Despite the pornography controversy, the dropped sponsorships, and the angry parents MTV's Skins skidded off the road in its second outing last night. Without a special Jersey Shore as a lead in the show's ratings dropped 52 percent last night from 3.3 million to 1.6 million (with big drops in the key 18-34 demo). Even a plea for understanding on MTV News from creator Bryan Elsley didn't seem to help. Which leads us to wonder, if MTV makes a controversial show and nobody watches...is it still controversial? more ›

The blowback against MTV's most recent foray into child pornography scripted programming continues. Hot on the heels of Taco Bell comes word that H&R Block, G.M., Wrigley and now Subway are also making a run for the advertising border, leaving the much-publicized show all wet with no advertising money to dry them off. Even the Post's resident curmudgeon Andrea Peyser is upset about the situation (no, not the person), in which the network is reportedly worried that the show's third episode borders on child pornography. She does, however, couche her concern with the valid point that this may very well just be a "ginned-up ploy for publicity." Having not watched the remake ourselves (but being fans of the original), we've been unsure of how exactly to feel about the matter. So we figured we asked a rabbi. And "America's Rabbi," Shmuley Boteach certainly had some opinions to share. more ›

The pseudo-scandal surrounding Skins, MTV's latest drama, continues. After reports surfaced that the network was retooling an upcoming episode for fear of it being perceived as child pornography the network got the expected results: The Parents Television Council is asking the Justice Department to investigate and the show has "lost" one of its original sponsors, Taco Bell. We say pseudo-scandal and put that last bit in quotes since we're increasingly inclined to agree with folks in the comments that this is more a well executed publicity grab than a real thing (remember there was a similar fuss, which also led to an advertiser leaving, when Jersey Shore hit the boardwalk way back in 2009). Which doesn't mean we think it isn't interesting/depressing. more ›

We have yet to watch Skins, MTV's latest, since we're worried it'll ruin the excellent British original for us (and we hear it is basically a carbon copy, anyway). But no matter, MTV is happy these days since 3.3 million people did tune into the show's premiere on Monday. Well, except for the part where they are suddenly worried the sight of a 17-year-old boy's bare bottom running down a street in an upcoming episode might be construed as child pornography. more ›

In preparation for its American adaptation of the UK's provocative television knockout Skins, MTV is holding a casting call in Brooklyn in search of 15-18 year old non-actors of all types in its hunt for "the most charismatic and actually edgy kids." They're looking for genuine alpha males, divas, and "shy-types" to portray their naturally stereotypical selves along the vein of the original series which follows adventurous teens who deal with issues like pregnancy, eating disorders, and fulfilled teacher fetishes. While the series will inevitably take place in Baltimore, casting agent Kim Madalinski tells Brokelyn that looking in Brooklyn is a "no brainer." more ›