TCA Press Tour: MTV lets out its teen angst with 'Skins'

“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.

So have they watched?

“I had seen a couple of episode prior to being cast on the show,” said James Newman, who will play Tony Snyder. "Once I was cast, I stopped watching it … to bring something new to the show and the character that I’m playing.”

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.”

ShowTrackers, are you fans of the original version? Do you think it’s a good addition to the MTV lineup? Will you tune in?

--Yvonne Villarreal
twitter.com/villarrealy

Comments

[Katie]

As a fan of the original series, I can say that my curiosity for the US rendition of Skins is overwhelming. I want to see just how they're going to pull it off. The original Skins is known for being real, raw, and not holding back on anything. I'm curious how they'll do the sex scenes, nudity, drug use, etc. I just really want to see how they're going to pull this off.

[alana]

I completely agree with you, Katie. There is ZERO information coming out about the show and this is our first tidbit into the series. I'm a bit upset that they are using the same type of characters for USA as they did for UK, but again -- sex, drugs, partying is what SKINS is a lot about.

I heard a trailer played at TCA. If there is any way you can get your hands on it, Ms. Villareal, or describe it to us, it would paint a different picture on SKINS.

[Chris]

The UK version is awesome. I think the US remake will be terrible, as most US remakes are. On top of almost all US remakes being terrible, MTV is a terrible network for television shows. It's put out nothing but garbage programming for the past several years. If you want to watch Skins, watch the UK original. The English slang isn't that hard to pick-up on.

[rl]

I think the American version of Skins should be airing on a network like Showtime or HBO. MTV is going to ruin everything that is great about Skins. I wish the series were actually being filmed in the U.S., instead of Toronto. Does anyone know when this is supposed to premiere/when promo footage will start hitting the internet?

[JP]

I'll definetly be tuning in, Snyder as a last name though seems kind of lame

[Sass]

Right, “Shedding our skin is sort of second nature for us.” << Why make a remake when the 5th series of Skins is due to be released in a few months.
Honestly, this is ridiculous, there are some really good American shows on TV, and they are good because they are American. the reason Skins is so good is because it's typically English, English language, English nature, English culture and just plain English. Why ruin a show by trying to make a better version of something that is already perfect, just because it's English you think you can make it better?!? Come on you couldn't make Love Actually better, and you can't make Skins better, just broadcast the new series and let it be!