Bloom Trail Express
Skins (US) Takes It All Off, and Needs To Put It Back OnTuesday, February 01, 2011 By Rochelle Wilson
Shows like the CW’s Gossip Girl or TeenNick’s Degrassi, present ads that show these programs as scandalous, provocative, and cringe-worthy to parents but are actually nothing like their campaign ads. Degrassi’s “It Goes There” campaign or Gossip Girl’s “OMFG” ads display obscene acts that are unlike anything that happens on the show. This is not the case for the new MTV show Skins (US) based on the television network E4 hit Skins. Skins (US) isn’t just another teenage show that casts glamorized young looking 20-30 years olds to play the parts of 16-17 year olds. This is the one show for every generation that tries to be as accurate as possible; real and raw. Instead of making a show about New York’s elite, or Beverly Hills 90210 teens the sons and daughters of famous actors and musicians, Skins (US) takes place in a Baltimore suburb that any suburban teenage could relate to. Skins goes where other teenage shows are afraid to and I commend them for this. The fact still remains that even though this show isn’t glamorizing teenage culture it still is not accurate. The show if anything is degrading teenage culture by portraying us as a generation who only cares about sex, drugs, and hardcore partying. The truth is even though some may engage in these activities; they do not do it at the extent of the Skins (US) cast. The show over exaggerates what a small percentage of teenagers do. The show breaks so many boundaries that they are being accused of displaying child pornography. This accusation comes from the fact that in other teenage shows they purposely hire actors over the age of consent so they can display these acts without being accused of child pornography, an area where Skins (US) failed to realize. This serious accusation did the show more harm than good with it losing 52 % according to Entertainment Weekly of it’s viewers over the course of one week. The show should have expected to lose ratings since it wasn’t a premiere and the shows debuted after the famed Jersey Shore Monday night episode. The risquéness of Skins (US) even has companies pulling their commercials spots during the show, which could cost MTV a 2 million dollars in loss in revenue according to Hollywood Reporter. That just goes to show that companies don’t want their brand tarnished by the reputation of the show. This just goes to show the way American television is going, they are degrading the name teenagers. Instead of giving shows to inspire kids to greatness, or give positive insight on things they can do to better themselves and the world around them, they provide us with mediocre shows that tarnish the name of teenagers, and leave us with nothing to aspire to. With shows like 16 & Pregnant and Jersey Shore and now Skins (US) where are teenagers to find a light in this bleak tunnel filled with drugs, sex, and Snooki? |