Anyone out there hooked on the show 'Shameless'?
 

It airs originally in Showtime but I am watching it on Netflix
This is the American version, according to the web, there is a British version, the original version.
So out of character for me to like Shameless...there is sex, language, violence, etc
But I do not watch Shameless for any of that.
Instead, I watch for the incredible plots, story lines, character development, the acting is great ( William Macy, Emma Rossum, Joan Cusack) The plots are so unique!
My twenty something hair stylist mentioned the show to me.
Otherwise, I would have never known about it.

It is amusing, most of the actors are good at portraying white trash. Entertaining for an hour. I admit to watching it.

Me too!

Very entertaining show.. I am jealous.. you get to watch it starting new.. I have to wait for the new season !!! Need a good show to binge watch this summer.. still looking.. i finished House of Cards, etc.. now I have to make do with American Pickers and Storage Wars, etc .. until I find something better on Netflix.

You got me! I am going to check this one out, even though I also tend to avoid things violent. But, hey, character development and story lines and William Macy! Sounds bingeworthy. We will try "Shameless" soon. Thanks.

I'll watch anything with William H. Macy in it. He can make you forget that you're watching an actor. You believe that he is the character. Remember Fargo? In Shameless, he is a character most vile, with great lines as well. And there are no slouches in the rest of the ensemble.

That said, I find it difficult to "binge" on Shameless because I find myself disliking the unsavory side of many of the characters. It's probably a tribute the cast members' acting abilities.

But watch it, I do, just in small doses.

Looking forward to your take on the show.
I am almost ashamed to admit to some of my friends that I watch it, but it is fast paced, entertainning, and in my opinion, good character developments.
Macy is amazing in it too!

Same here
I watch one episode per night.
I am starting season 6 tomorrow.
Same thing w Breaking Bad, I could only watch one per night, too violent, but grrreat show.

Well.......it's sure not "Father Knows Best" but, so far, I think it is definitely bingeworthy.

I am way too embarrassed to tell you how many episodes we watched last night.

I have to say I really like the kids. Hooligans though they may be (sometimes), you have to admit they are creative problem-solvers. I root for them. They are survivors......I hope. We have a long way to go, not yet to Season 2, but soon.

William Macy plays that slimeball, worthless, scummy, rancid creep of a father so well that you can almost smell him through the television screen. (shudder) And whoever is writing those outraged, ignorant rants he spouts has nailed it.

Thanks for the recommendation......I think. :)

I tried it but disliked the characters so much that I could not get into it. As to William H. Macy-- loved him in the Fargo movie. I often wonder if some of these character actors start behaving like the people they portray would. Heard some stories from Jennifer V., who was/is the daughter of a theater actress. She would sometimes go on the road with her mother.

Pretty much the same here.

There are lots of great Netflix shows available. Loved Longmire, The Ranch is really funny, Bloodline is also a great story, Breaking Bad is OK, but violent, I will give Shameless a try as I do like William Macy as an actor.

Update:

Slow week for us. Been doing some shameless binge watching.

Lbmb24101 and Ecuadog, I now know exactly what you are talking about. I continue to root for those kids, and will keep watching and hoping things will turn out OK. But I, too, will have to watch in small doses.

Frank is vile, not even a drop of decency in him. All the other parents are vile, too. It does get hard to watch. I can't help but think of all the real kids who are born into and have to live in terrible circumstances. (Anybody who has spent a long career in secondary ed probably knows a version of Lip.)

The other thing is that even though I think the acting is outstanding and the writers are really good with character development and dialogue, I wish they would not reach so readily for the raunch. That gets old. Starts to feel like the writers are pandering to what they think people want to see. They could fade those scenes. I remember now why I don't subscribe to "Showtime." I know I am a bit of a prude, but............

Anyway, still watching but small doses it will be. We are in Season 3. But the rest is going to take a while. And I am trying real hard not to try to find out where things are going for those kids by reading the episode summaries found online.

I grew up in the north side of Chicago and was unfamiliar with the Canaryville neighborhood where Shameless is suppose to take place. Only knew that it was a working class and. a largely Irish neighborhood. I am now through episode 7 of season one and am enjoying the story and acting. On my next visit to Chicago Canaryville will be a destination. Definitely a drink in a local bar will be in order.

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Shameless
 

I have been watching the British version on Amizon-Fire. Have not watched the U.S. version but will. Agree with what most say but characters are more likeable and funny in a British way. Sometime the accent gets in the way.

Well, Chi, if you see Frank at the Alibi, please don't give him any money.

So glad someone besides myself is enjoying Shameless!
Happy you are liking it so far.
Never a dull moment in each episode. :)

Shameless Confession:
 

I COULD NOT STOP!!!!

Mr. Boomer was out of town last week. I binge watched "Shameless" -- every single night. (I did have a self-righteous rule though that I could not start until after 6:00 -- PM not AM. I do have some dignity in my binge watching.)

While I stand by my prudishness -- wishing the writers would not reach so readily for the raunchy scenes and wishing they would stop saturating dialogue with THE word, I kept right on watching.

Now, I need to know something......

I did not watch "Breaking Bad," but I have friends who did. For those of you who have watched both, I would like to know if it is OK to shamelessly confess to my "Breaking Bad" watching friends that I binge watched "Shameless." (blush)

I do know for sure that I definitely am NOT telling my Book Club or the Lutherans.

Put Breaking Bad on your next binge list. Not the same as Shameless, but characters and storytelling are compelling. Bryan Cranston is to Breaking Bad what William H. Macy is to Shameless. Then you can catch up with Better Call Saul to keep going.

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That's a good plan.

uh, oh.......... British version you say..........uh oh, I guess I really should do a comparative study......

Already did. Personal opinion, but I like the US version much better. Although right now I don't really like most of the characters.

Watch Dexter
 

I absolutely got into Dexter. It's a great binge watcher and acting is phenomenal. Lots of seasons. It'll keep you going for weeks.

Breaking Bad has some big violence but grrrreat writing.
It took me much longer to finish BBad b/c I could not watch every day, inlike Shameless, which I CAN watch nightly.

Shameless confession continued.......
 

Uh, oh.........

Shameless Season 8 premieres November 5 on Showtime.

The plotline is like that arcade game Whack-A-Mole. Just when at least one of those kids seems to be getting it together, another mess pops up.

I am finished now with my binge-watching of those first 7 seasons.........I could not help myself........I still have not told my book club or the Lutherans. I never will........

BUT! I will NOT subscribe to Showtime. I will NOT subscribe to Showtime. I NEVER will subscribe to Showtime........I feel quite certain I will not subscribe to Showtime.......I am pretty sure I will not subscribe to Showtime.........

I watch Shameless and just shake my head.. I really like it but just can't believe some of the plot lines.. so funny and weird..very entertaining.... now this season Frank supposedly cleans up and gets a real job, etc.. haha.. we shall see, shall we????

I also binge watched. What a ride! Checked that it will about a year from now before season 8 will be on Netflix. That's a long time. I wonder if Showtime has a 12 week package.

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William H. Macy was in Chicago a couple of months ago doing some on location scenes and visited Wrigley Field. He looks cleaner but still a bit shaggy.

WSH@CHC: William H. Macy leads 7th-inning stretch - YouTubehttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0102a347dd.jpg

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Like Macy in various shows and movies but this Shameless series is something I have not bee able to get into at all.

Boomer, here is the first episode of the British Shameless which the U.S. version is based upon. NSFW, but it's fun to see how close the episodes are.

Shameless 1 Episode 1 - YouTube

Thanks, Chi,

I gave it a chance but the British version just did not grab me. But I did not give it much time -- not even the entire episode. (Sometimes I seem to have the attention span of a gnat.) Maybe I will try again.

For those that think they are hooked on Shameless... If you have not gotten beyond season 3, hold on to your seats. You can't imagine where this goes-particularly Frank.

Tonight’s the night.

So far, I have resisted subscribing to Showtime just to see Shameless.

Of course the new season will be doled out episode by episode so, at least, I would not be putting us in danger of binge watching.

Try this:

Shameless | Season 8 Premiere | Full Episode (TV14) - YouTube

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I did not know this could be!

You just planned tonight at the Boomer House.

Thank you! :)

Try Ozark on Netflix, great character acting and the plot is fascinating.