Shameless - USA

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prand

Original Poster:

5,916 posts

197 months

Friday 24th June 2011
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Caught this first episode last night. I quite enjoyed it, although it was a bit strange seeing favourite old characters playing out the same storyline, but with American accents and in a grungy Chicago suburb.

Only weak bit for me was the Frank, played by William H Macy. Great actor though he is, seemed just a bit too "with it" and respectable.

Checking on IMDB, it looks like it went down quite well with US audiences too, and is booked for another series.

Halb

53,012 posts

184 months

Friday 24th June 2011
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is it repeated?
UK version got boring for me, is this US one played for laughs?

shirt

22,618 posts

202 months

Friday 24th June 2011
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Caught this on repeat last night.

Way better than I thought it would be, captures the feel of the early uk series' (before it became a parody of itself) very well. Good characters and much of the dialogue transfers well. I liked macy as he wasn't trying to an impersonation of 'frank'.

Main weakness is simply that shameless is too familiar to be able to watch a re-shot version without constantly noticing similarities and differences. Its annoying and distracting and ultimately makes it feel less good a program, like you're watching repeats.

prand

Original Poster:

5,916 posts

197 months

Friday 24th June 2011
quotequote all
Halb said:
is it repeated?
UK version got boring for me, is this US one played for laughs?
Certainly there are laughs, and a lot of the sex, drinking, drugs & bawdiness of the UK version. It's back at series 1 with my favourite characters - Fiona Gallagher, Steve, Kev & Veronica. I'm sure Frank will come in to his own, particularly when he starts all the funny business with mad Sheila and Karen.

uuf361

3,154 posts

223 months

Friday 24th June 2011
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I'm not convinced yet. It's odd seeing the characters you know played by other people.

Will watch some before making a call......

AndyT77

1,755 posts

163 months

Friday 24th June 2011
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I think it will take some getting into, but am willing to give it a chance. However, i really wonder why the yanks (if it was their initial thought), take a good UK program and make a US version. It's not like they can't produce some brilliant and original material themselves is it?

Halb

53,012 posts

184 months

Friday 24th June 2011
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AndyT77 said:
I think it will take some getting into, but am willing to give it a chance. However, i really wonder why the yanks (if it was their initial thought), take a good UK program and make a US version. It's not like they can't produce some brilliant and original material themselves is it?
It's just one of those things isn't, we all like to make it our own. Brighton Belles, The Office, Dear John, Queer As Folk. It's all good I reckon. The best is when you get two cracker shows, like The Office.

Vespula

2,985 posts

177 months

Saturday 25th June 2011
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I never watched the UK version because I can't see watching disgusting British chavs (even if they are 'funny') as any kind of entertainment.

However, Yank chavs I can watch, so I might enjoy it more never having seen the original Brit version.

What channel and times please? Channel 4?

SpeedBash

2,325 posts

188 months

Monday 27th June 2011
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Vespula said:
I never watched the UK version because I can't see watching disgusting British chavs (even if they are 'funny') as any kind of entertainment.

However, Yank chavs I can watch, so I might enjoy it more never having seen the original Brit version.

What channel and times please? Channel 4?
Thursdays @ 22:00 on More4.

bexVN

14,682 posts

212 months

Monday 27th June 2011
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I love William H Macy but I just can't see him in this role. Hope I'm wrong (Never watched Shameless, found it to cringeworthy when I tried but intrigued by the American version)

ChipsAndCheese

1,608 posts

165 months

Monday 27th June 2011
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Watched this at the weekend. Thought it was a pretty good re-working of the original UK pilot. Wonder if they will continue to use the UK story lines or go their own way? Got bored of the UK one after a few series, so it will be interesting to see if this one holds my attention any better.

Big fan of Emmy Rossum as Fiona thumbup