Earlier this week we got our first look at the season 5 cast of the amazing UK series Skins and earlier this year we got our first look at the season 1 cast of the MTV-produced US version of the show. When I first heard about the US version of Skins, I immediately bristled at [...]
Earlier this week we got our first look at the season 5 cast of the amazing UK series Skins and earlier this year we got our first look at the season 1 cast of the MTV-produced US version of the show. When I first heard about the US version of Skins, I immediately bristled at the idea … I love the original series so much that my fear is that a US version will be watered down in pale comparison. But, like it or not, the US version of Skins is on the way. The pilot was shot earlier this year, which MTV screened at the TCAs this week, and the series goes into official production in Toronto in a couple of weeks:
“Shedding our skin is sort of second nature for us.” That’s how Tony DiSanto, MTV’s president of programming, opened the network’s session at the TCA press tour. So it seems only natural that the network would become the home to the remake of the U.K.’s hit teen drama “Skins.” Though reality series have long been the network’s “bread and butter” — “The Hills,” “Jersey Shore” — as of late, they’re putting more eggs in the scripted basket. “Millennials are all about authenticity,” said David Janollari, head of the network’s scripted development. “We’re pursuing a more authentic vérité style with our reality shows and with our scripted programs.” The risqué teen soap gives an unvarnished look at teen lives in a way that “Gossip Girl” and “90210” can’t even dare to mimic. It helps that much of the writing on “Skins,” the British version of which airs stateside on BBC America, is done by young people, said the series’ co-creator Bryan Elsley. And, he added, casting young actors to bring life to those teen stories is also central to its success; five of the central cast members in the MTV series are under 18 — the targeted demographic of the original series … The show will start production in Toronto, which will translate to “eastern seaboard American city,” in the upcoming weeks. Elsley will be writing and executive producing the adapted version. But a carbon copy this is not … well, not exactly, Elsley assures. “There will be a resonance from the U.K. show, but I think you’ll find some original episodes and writing,” he said. “I think the first episode has some similarities but that won’t be the case all the way through.”
While I am encouraged by all this talk that the show will be grittier than, say, Gossip Girl, I’m not entirely convinced that the US version of the show can be as stark and audacious as the UK version of the show. I’m not sure how MTV will handle the language … Skins is known for its somewhat strong language and I doubt MTV can get away with letting that kind of talk air on their channel. But, to be honest, I think my anger has cooled a bit toward this show. I’m not on board by any stretch of the imagination but a US version of the show doesn’t ruin one’s enjoyment of the original … and even if this MTV version isn’t as good as the original, I am curious to see how the characters translate. I’ll give the show a chance but I’m really not holding my breath. What I am holding my breath for is the new season of the UK version of Skins which will introduce an entirely new cast of characters … that, coupled with the release of a UK Skins movie (featuring castmembers from the first 4 seasons of the show) is where the real excitement lies for me.
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