Shameless - Spoilers Only

[Bonobochick]

Please post spoilers in this thread

[softfurbear]

It's only in the pilot stage right now so it's anyone's guess if it will be picked up on not.

The 2010 Gay TV Pilot Round-Up!
by Brent Hartinger
From AfterElton.com
February 4, 2010

All year long, broadcast and cable networks hear pitches from writers and producers, which they then commission into actual scripts. Every winter and spring, they order some of these scripts to "pilot," which means the show is cast and a "pilot" episode is shot.

This does not mean that the show is necessarily ever going to make it on air. Pilots are ordered precisely so the networks can decide whether they want to invest in them. From the pilot, they can see how the show looks, whether or not it "works," and whether casting changes are necessary.

Many more pilots are shot than ever become TV series — though the number of pilots ordered has fallen considerably in recent years as the networks try to save money.

Still, pilots are how networks pick their future schedules. The following is one of those pilots:

Shameless (Showtime): In addition to her duties in the above project, Allison Janey could also find herself starring in this U.S. adaptation of the long-running UK series, about an 18-year-old working class girl who tries to hold her family together despite loser-parents. It stars William H. Macy and Justin Chatwin (who played Tom Cruise’s son in The War of the Worlds) and features a very gay son.

www.afterelton.com/TV/2010/2010-pilot-round-up

[carld2]

The Sun is reporting that Sean Gilder (Paddy) is leaving after this series.

At least that might give some good material to Mickey, since he always worries about what his father will say or do.

[carld2]

This is from the Channel 4 website. The episode that should be airing on E4 in two weeks.

Maxine is shocked when her brother, Bruce, turns up with a black eye claiming a homophobic attack by their dad, but her loyalties are tested when she confronts their father and discovers the real story. Bruce's arrival as an openly gay man on Chatsworth agitates the locals and he quickly outstays his welcome at Ian's house, but he charms his way into Mimi's heart and the Jockey, leaving Micky teetering on the brink of a nervous breakdown.

That should lead to some good drama for Mickey. I still wonder if he's going to end up with Ian at some point, either breaking up Ian/Maxine, or getting together with Ian after he and Maxine break up.

[shamelessfan]

I think they are headed that direction. It sounds like the new gay character would be a better match for him in terms of growing his character.

[carld2]

I kind of wonder if the brother may eventually get with Ian, but I'd rather see him (the brother...Bruce), with Mickey.

[shamelessfan]

Well, the set up seems to favor Mickey since the two characters are opposites as far as your description goes. Mickey would definitely be a much better fit for dramatic and comedic conflict than Ian. It would also be creepy to go from Maxine cheating on Ian's brother with Ian to Ian cheating on Maxine with Maxine's brother. I would not put it passed them. I have not seen this weeks espisode, but it seems they may be finally given Mickey something more to do than waiting for Ian. They seem to be foreshadowing Mickey moving on. Whether it lasts, I don't know. But the set up in there in the writing.

[carld2]

The previews for next week's E4 episode have some good stuff -- Maxine's brother forcing a kiss on Frank (I hope he had his shots), and then mercilessly taunting Mickey over whether he's going to tell Mimi about Mickey being gay.

I was hoping they might get together but I guess that isn't going to happen.

[carld2]

Episode 12:

In an attempt to build up some confidence, Ian joins the local boxing club and quickly strikes up a friendship with the owner, Jock. But when the club faces closure due to Jock's debt with Paddy, Ian enlists Maxine, Carl and Chesney to help raise funds. However, it soon becomes clear that Ian has stumbled into a hornet's nest of unfinished business between Paddy and Jock.

Meanwhile, a moment of heroism prompts Micky to apply for a job with the fire service, but during the assessment he is haunted by old doubts. Returning a failure, he feels wounded, but his handling of a life-threatening emergency proves that he deserves respect.

[carld2]

Episode 13:

Kelly takes guardianship of her 15 year-old half sister Tonya who is homeless and needs help to get her baby boy out of care. In a meeting with Tonya's social worker Julie, it's agreed that custody will only be considered if Tonya proves she is responsible by looking after a simulation baby. But it's not long before the unruly teen leaves Micky holding the plastic baby, forcing him to make a painful decision.

[carld2]

Episode 14:

After months of separation Patrick and Mimi amicably agree to a quickie divorce, but they get a nasty shock when it's revealed their marriage was never legal. Mimi flies into accusations and recriminations holding Patrick to blame. She then hatches a plan to secretly marry and divorce legitimately in order to save the souls of their children who were born out of wedlock.

Everything is in disarray, and Patrick is due to leave for a new business venture, but the mission to re-marry brings up memories of the past and unearths their true feelings. With his parents apparently divorced, Micky feels orphaned and bitter about his relationships.

In an effort to cheer him up, Maxine and Ian treat him to a night out where he meets a guy, Gary. Their connection restores his faith until he discovers their bond is built on secrets and half-truths. Micky must decide whether to bare the burden of his own lies or if honesty is the best policy.

[softfurbear]

Mention in AfterElton.com this morning to the following article from The Hollywood Reporter:

Showtime picks up 'Shameless' to series
John Wells' drama stars Emmy Rossum, William H. Macy
By Nellie Andreeva
April 7, 2010, 07:26 PM ET
The Hollywood Reporter

Showtime is taking "Shameless" to the next level.

The cable network has picked up the John Wells drama pilot starring Emmy Rossum and William H. Macy to series with a 12-episode order.

Based on the long-running British series by top U.K. TV writer Paul Abbott, "Shameless," from Warner Bros. TV and John Wells Prods., revolves around the Gallaghers, a working-class Chicago clan dealing with the recession. The mother is AWOL, and the alcoholic patriarch (Macy) usually ends up passed out on the living-room floor, so their smart but unpredictable 18-year-old daughter, Fiona (Rossum), is tasked with keeping her five younger brothers and sisters on the straight and narrow.

Wells and Abbott penned the adaptation and are executive producing the series. Wells will serve as showrunner, while Abbott will remain creatively involved but will will focus on a couple of other projects too, including shepherding a new season of the original series in the U.K..

Allison Janney, who guest starred in the pilot, will continue on the series as recurring.

"It was a phenomenally good pilot," Showtime entertainment president Robert Greenblatt said, noting that the network will probably take a break from ordering new pilots for the time being to focus on launching its four new series.
www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i66ddacf93da504a974a99f2d7f3f90a0

From a comment on that AfterElton article:
Shameless US
Submitted by Bob-O (245 points) (51 posts)
on Thu, 2010-04-08 08:56.

I got to work on the pilot as a PA for a few days when it shot in Chicago. The new show is set here but mostly will shoot in LA. From what I saw here, the show holds pretty close to the original, including Ian's storyline. I have to say, from the material they shot here, the show looks great. This is coming from a fan of the original.
www.afterelton.com/blog/edkennedy/morning-meme-040810

[softfurbear]

Showtime has released two pictures from the upcoming US adaption
which AfterElton has listed in yesterday's Morning Meme:

www.afterelton.com/blog/edkennedy/morning-meme-040910

[carld2]

They look a bit more glamorous than the UK version, although that's probably to be expected.

I'm not sure if they should have just recreated the Gallagher family. William H. Macy is a wonderful actor but why did he need the longer hair and the silly faces? It's not like most of the US viewers will have ever seen Shameless and be outraged if he doesn't try to imitate David Threllfall. Just go a different way. I'm sure they will eventually if the show lasts but I think they may have been better off doing that from the start.

I'm not sure how interested I'll be as I watch Shameless more for the Maguires and they aren't in the US version most likely.

I do hope this does well but I hope it won't cause the UK producers to want to the end the show any earlier. I know Shameless is far from perfect but it's still one of the shows I enjoy most, in the US or the UK.

[shamelessfan]

Given what we know of Mickey and Ian, I almost prefer if they move on to Mickey rather than Ian.

[carld2]

Something tells me if the US version stays around they will take Ian on a very different path than the Ian in the UK version.

I'd love to see a US version of Mickey, as long as the casting and writing are good. US TV could use a gay character like Mickey.

[shamelessfan]

Well it is on cable so it has a good shot of being better because shows can do more on cable than on network TV.

[carld2]

Elsewhere, Bruce gets a chance to shine as caretaker/manager for the Jockey football team, but when he arranges a gay five-a-side football tournament Chesney is not willing to 'come out' with the other lads. And while Ian plays with the boys, Maxine explores her artistic side as a life model.

[carld2]

Mickey or Ian-related spoilers for season finale:

When Maxine and Ian are mugged they viciously fight back, taking their attacker captive. At odds on what to do with their prisoner, the couple quickly realise their relationship is falling apart.

Elsewhere, a dark cloud falls over the Maguire family when notorious gangster and psychopath Roscoe shows up. The brothers scatter for cover, leaving Mimi to suffer the intimidation along with a dose of extreme indigestion.

[sheepiefarm]

Article from DS about Gerard Kearns leaving Shameless

Gerard Kearns has announced that he is planning to leave Shameless.

The actor, who played Ian Gallagher, has been on the show since it started in 2004.

However, PA reports that he has now decided to move on to work on other acting projects.

Kearns said that he was "happy" to be leaving and explained: "I feel I can do whatever. There's so many British actors, we're really thriving at the moment, we're really going good, and I'd like to be part of that - I'd really like to move forward with that."

The 25-year-old added that he is pleased he was able to work on Shameless.

"It's been such a good job, such a good experience," he said. "And it's given me all the tools I need to try to get where I want to get to."

While appearing in Shameless Kearns has also starred in critically acclaimed dramas Red Riding and The Mark Of Cain.

[carld2]

Not a big surprise. He's been phased out of the show more and more this series, they brought in another gay character so Mickey wouldn't be entirely alone, Mickey isn't so dependent on Ian now, and Ian is barely a part of the Gallagher family now.

Is he leaving at the end of this series or is he going to leave at the start of the next one?

[carld2]

A lot of spoilers for the upcoming series. Sadly, no mention of Bruce.

www.lastbroadcast.co.uk/tv/previews/v/10241-shameless-recommissioned-for-series-8-in-2011.html