CULTURE: MTV Fears Skins May Break Child Porn Statutes!

As creators bust boundaries with a raunchy view of teen sex and substance abuse in MTV's new program Skins, network executives are now worried they may be close to violating federal child porn laws. MTV executives have already ordered that some scenes involving underage teens be toned down, reports the New York Times. They're particularly worried about a nude scene of actor Jesse Carere, who plays Chris, running down a street in an episode airing at the end of the month. The joke of the episode is that Chris has an erection that apparently won't quit, thanks to pills to overcome erectile dysfunction.
The series is a scripted reality-like drama featuring sex-obsessed characters played by teens aged 15-19, most of whom have never acted before. The Times calls Skins, which involves simulated masturbation and implied sex assault, "surely one of the most sexually charged programs that MTV has featured." Some 3.3 million viewers watched the premiere this week, and 1.2 million were underage, according to Nielsen stats, even though the program is rated for those 17 and older. Skins "addresses real-world issues confronting teens in a frank way,” an MTV spokeswoman said in a statement. “We review all of our shows and work with our producers on an ongoing basis to ensure our shows comply with laws and community standards."