I don't know any new pilot that wanted to be in the same situation as the new American version of the British "Skins". There was the usual prediction that the American producers would muck-up and sanitize the rather daring original series and release nothing more than a pale echo. The most hard-core fans we're expecting a complete travesty. So expectations we're very, very low for this "Skins", so it had to be better than you'd expect, right? Well, it's true. "American Skins" is not terrible, per se. It's just dull. Perhaps after the success of the American "Office", there was a feeling that many more British serials we're ripe for a Yankee makeover(rehash), but apparently we needed concrete proof that "Skins" was not one of them. Ironically the original "Skins" was in itself an answer to the over-glamorized and increasingly hackneyed American Teen Soap genre, so the fact that it was snapped up and regurgitated for stateside TV only seemed to prove the original's point even more.If you only watched the first couple of episodes, you may have thought they we're simply attempting a shot-for-shot remake with flatter accents. It didn't help that the characters of "Skins-US" we're written as almost identical twins of the original, with a few modest tweaks. That just made it difficult for the writers to find completely new paths for it's characters, and the actors ultimately were automatically being compared to their UK counterparts instead of coming into their own and making their characters distinctive and appealing on their own right. It's a fundamental flaw that no matter what bogged down this series, no matter how much it tried to branch out. Had they started from scratch or at least cleverly recycled, it would've been riskier but ultimately much more interesting than this rather awkward tracing we end up getting instead.Perhaps the original "Skins" just got lucky. Comprising of a core cast of mostly non-professional and age-appropriate first-timers, they grew up along with the show itself and any original awkwardness was forgiven easily as we ended up falling for each of them as real, 3-dimensional human beings who stood out from the usual ultra-polished, way-too-perfect modern-teen prototype seen throughout today's TV. "Skins-US" is also comprised of mostly novice actors still in their teens, but they couldn't really show signs of their own organic growth since they we're too tied to the characters who came before them. They don't feel like real people but rather a group of slightly modified clones.Perhaps more out of curiosity than duty, I did watch all the episodes of the first season. While early episodes we're indeed replicas of the original, they did eventually move on to (at least on the surface) new plot lines or at least mended and reshaped versions of the originals . The differences, however, we're really only in the details. And indeed, while it did promise that same kind of gutsy style and non-judgmental point-of-view of the original, it instead felt more like watching a flat-footed Frankenstein monster, or more specifically a muddled lecture on Lifestyles of the Contemporary Teen. And perhaps the main reason it hasn't inspired the same kind of rabid cult following of the original is that it just isn't any fun to watch. It's just rolled-up oregano when we're expecting the real thing.

I own the first four seasons of the British version of Skins on DVD and could watch them over and over. This American, oh I'm sorry Canadian, cast just don't meet the mark whatsoever. There is no talent there at all and since they are copying the almost exact script from the original you would assume it would be an easy job. And the worst of all is the actor who plays Tony. I have seen better acting in children's theatre by 10 year olds. And he is supposed to be the leader of this group? This show is going to be canceled in no time. I wish it was better because E4 in England did so well with this show. Sorry MTV but you fail

Skins US, or as its called AmeriSkins, is a very good show. The characters and issues are germane and relatable to issues real life teens face in modern times. Sure there is some parts that are far fetched, but for the most part AmeriSkins is a great show. I actually care for these characters and feel for them! Not many shows can have that effect.Sure AmeriSkins is a copy of the UK Skins, but SO WHAT!! If you prefer UK Skins to US SKins then watch UK Skins! You don't have to talk trash about this show, especially when the AmeriSkins cast is better than the original. But thats just my opinion.I beg you MTV, please let us have some closure to Skins, and grant us one more season!

Comments blaming the US for ruining Skins because they didn't diverge from the original plot of the UK series is laughable. Bryan Elsley, the show's creator, was the one who made the decision to adapt the original story line for the first few episodes of the dubbed 'US' Skins so that the new US writers could come up with good stuff in the meantime. (Was it the right decision based on the reviews? That's obviously debatable but what's done is done, right?) So blame the time crunch, blame the US, blame the creator. Either stick around and wait to see what's in store as the writers play catch up and the actors define their characters and feel comfortable in their roles or watch something else. On another note, there is definitely a noticeable shift in the adapted characters' looks & personalities from those of the original. They aren't cardboard copies. The reviews I've read here solidified that. They didn't set out to find a perfect 'Tony' or 'Cassie' mold, otherwise that'd of been what we got. Instead we got characters that peeved us 'cause they weren't like the original even tho' some of the names were kept the same. (PS, Cadie doesn't suffer from an eating disorder but has her own set of insecurities. & honestly, if they'd kept Maxxie, people would just find a reason to complain about the actor playing him too.) I'm a bit apprehensive of what will come of all this. It has potential if the actors really aren't talentless & are just struggling to be up-to-par with limited experience. Who knows, maybe they'll grow to be great someday. Maybe look back on their performances as complete amateurs and cringe like the rest of us are doing now. Location? No biggie. I'm giving it a shot, I want to to see where the writers take it. & if it gets canceled, well, I won't be missing it too much. :)