MTV canceled the UK import Skins today after ratings for the show failed to show strength following a highly controversial series debut back in January.
The UK version of Skins has been a runaway hit across the pond with a fifth season already in the books. MTV’s American version, which also played up underage kids partaking in activities that would make any parent cringe, failed to last a single season.
MTV came under attack by the Parents Television Council during its premiere for the depiction of teenage nudity. They went as far as to call the show “child pornography,” and shortly thereafter advertisers began to pull out not wanting to get caught up in the controversy.
Critics weren’t impressed with the American version of Skins either with many calling it inferior to the original UK version. As viewership declined, MTV was left with no choice but to ultimately pull the plug.
Later this year, MTV will take a second stab at importing a popular scripted young adult British show with The Inbetweeners. It’s one of six new scripted shows MTV hopes to lure young audiences with, much in the same vein as this summer’s Teen Wolf which is off to a good start.
