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If anybody is reading this from a TV network. I would like to say this: TV interviews work. I think it was a couple years ago. Probably two. Shanola Hampton (who is the voice of Rochelle on Left 4 Dead) was on the Tyra show (?). Maybe it was Wendy? Anyways, she was doing an interview about Shameless and her character 'Veronica Fisher'. I'm guessing this was around season four cause of the topic they were talking about (No spoiler to be given). I just remember thinking that this sounds like one freaky ass show. I actually wanted to see that season first. When I did get around to season four, it was just as wild as it sounded in the interview. Actually, wild is the understatement. It's freaky on all the levels that freaky can go.
The series depicts the dysfunctional family of Frank Gallagher, a single father of six children. While he spends his days drunk, his kids learn to take care of themselves.
The show's producers sought to distinguish it from previous American working-class shows by highlighting how Frank's alcoholism affects his family. Paul Abbott, the show's creator, has said, "It's not My Name Is Earl or Roseanne. It's got a much graver level of poverty attached to it. It's not blue collar; it's no collar." When John Wells, the showrunner, began pitching the show, he had to fight efforts to place the show in the South or in a trailer park. He explained, "We have a comedic tradition of making fun of the people in those worlds. The reality is that these people aren't 'the other' – they're people who live four blocks down from you and two blocks over. Shameless is an American comedy-drama television series which airs on Showtime.
This remake of the British series is set in Chicago.
Characters to Watch:
Vernon Francis "Frank" Gallagher is the father of six children. He is a deadbeat alcoholic, drug addict and morally deficient freeloader who relies on his children to barely get by. He also swindles the state welfare system and this type of opportunistic deceit has been learned by his children.
Frank begins affairs with almost any available woman, resulting in the births of even more children. For instance, he begins a relationship with Sheila Jackson when he discovers that she gets maximum disability benefits for her agoraphobia. Frank is the biological father of Sammi, Fiona, Lip, Debbie, Carl, and Liam, but not of Ian, who is the children's half-brother and cousin.
The children refer to their father as Frank. Although Frank pontificates self-righteously about political and social issues, he spends most of his time developing schemes to cheat the system and take advantage of others in order to make money. He pays little attention to his children but can display care and concern for them in drastic circumstances.
Veronica "V" Fisher is the Gallaghers' neighbor and Fiona's best friend and confidante. She often gives Fiona advice concerning relationships, caring for her siblings, and caring for herself. Veronica had pursued a hospital medical career until she was fired for stealing medical supplies and now works as a webcam girl.
Phillip Ronan"Lip" Gallagher, is the second Gallagher child and is the most academically minded. In high school, he was a straight-A student. He created various money-making schemes, such as running an ice cream truck that also sold beer and marijuana and taking the SATs for fellow students (often scoring 2400, a perfect score) for a fee. Lip is more rebellious outside the classroom though, spending much of his time drinking beer and smoking weed.
James "Jimmy" Lishman has a lot of moxie. He is pursuing Fiona hard, and he is not afraid to punch out and moon a notorious bouncer to defend her honor. He drives a sports car, wears an expensive watch and throws money around liberally, which Fiona finds off-putting.
Favorite Moment:
The Start: One of the most unique things that you notice after the first episode is the intro. It changes each time and it's a pretty amazing thing that you will come to love. Above is season one, it goes on till the current season. Not the video, this is just season one.
No good: Another thing that I love about the show is that everybody is 'Shameless" in their own way. You don't notice it in the first season but all the seasons go on, you start to notice.
That boy can act: You never really know how much of an great actor somebody is till they play somebody you hate. I went through this with Elizabeth Perkins. She played Celia Hodes on Weeds. I hated her to death. Like would cheer when something fucked up would happen to her. Not so much in the first seasons but man, she played the hell outta the role when it was time to be the double jackass. That's what great actors do. Make you hate the person their playing.
That's the case with William H. Macy. Never really paid him too much attention as far as the acting chops goes.Found him to be funny in the movies. On this show, you find out that he might be one of the most underrated actors. He plays this role so well, you have to just stare in the sky at how really this seems. Bravo, my man. Bravo.
Favorite Episodes:
Season One. Episode One. "Pilot"
This is the episode is the one that kicked it off, I was hooked after this. (Probably about to watch again right now)
Fiona's purse is stolen on a night out with Veronica, but a handsome stranger named Steve does his best to retrieve it. He's unsuccesful but earns an invite back to the Gallagher house when he defends the girls by punching an infamous bouncer who insults them.
Lip discovers a stash of gay porn in the bedroom he shares with Ian but he is unwilling to accept his brother's sexuality and so takes him to Karen who recently rewarded Lip for tutoring her with oral sex.
Season One. Episode Seven "Frank Gallagher: Loving Husband, Devoted Father"
Frank is hunted by two ruthless thugs after he fails to follow through with an illegal money-making scheme, and he must repay them $6000. The Gallagher family helps Frank fake his own death to convince the thugs to leave town. Steve takes Fiona to an expensive hotel to get away from her family and work stress. Mickey steals Kash's gun and Linda has the cameras at the Kash-n-Grab fixed, which has implications on Ian's affair with Kash. Ian tries to get the gun back from Mickey and discovers an unexpected secret while doing this. There is a surprise for Sheila as she does something she hasn't done in years.
Season One. Episode Eight "It's Time to Kill the Turtle"
In the hospital, Frank is offered $3000 if he can stop drinking for two weeks. This pleases Carl and Debbie but Lip doesn't believe Frank can stay sober for even two weeks. In the end, Frank starts to wreck the Gallagher's home, so Lip tasers him and forces liquor down his throat, ending the experiment. Ian continues his sexual relationship with Mickey. Fiona scrambles to find a better-paying job, while Steve's past starts catching up with him. Lip tours the University of Chicago campus and is offered an interesting opportunity. Veronica and Kev's new foster daughter Ethel is 13 years old and a little different than expected, having come from a polygamous sect where she and four other women were married to a 68-year-old man.
Season Two. Episode Nine "Hurricane Monica"
Monica blows back into town and immediately hooks up with Frank for more shenanigans, but the kids are left wondering if she's finally here to stay, and Frank is eager to pick up the ashes of his late mother and reclaim the cash he believes she's hidden. Meanwhile, after Fiona kicks out Lip, he stayed at Karen's and then moved in with Steve. Later, Sheila and Jody think the house is haunted by Eddie's ghost; they end up having sex. Ian's mom, Monica, tell him she know about him having sex with Mickey and that he shouldn't be ashamed; she takes him to a gay club. Mandy's father broke in the Gallagher's house and started punching Ian because he believes he got her pregnant; the baby could be Lip's or another guy's child.
Season Five. Episode Nine "Carl's First Sentencing"
At college, Lip meets a foxy new professor, and their relationship quickly intensifies. Meanwhile, Kev finds a new calling at Lip's school, that ultimately leads him to wanting V back. Despite effort from Fiona, Carl botches his sentencing hearing, and is sent to a Juvenile Correctional Facility with Chuckie. After, yet, another bipolar induced episode, Mickey is able to convince Ian to get back on his meds; and he gets a job as a dishwasher at Patsy's. Fiona is concerned for her boss, Sean, when he receives disconcerting news regarding his son. While undergoing treatment at the hospital, Frank's doctor, Bianca, reveals she has terminal cancer. The two go on a grand adventure that spans 48 hours.
Season Five. Episode Eleven "Drugs Actually"
Sammi is on the outs with the rest of her siblings after the stunt she pulled. Mickey and Debbie hatch a plan to make her pay, that takes a turn for the worst. Fiona continues to pull away from Gus, and closer to Sean. Lip enjoys the benefits of his comfy romantic arrangement. A pipe breaking at the Alibi lends itself as a relationship mender for Kev and V. Frank realizes that he's not ready to die along with Bianca. After a failed attempt at trying to get her help, the two head for Costa Rica. The family is able to convince the Army officials to release Ian, after a painful disclosure of his condition. Later, Ian receives a visit from his mother, Monica; who proclaims that no one will ever understand him but her, and the two hitchhike out of the state. After being believed to be dead, Sammi finds herself being shipped out in a moving truck.
Shameless. Showtime (January 9, 2011 – present)
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