Skinned

MTV will likely pull the plug on its import show "Skins" under pressure from viewers, advertisers, Congress, and the Department of Justice.

Executives at MTV held long discussions to determine whether or not U. S. law and the American market would accept a television program that is entirely about sex and drug use among teenage children. They apparently forgot that even simulated sex among child actors and actresses is a federal crime, punishable by prison sentences. To me, if you are having that discussion, the show is probably inappropriate.

"Skins" originated in Great Britain on the BBC. Parents should be warned that the show is on BBC America, which is available on satellite and cable. It probably will not be shown very much longer based on the adverse reaction to its showing on MTV.

The show's creators and backers sell it as a "frank" portrayal of teenage life. They claim that those who think teenagers behave otherwise are foolish and deluded. Generalizing about any lareg group leads to dangerous inaccuracy. Lots of teens indulge in sex and use drugs. Lots of teens are afraid of sex and avoid drugs. In any event, one can get the point across on a fictional show that teenagers are doing these things without breaking federal child pornography laws. At a certain point, the show's creators must admit that they are trying to stimulate other things than a frank discussion about teenage behavior.

Fortunately we have an appropriate market response to the show. Not only are advertisers abandoning the show, so are viewers. Even on the most coarse, envelope pushing network offered in America, viewers are not accepting of what has been offered. MTV will likely pull the plug on the show not long after assuring its creators that the market and the law would be permissive of this type of programming.

People my age are nostalgic for the days when you saw music on Music Television (as MTV was once known.) As far as I am concerned, Jim Morrison sang something that resonates very well here "when the music's over, turn out the lights . . ." Apparently, the Department of Justice might do the same. Personally, I think the government should back off. MTV's lawyers looked over this show with a fine toothed comb. They will either prove that they did not violate the letter of the law, or hide behind deniability, claiming they didn't know how far the show would go. I doubt that a costly investigation will reveal any technical wrongdoing by MTV. The market has spoken and rejected it. No need to go any further.