The Artful Jurist

Many television shows go to cable TV for airings specifically because the cable stations don't have to adhere to the more strict rules of decency defined for the stations that broadcast over the public airwaves.  But even cable has its limits.  And one of those limits is child pornography, something this country deems to be an illegality no matter where it exists.

MTV's youth-oriented program, Skins, made a quick reputation for itself by pushing the boundaries with its depictions of the exploits (often sexual) of a group of teenaged minors.  Problem is, those teenaged minors are being played by actors who are...well, teenaged minors.  And, while an MTV spokesperson described the show as a "frank" representation of teenagers' "real-world issues" (which, naturally, because it's television, involves a lot of sex issues rather than issues about homework and acne), depictions of underage people engaged in sexually explicit activities could run afoul of the kiddie porn laws.  So, according to news reports, MTV has had the producers of Skins tone down some of the episodes.

It's not clear to me whether the "tone down" order came as a direct result of the kiddie porn question or because Taco Bell canceled its advertisements with the show.  But I'm guessing the loss of the big burrito advertiser didn't hurt the cause of those who wanted to simmer down the Skins kids' sex scenes.