So, I have to admit to being introduced last night to what is (apparently) all the rage for teens in the UK right now: Skins. Watching episodes from season 1 on Netflix with my 14 year-old step son, I was hooked after 20 minutes. The series follows a group of High School students from Bristol, England and covers controversial plot lines that include sexuality, substance abuse, eating disorders and much more. Not only are the story lines and characters well done and funny, but the styling is fantastic—sort of Gossip Girl, meets upper class Brit, meets American Apparel—and way cooler than anything that is on American TV right now, MUCH cooler than anything that was around when I was 14…and, ehem, dealing with issues that surely would never make it past our censors…

Their marketing and design team should also be credited for creating an impressive multi-media campaign including an extensive website and blog, and app.