Get ready for Skins UK Season 5

That's right, the bigger, badder, and better version of Skins - the original UK version - is coming back this Thursday, January 27th. With a completely new and relatively obscure cast, the show is sure to be met with some criticism (since losing characters like Tony and Cassie after the second season was hard enough). Yet all the same, its Skins - the rawest drama out there and the only show I've heard of where real world teens directly take part in the writing process. The first episode focuses on Franky (fourth from the left in the picture), a boyish and artsy girl complete with a pixie cut and a plethora of black and plaid clothes.  Although the premise - kid moves to a new town (from Oxford to Bristol in this case) and goes to the local school where she encounters mean girls and makes friends with outsiders, only to have the mean girls later be suspiciously nice to her - seems cliche, I'm pretty confident the show will spice it up with the usual innovative and "controversial" material that will make the US version seem even more prude in comparison.

So as I gear up to watch the second episode of Skins US tonight and try and keep an open mind, I can't help but be very excited for Thursday to see Skins as it should be - almost completely uncensored in its glory of British accents and slang, swear words, and unforgettable Bristol late nights/early mornings that are hard to remember.

But now I'm just left wondering two things:
1) Where can I get a quality online stream of the episode that I can watch here in the States?
2) Do you wont to go to ah pahr-ee?

Check out the latest previews and clips here.

-G

US Skins: Poor Acting, Great Soundtrack

In order to seduce the Skins following that has grown to cult-like status in the US, MTV organized a pretty stellar lineup of songs for the show's US premiere. Mimicking the opening (along with almost every other) scene, the US version opened with Effie returning from a night of hard partying. As the camera switched from Effie to her older brother, giving audiences the first glimpse of the US Tony in action, My Girls by Animal Collective started. Just a few minutes later, When I'm Small by Phantogram transitioned in as students in the now Baltimore, once Bristol, high school walked to their classes.

MTV obviously did some research, which apparently took time away from the casting as many of the characters struggled to replicate the complexity and idiosyncrasies of their British counterparts. However, this is a music blog, so I'll leave the reviews of US Skins up to the TV critics. Check out the two highlights from the opening episode's soundtrack below.

-C

new theme song for Skins US: opportunity or outrage?

If it isn't already scoffed at enough (even before a single episode has come out), Skins US has seemingly taken another step backwards by not using the original Skins UK theme song. The "new" show apparently launched a competition for anyone in the United States to compose a tune and send it in (extended deadline: November 21), the winner will be announced around December 15. Check out contest details and vote for your favorite here.

Skins US Cast
(http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/6146/55960963.jpg)

 Now this could be a good thing, launching some 15-year old part time-DJ or 35 year-old struggling singer/songwriter into fame, and giving Skins US a catchy new tune that says, "Hey, we're not British but at least we have good music." (Jk). Or it could be disastrous, provoking more outrage among die-hard fans who already ridicule Skins US (typically because MTV is producing it) enough.

What do you guys think: opportunity or outrage?
-G

P.S. Fyi, the original theme song is by Fat Segal (also called Segal) and can be easily found online (wink wink). The song helps make the show and honestly it's so good, it's even my ringtone :D

P.P.S. After watching the new trailer, my opinion is set about the show but I'll leave it up to you guys to tell me what you think.

SKINS Season 5 Update

That's right, the notorious British TV show Skins is currently filming its fifth season. Words cannot describe how phenomenal this show is in all its raving, tripping, crazy glory - you just have to watch it, tosser. I know I sound just a tad obsessed (as any Skins fan does), but once you start watching, you'll get what I mean.... yah?

Anyways, onto the news:

Skins just finished filming the opening sequence of Season 5. Tal Rosner, who made the opening sequences for Seasons 1-4 is back again, so we can expect some aaamazing graphics, overlays, editing, and effects. This man is spectacularly talented. His title sequence for Season 1 (shown below) won a BAFTA award in 2007. Let's just hope Fat Segal (aka just "Segal") will supply the intro music again.

Also, Skins is up for "Best Digital Choice" in the National Television Awards. So show your support and vote here!

-G