''I think the way it works is you start like 'The Office' or like 'Queer as Folk,' You start quite close, and then as those start to work ... they develop a personality and life of their own. I personally think the danger is to make too many radical changes to the format too early. We've been down that path with a couple of shows - it becomes a compromised format at that point.''
Charlie Pattinson, a British television producer, who plans to work with MTV to bring a new version of his raunchy and raucous teenage drama, ''Skins,'' to Baltimore, MD. No telling what will translate from the UK original which features lots of sex , lots of drugs, lots of bad bad behavior, and lots of laughs ... and at least one openly gay teen boy, Maxxie. (Variety)
''The creators already have done focus groups in Baltimore.... They've met with kids here and found out what they're experiencing, where they go to school, and where they hang out. They wanted to set the show someplace that is a good cross-section of the country. I think they chose Baltimore because it has diverse ethnic groups and socioeconomic levels and urban and suburban areas.''
Liz Gateley, VP of MTV series development, describing some of the path that the UK TV show "Skins" is taking on it's way to be imported as an Americanized version. The show will be set and filmed in Baltimore. The British version of the series was an exciting and controversial sensation, though interest waned after the first season. The show's ensemble cast of characters included story lines for Maxxie, a gay male teenager. (Baltimore Sun)
