PTC, oh how I've missed you

British TV drama Skins was remade for the American market and debuted on MTV on Monday. America's organization of moral prudes known as the Parents Television Council was none too pleased: they are so frightened that they label their "Action Alert" regarding the program the org's "most urgent alert the PTC has ever sent to parents." Wow, they even bolded the "most urgent alert" part! The show includes "depictions of teens drinking, smoking marijuana, and using massive quantities of drugs, engaging in violent acts, and having irresponsible sex with each other, with their schoolteachers, and with other adults." Furthermore: "Internet sites like Teen.com have carried dozens of promos and stories about the new show. Many of the Internet ad campaigns have shown how Skins blatantly urges children to lie to and defy their parents, and engage in risky and dangerous behavior." Hmm, so an ad for a TV show is in the position to teach moral values? Then the failure falls on the parents.

Furthermore, MTV is showing Skins only between 10PM-6AM hours Eastern time, according to my check of Zap2It, and yes if you live in the West Coast it may be earlier depending on your provider. And it's rated TV-MA too. That's what parental controls are for. As for Teen.com promoting the show: I went over to that site and feel more offended by that site promoting Justin Bieber. Yes, they do have an interview with the Skins cast, but keep in mind that this site is probably doing it to reach out to its target audience given that MTV has always had teenage audience despite the PTC's decade-long mission against it.

Maybe if the PTC focused on tackling the root of the cause of these "dangerous TV shows" to begin with they wouldn't have to be sending out these sensationalized Action Alerts. Canceling shows like Skins won't get rid of the drugs/alcohol/sex issues surrounding American teens today. PTC is entitled to its own opinion of TV content and can even be so prudish as to freak out over simple "Elvis shaking his hips" moments - my godless socially liberal soul would not care a damn bit.

If PTC wants to find some quality programming on MTV, try Made or Silent Library. Both those shows are rated TV-PG.

Skins creator was interviewed by the LA Times and said his show is "definitely not the most dangerous program ever on television."