From Deseret News archives:
'Skin' is in on Fox
"Certainly 'Romeo and Juliet,' 'Heat,' 'Boogie Nights' these were kind of the primary things I thought about as I was beginning the show," said creator/executive producer Jim Leonard. "Our goal is to take the soap out of soap opera. To make an operatic, hard-driving, character-driven show."
Yeah, well, there's still plenty of soap in this opera. It is, in many ways, a successor to "Dallas" and "Dynasty," only instead of the oil business this one revolves around the porn business.
Larry Goldman (Ron Silver) is the hugely successful head of a hugely successful "adult-entertainment" corporation worth billions. He's pornographer by day, philanthropist by night. And he's got a good relationship with his wife, Barbara (Pamela Gidley), teenage daughter, Jewel (Olivia Wilde), and younger son.
Thomas Roam (Kevin Anderson) is a hard-driven, politically motivated district attorney who's out to get Goldman. His relationships with his Latina wife, Laura (Rachel Ticotin) who's a judge and teenage son, Adam (D.J. Cotrona) are less than great.
And neither father is happy when Jewel and Adam fall for each other.
Leonard and his team have succeeded in creating some strong characters and setting up an intriguing premise. Much to their credit, these guys don't wear either black hats or white hats; they're more complicated than that.
There's at least an attempt to frame the teen soap-opera elements in terms of larger issues.
"I don't think that the teens are what's driving the drama, I think that the teens are what's at stake in the drama. And I think that the drama is very much about the culture wars about right and left, about right and wrong, about where the lines are," Leonard said. "I'm the father of two teenage kids, and I'm deeply conflicted, deeply concerned about where our society is in terms of sexualizing everything. And, at the same time, I'm a writer and I am utterly opposed to censorship. So I don't have the answers, otherwise this show wouldn't be interesting to write."
But if he's worried about sexualizing everything, how can he justify having his two teen characters lose their virginity in Episode 1?
"I think there are serious character repercussions for what they go through, and I think it's interesting to explore exactly that," Leonard said. "And I think they will be conflicted about what they've gone through and have to deal with it."
As did Romeo and Juliet. Just don't expect a quick and tragic end for Adam and Jewel.
E-MAIL: pierce@desnews.com
Comments
- NFL: Week 12 recap 12:50 a.m.
- '12 Days' bill would top $87K 12:35 a.m.
- Study finds autism therapy works 12:35 a.m.
- Boy shot following traffic stop 12:35 a.m.
- Sports on the air 12:24 a.m.
- Herbert builds his team of rivals 12:21 a.m.
- Corroon a step closer to governor 12:21 a.m.
- Monday on TV 12:18 a.m.
- Editorial: East, West and religion 12:17 a.m.
- A deficit commission? 12:17 a.m.
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- BYU is champion of the state
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- Credit Coug defense for win
- Marriage definitions vary widely
- Field goals, penalties doomed Utes
- Cougar defense rose to occasion
- Banged up Jazz get best of Blazers
- Jones' joy for life remembered
- Fantasy is reality for BYU professor
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
869 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
473 - Max Hall issues apology
145 - BYU is champion of the state
137 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
117 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
116 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
90 - Hall's legacy measured today
79 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
68 - Utes fall to Seattle U. at home
65
As distressing as it was to see KUTV's longtime vice president/general...
I find it interesting that many of the same people who say that we can't...
None of these teams is going to be easy. They all have fine football...
Max, no apology was necessary, but the apology was polically correct. If...
Very good piece of writing, Amy. You summarized what many of us have been...
How is a top 25 finish make Utah a top twenty team? I think what the poster...
90% of the BYU & Utah fans have class, and Hall knows it. If you don't...
This might be my favorite article I've ever read from the Deseret News. Kudos.
Thank you for not giving up and don't give up now brother and sister...
Dr. Lois Lee's work with children who are victims of child sexual...
Look at the preview for Pixar's "Up". The whole move is summarized in...




You can be the first to comment on this story.