Sneak Peek of Showtime's New Series SHAMELESS With William H. Macy → On Demand Weekly

Sneak Peek of Showtime’s New Series SHAMELESS With William H. MacyJanuary 05, 2011

Showtime

On Demand Weekly provides new movie reviews of hot movies on demand from the POV of watching from the comfort of your home. Today’s review: "Shameless" (Showtime).
By Jean Tait

Showtime’s new series “Shameless” premieres in January, but Showtime cable subscribers can watch a preview* of the first episode on Showtime on Demand now. Just go to On Demand > Showtime > SHO New Series > Shameless.

Showtime had me at William H. Macy. FARGO, HAPPY TEXAS, THE COOLER. The man can do no wrong. As the woebegone, hard-drinking patriarch of the Gallagher clan, Bill Macy is given a chance to really show off his chops.

And how about the rest of the cast? Can Emmy Rossum give more than the sweet, rather vacuous aura of vulnerability she usually exudes as the young, but already worn down oldest child who’s had to take on Mom’s role? Well, she certainly shows a lot of her body. We’ll have to wait and see about the rest.

Emmy Rossum (SHO)

In the initial episode of the series, we get little more than a cursory introduction to the Gallagher brood. It’s a lot to keep track of. The opening scene is a voice-over narration from Frank (William H. Macy), speaking glowingly about his family, as clips of the kid’s less than exemplary behavior reveal an alternate reality. Subtle it is not. Look! We’re drinking beer outside while we watch a car burn (until the cops chase us off). Oh, yeah-we’re from the projects! And because we’re poor, we are highly sexed!

Shameless (SHO)

I know it’s the first episode, and William H. Macy promised it would offend everybody, but there’s got to be something more to character development than drinking and sex. I know it’s called “Shameless,” but Rescue Me managed to have lots of alcoholism and sex, yet still put character development into the first episode.

Again, all I can say is William H. Macy. If he’s there, I’m there. And there’s plenty of time for the rest to grow on me. So bring on the boozy, wrong-side-of-the-tracks Gallagher clan! I’m ready for more of “Shameless.”

Wiiliam H. Macy (SHO)

- Jean Tait

Jean
Jean Tait is a contributing writer to On Demand Weekly. Currently the Director of Programming for the Connecticut Film Festival, Jean has programmed for the Jacksonville Film Festival and Sundance Channel.