Skins UK vs. Skins US

Skins is a British teen drama that follows the lives of a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England, through the two years of sixth form (key stage 5). Its controversial story-lines have explored issues such as dysfunctional families, mental illness (such as depression, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder), adolescent sexuality, gender, substance abuse, death, and bullying.

Each episode generally focuses on a particular character and the struggles they face in their life. The episodes are named after the featured character. The show was created by father-and-son television writers Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain for Company Pictures, and premiered on E4 on 25 January 2007. The show went on to be a critical success as well as a ratings winner within its target demographic.

You may think that it is enough to have just one show with this title and these characters... But Americans thought differently... They made exactly the same show, 4 years later, in 2011.

The idea of the show is the same, the characters are the same, the plot is the same. So.. you may think that it is the same show... and you are not wrong! It is the same show, but with different actors involved and it takes place elsewhere.

~ The main difference is that the names of the characters are changed:

UK: Tony Stonem                                                US: Tony Schneider

UK: Sidney "Sid" Jenkins                                    US: Stanley Lucerne

UK: Maxxie Oliver                                               US: Tea Marvelli

UK: Anwar Kharral                                              US: Abbud Siddiqui

UK: Chris Miles                                                   US: Chris Collins

UK: Cassandra "Cassie" Ainsworth                    US: Cadie Campbell

UK: Jal Fazer                                                      US: Daisy Valero

UK: Effy Stonem                                                 US: Eura Schneider

The only exception is Michelle Richardson, who has the same in both TV series.

When you watch the first episode of Skins US you see almost no difference comparing it with the first episode of Skins UK!

~ Here are some examples of differences between these two shows:

1. BRITISH: Leading man Tony has a naked man and woman illustrated on his duvet.

AMERICAN: Leading man Tony has spiders and other creepy crawlies illustrated on his duvet.

2. BRITISH: It’s overcast.
AMERICAN: It’s snowing.

3. BRITISH: After auditioning, Tony is invited to a party by perky blonde Abby.
AMERICAN: After auditioning, Tony is invited to a party by perky blonde Tabitha.

4. BRITISH: The party goes well into morning.
AMERICAN: The party happens mostly at night.

etc...

I personally think that differences between two shows should be much bigger than these I provided. What do you think???

Everything that is presented in episode one in the UK is also in the US version – squeezed balls, trampolines, a car in a lake – sometimes word-for-word or shot-for-shot. 

But (fortunately) episode five is more original. Written by new writer Mark Hammer, it sees the characters hit broadly similar plot points to the UK version but by taking a very different journey involving Stanley's dad's prized car, an army base and an amazingly annoying teacher, whose best line is: "Drugs? No thanks - I'm high on life."

Okay, to conclude. British version was the first version of this TV series. It was extended to 7 seasons and it was a global television phenomenon. Unfortunately, the American version of 'Skins' was almost completely a copy of British show, so it turned out to be a failure and it wasn't renewed even for season 2.

Here you have a couple of memes from the British version and see you soon! I guess... ;)

ouch!