The British (shows) are coming!

MTV has stopped playing music videos in favor of shows for quite some time now. Their scripted and unscripted programs have become popular in whole country, andeven internationally. In January, MTV aired a “new” show called Skins depicting teenagers engaging in drinking, drugs, and sex. The show was caught under a lot of controversy, beginning with protests- most notably by the Parents Television Council. The network was even under investigation for child pornography due to their use of underage actors in racy scenes. So much scandal surrounded the show, that a number of their advertisers- such as General Motors, Foot Locker, and Kraft- pulled their advertising from the show.

Despite all the controversy, the show was able to air for its entire first season of episodes, with the season finale airing in March. There is still no word if the second season of the show will air on MTV. Many are on opposite ends on whether or not they should air a second season, and some even think that MTV should buy the rights of the original British version; which is now in their fifth season, with a third generation of characters.

What is known is

that there is another British show that MTV plans to remake; The Inbetweeners. This show is not one to be caught in controversies such as the ones Skins was in; as its content is milder.

I personally think that they should stop portraying Skins as what “real teens in America” are doing, seeing as how this show is a complete carbon copy of its British predecessor. I don’t think buying the rights for the original version is a better idea after the adaptation was aired; despite how much better the original is. If MTV does decide to buy the rights to another teen show from “across the pond” I would definitely suggest Misfits. -E.G.