shows teens that it's acceptable to do the moronic things that these characters are doing. Do I think that most teenagers are going to watch this and immediately start using drugs and having sex? No, I don't think that. However, I don't think that this destructive behavior needs to be portrayed as it is to show that this is "real life" for teens, because that's a lie.

Something that bothered me the most was that the show is geared to teenagers yet the Television Content Ratings rate it as an M for mature which means it is not suitable for anyone under the age of 17. It seems like quite the contradiction when MTV target audience is those from 12-24. Twelve year-olds should definitely not be watching this show, and 24 year-olds could care less about watching teens engage in destructive behavior as this show glorifies. It's absurd to me. Absolutely absurd! Why have the show on in the first place?

Another thing that is troubling is that most of the cast are under 18. The sister of the main character, in real life, is only 15. Why would a parent allow their child on a show that objectifies women, encourages teenage promiscuity, pornography, and elicit drug use? The parents should be hauled away and for child endangerment. Why is MTV even allowed to use such a young cast to play their characters who are engaging in this behavior? At least shows like GLEE and 90210 have casts that are in their 20's.

This past Tuesday, viewership for Skins declined by 50%, and I say "Thanks goodness for that!". Get a clue MTV. No one wants to watch the crap programming that you are producing. First Jersey Shore, now Skins. What's next? Really, though. What's next??? It's a scary thought isn't it?