The new MTV drama “Skins,’’ an American version of a BBC show of the same name, was designed to be provocative. Featuring rampant sex and drug use by characters played by teenage actors, the show has alarmed many parents and offended some advertisers. But whatever one thinks of the show, MTV’s response to its critics — that “Skins’’ is intended for mature audiences — is laughable, and the network’s own promotion materials prove the claim false.
“Skins’’ is so risqué that MTV staffers worried that it might run afoul of child-pornography laws — especially a scene that shows a 17-year-old actor from behind as he runs down the street naked. MTV may have thought it covered itself with a press release that “Skins’’ is “specifically designed to be viewed by adults.’’ But this is a peculiar claim from a network that has always positioned itself as a staple of youth culture, and MTV undercut it by throwing a “Skins’’ release party open to anyone aged 16 or older.
The cable network has broad discretion about what it decides to air. But MTV should be honest about the audience it is targeting. If it’s unwilling to argue that “Skins’’ is appropriate for teenagers, it shouldn’t carry the show.
