June 9, 2011 01:58 PM PDT

This Just In: MTV Cancels Skins

Nellie Andreeva

MTV will not be moving forward with a second season of its racy teen drama Skins. The news is not particularly surprising considering it’s been almost three months since the series ended its freshman run.

“Skins is a global television phenomenon that, unfortunately, didn’t connect with a US audience as much as we had hoped,” MTV said in a statement. “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.”

Skins, an adaptation of the praised British series, became one of MTV’s most talked about shows ever when the Parents Television Council characterized it as possibly “the most dangerous television show for children that we have ever seen.” It called on the Feds to open an investigation for possible child pornography and exploitation on the show, which, in keeping with the British original, employed (often underage) teen actors to play characters of the same age. A number of advertisers pulled out of the show, but MTV stuck with it and aired the entire first season with only minor tweaks to some of the more risque scenes.

Ratings-wise, Skins was solid while not spectacular. Its post-Jersey Shore premiere garnered 3.3 million viewers, but half of the audience vanished the following week.

Thoughts? Disappointed? Happy? Indifferent?

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Tags: MTV, Skins

Comments (53)

It didn’t connect with a US audience because you a) cast bad actors unable to make a real connection to aforementioned audience and b) you neutered the show of everything that made it cutting edge and heartfelt.
Comment by sarah – June 9, 2011 02:02 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- Agreed. The writing was horrible and didn’t sound authentic coming from those kids’ mouths. It was a chore to get through the first episode.
  Comment by Tavis – June 9, 2011 02:59 PM PDT Reply To This Post
  - Agreed. I loved the UK version from the first 5 minutes, but this one – meh.
    Comment by sadini – June 11, 2011 02:23 AM PDT Reply To This Post
- you said everything.
  Comment by ana muller – June 10, 2011 06:41 AM PDT Reply To This Post
- Agreed. UK version is pure awesome! US one sucked big time!
  Comment by GW – June 10, 2011 10:11 AM PDT Reply To This Post
It’s simple, it sucked.
Comment by Henrique – June 9, 2011 02:03 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- i love this show so much is should come back
  Comment by hey – March 22, 2012 04:32 PM PDT Reply To This Post
You’re kidding! I loved this show
Comment by Andrew – June 9, 2011 02:09 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- Watch the original version, you’ll love it, its better, and its still going on.
  Comment by Mike S – June 9, 2011 02:40 PM PDT Reply To This Post
  - Yes the original is better but only the first 2 seasons then they screwed it up by changing the cast and characters.
    Comment by Eric – June 9, 2011 06:23 PM PDT Reply To This Post
  - I do watch the original. I love it more but thought US Skins was good for what it was.
    Comment by Andrew – June 11, 2011 10:14 AM PDT Reply To This Post
- The original is incredible and life changing, the US version was mediocre and laughable.
  Comment by Mia – June 9, 2011 04:15 PM PDT Reply To This Post
  - Life changing? I love Skins UK but it hardly changed my life.
    Comment by Captain – June 9, 2011 09:43 PM PDT Reply To This Post
The first episode was terrible, but subsequent episodes got much, much better. The episodes focusing on Tea, Michelle, Cadie and Chris were all fantastic.
Comment by Craig – June 9, 2011 02:15 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Not a fan of the remake, but I feel kinda disappointed just because I wanted it to stick around to annoy the PTC some more. Anything that annoys them is fine by me. Is that mean?
Comment by tacos22 – June 9, 2011 02:16 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- Not at all. I totally second that.
  Comment by emma – June 10, 2011 04:45 AM PDT Reply To This Post
- word. i never watched it because just the overall quality was horrible. but the best thing about was that it was a stick up the PTC’s asses.
  Comment by Dee – June 16, 2011 02:46 AM PDT Reply To This Post
It’s not a surprise that they cancelled it. It wasn’t as good as the original UK Skins. It simply sucked, it was hell watching the whole season!
Comment by Saarrr – June 9, 2011 02:16 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- Why’d you watch it then…?
  
  Moron.
  Comment by MikaylaaaaSheaaaa – June 16, 2011 09:04 PM PDT Reply To This Post
I’m glad! UK skins is the only one worth watching. I couldn’t even make it through ten minutes of a US version epiosde. So bad.
Comment by danielle – June 9, 2011 02:19 PM PDT Reply To This Post
““Skins is a global television phenomenon that, unfortunately, didn’t connect with a US audience as much as we had hoped,” MTV said in a statement. ”

BECAUSE YOU **RUINED** IT!!!! If MTV would have obtained the rights to air the original UK series, it would have ‘connected’ a hell of a lot better than the garbage they produced (even if it was edited).
Comment by Erin – June 9, 2011 02:21 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- I completely agree with you.
  Comment by Amanda – June 9, 2011 02:32 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- UHm, you can catch Skins UK on BBC America dude.
  Comment by Jay – June 10, 2011 06:39 AM PDT Reply To This Post
  - UHm,Thanks Jay, but I’m aware of that. Unfortunately, most cable providers do not include BBCA in their line up of basic cable channels, so many others are not able to watch (I had to upgrade my package in order to have it, for example).
    Comment by Erin – June 10, 2011 11:01 AM PDT Reply To This Post
It’s rare that we adapt anything British particularly well. Are there many apart from THE OFFICE and SHAMELESS? Maybe BEING HUMAN??
Comment by John Berggren – June 9, 2011 02:25 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- There’s All in the Family. And Cosby was based on the British show One Foot in the Grave. I agree that the US Shameless is amazing, but that’s because Showtime has been on an amazing streak of creating great shows.
  Comment by Steven – June 9, 2011 02:32 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- Robin’s Nest=3′s Company. Steptoe and Sone=Sanford and Son. Pop Idol=American Idol.
  Comment by Tusk – June 9, 2011 04:17 PM PDT Reply To This Post
  - I think the UK version of Three’s Company was called Man About the House.
    Comment by Alex – June 9, 2011 04:45 PM PDT Reply To This Post
    - Yes, you’re right. What was unusual was that the US version followed the blueprint for spinoffs of the UK version, too.
      
      Man About the House -> Three’s Company
      Robin’s Nest -> Three’s a Crowd
      George and Mildred -> The Ropers
      Comment by Miffy – June 10, 2011 01:18 PM PDT Reply To This Post
I’ll miss seeing them on T.V. I thought that they the story lines were pretty true to being a teen, and it’s sad that the U.S. couldn’t handle it.
Comment by Kim Anderson – June 9, 2011 02:33 PM PDT Reply To This Post
any word on RJ Berger?
Comment by ggny – June 9, 2011 02:40 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- It got renewed
  Comment by Monique – June 9, 2011 03:13 PM PDT Reply To This Post
  - you got a link? i havent seen the news anywhere
    Comment by ggny – June 9, 2011 04:06 PM PDT Reply To This Post
I hated this show the instant the lesbian screwed the sleazy main dude.
Comment by Tavis – June 9, 2011 03:15 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Tavis, that’s part of the UK storyline and doesn’t give a good reason to blame Skins US for you hating it.

I just think it’s messed up how they didn’t even tell the actors before they told the internet.
Comment by Amanda – June 9, 2011 03:18 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- huh??? in original UK version it was Maxxie (openly gay guy) who hooked up with Tony. They switched from main male character being heteroflexible/experimenting to him trying to bed a lesbian and succeeding. Instead of daring and innovative it was cliched and offensive. Good riddance!
  Comment by loser – June 9, 2011 05:34 PM PDT Reply To This Post
  - Exactly!
    Comment by Tavis – June 9, 2011 07:35 PM PDT Reply To This Post
  - right. i mean, i guess UK tony was still technically cheating. but he did it more for experimentation purposes. US tony kinda did it as a conquest.
    Comment by Dee – June 16, 2011 02:50 AM PDT Reply To This Post
The only reason I am happy that this remake was made, is because from this, alot more people found UK Skins and how great it is. But even though this is now thankfully dead, we have MTV’s version of The Inbetweeners to eventually suffer through.
Comment by Monica – June 9, 2011 03:19 PM PDT Reply To This Post
The US version sucked compared to the UK one but it gave me something to watch while the UK seasons flipped.

Oh well.
Comment by Antonio – June 9, 2011 03:28 PM PDT Reply To This Post
I loved the British version but felt nothing about the American version after I watched the first episode. It wasn’t because of the age issue that so many people harped about -it was because it was so poorly acted. They should had hired real actors. And come up with an independent storyline with new characters. It was like watching a weak copy of what made the British version good. Plus they should never had tried to “American” it up -by changing the gender of Maxxie from male to female. Did they think America would be more open to a female gay character than a male. Don’t know they were so faithful to every other character type and recycled a lot of story -it showed how obvious they were. Not going to miss this one.
Comment by Linda – June 9, 2011 03:47 PM PDT Reply To This Post
I knew this was going to happen as soon as they announced a US version of the show, the only good thing about the show is that it was filmed here in Toronto, Canada! The other problem is, they basically did a shot for shot remake, with minor adjustments to start making it their own.
Comment by Michael – June 9, 2011 04:27 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Skins US had potential, but no one wanted to give it a chance and that was the problem. If people would have actually sat down and watched it they would’ve enjoyed it.
Comment by emily – June 9, 2011 05:03 PM PDT Reply To This Post
i’ve been watching skins since it premiered in the uk and i watched the us version too and athought it wasn’t as good i didn’t think it was bad either! it just never stood a chance :/
Comment by Mafalda – June 9, 2011 05:16 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Parents need to shut the f*** up.. its just a show so calm the f*** down
Comment by alexis – June 9, 2011 07:28 PM PDT Reply To This Post
I have been watching the original series since it’s second season aired, and I was sort of looking forward to the new US version when I first heard about it.
Honestly, I watched it and didn’t fall in love with it like the UK version, but after some episodes I began to get into it’s vibe.

I think Michelle’s Episode in the US version really showed a turn around in the series’ quality and potential. I would of liked to have seen a second season, just to see what they could do with it and how they characters differed from their UK counterparts.

Oh well, we still have Series 6 of Skins UK to look forward to.
Comment by Laura – June 9, 2011 08:43 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Uh…well, I’m happy that’s over. The original was great and had been aired on BBC America and was well received and there was really no need for a remake. I am however, disappointed that Americans couldn’t accept the truth about modern teens. It’s not what we wanna see but it’s what’s happening. Your kids are having sex and they are doing drugs. Americans are entirely too focused on coddling their children and not enough on educating them on how to be human beings.
Comment by Devin – June 9, 2011 11:40 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Finally. That remake really sucked.
Comment by Popop – June 10, 2011 12:31 AM PDT Reply To This Post
No need to kill the franchise. Just reboot the show with an original storyline, and kids who can actually act. Set it in a different city too. Not every gritty American drama has to be set in Baltimore. ‘The Wire’ already covered the schools in that town.
Comment by Eric – June 10, 2011 06:40 AM PDT Reply To This Post
Man! I really enjoyed Skins.. I saw the UK series 1-3 before watching this, and I thought the US was better.
Comment by joey. – June 11, 2011 07:45 AM PDT Reply To This Post
I first heard of skins when they released the US version, so I was a little more than sceptical when my sister reccomended I watched the UK Version. I was soon un-admittedly addicted to it . Here in the US, our society is way too sensitive and easily offended which holds back censorship in the majority of our films and television. Ultimately I find European humor and unbiased dialougue far more appealing.
Comment by Kenzi V – June 12, 2011 12:56 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Although I hate the US version, I have to admit, it had some pretty dope music. (judging from the bits of it I’ve seen)
Comment by Dee – June 16, 2011 02:54 AM PDT Reply To This Post
Gonna miss Skins Guess I’ll move on to the British version.

I wish people in the US weren’t so…uptight.

Oh well. I like British TV better.

MTV sucks.
Comment by MikaylaaaaSheaaaa – June 16, 2011 09:02 PM PDT Reply To This Post

This Just In: MTV Cancels Skins

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