“Skins” on MTV has been causing controversy since its first episode aired. The teen drama premiered on Jan. 17, following the popular show “Jersey Shore.”

The show doesn’t seem too different from the “Jersey Shore,” which features sex, alcohol, partying, and drama, except on “Skins,” the main characters are fictional teenagers. The social situations taking place in the life of these television teens have many people talking and finding it to be over the top.

The series follows a group of young people that go to the same high school. Each character has different qualities. The show touches on controversial issues like sex, drugs, alcohol, parties, virginity, peer pressure, money issues, family issues, sexual confusion, homosexuality, eating disorders, depression and many more real life situations. These topics strike a nerve among unfavorable viewers, as they occur among underage characters.

The first episode started off with a focus on the main male character of the show, Tony. Tony, along with the other teen characters, attempt to help their shy 16-year-old friend, Stanley, lose his virginity. The first episode is full of suggestive language in which most of the teens conversations seem to revolve around sex. Stanley gets in a mess involving a drug deal and his friends try to set him up with Cadie, who has a plethora of mental health issues. After a night of hard partying, the teens wind up in a sticky situation in which a borrowed car that they are driving rolls into the bay.  Along with the car goes the large bag of marijuana that Stanley was supposed to sell to his peers.

The pilot episode may seem familiar to those who have seen the original British version of “Skins” because it was replicated. The episode almost completely mimics the pilot of the British version, except for the English terms that North Americans may not relate to, non-Americanized names, uncensored cursing and the direct nudity that is shown.  The American version of Skins is a remake of the English show by the same title, which began in 2007. The UK “Skins” is in its fifth season, with its third set of newly casted, teenage characters.  Compared to the British version, which is much more lenient in their censorship, the North American version of “Skins” is rather tame.

As much as people want to protest the show, “Skins” is supposed to be a portrayal of real teenage situations. The show, which is filmed in Toronto, is co-created by 19-year-old Jamie Britain and his father, Bryan Elsely. The actors, six of whom have no previous acting experience, range 15-19. The inspiration for the material on the show comes from a panel of 30 real teenage consultants. The situation and material is real, but it is slightly exaggerated for the sake of the drama on television.

Despite the low-key comparison to the original, American viewers and advertisers are getting turned off by the North American version of “Skins.” After the debut of the show, over 11 advertisers decided to pull out their ads, including Taco bell, GM, Wrigleys, H&R Block, Schick, Subway and Proactive.

Advertisers weren’t the only ones to desert the show, as the ratings plummeted by the second episode. In its debut, “Skins” had 3.3 million viewers. By the following week, only 1.6 million continued to watch, dropping by over 50 percent. The Parents Television Council, a TV watchdog group, labeled “Skins” the “most dangerous program that has ever been foisted on your children” and they have begun a criminal investigation of the production of the show. The producers themselves are starting to become uneasy as they believe some of the scenes may violate child pornography laws, since the actors are underage.

Young viewers believe that the protesting and boycotting of the show is uncalled for. Senior Abigail Gonzalez who has seen the original “Skins” believes that “the American version is definitely toned down.” Junior Sheena Wagaman agrees. “Skins is not what it is being made out to be….it is art imitating life,” Wagaman said.

She believes that the show is similar to other programs on television. She said, “This is no worse than the ‘Jerry Springer’ show or ‘Bridal Plasty.’ At least ‘Skins’ is thought provoking and when viewed for what it actually is, will prove to be valuable.”

As for what concerned adults should do Wagaman advises: “If people don’t want to watch the show or don’t want their children watching it then don’t and set the security settings on your TV.”

It is no surprise that MTV is showing “Skins,” as they already have teen reality shows “Teen Mom” and “16 and Pregnant.”

MTV has gone from music television to a network full of dramatic shows that get people talking. “Skins” fits right in with the regular programming, yet the show is causing uproar. Only a matter of time will tell if “Skins” is thick enough to survive in a not so laid-back America.