Shameless US Version

[lizann]

Showtime has ordered 12 episodes of the William H. Macy-led drama Shameless, Variety reports.

Based on a long-running British drama, it stars the 60-year-old actor as the alcoholic patriarch of a big blue-collar family in Chicago.

Created by Paul Abbott (State of Play), Shameless is executive-produced by Abbott and John Wells. The series is expected to begin production in late summer; a premiere date has not been announced, the trade paper reports.

[lizann]

Showtime has announced premiere date for Shameless.

The cable network will debut the US version of Shameless from producer John Wells and starring William H. Macy on January 10.

[tammyy2j]

Cast and Promo Pictures

[lizann]

Joan Cusack has joined the cast of Showtime's new dramedy "Shameless."

Cusack will appear in all 12 episodes of "Shameless," which will premiere on Sunday, Jan. 9.

"Shameless" is based on the adored British format and features original creator Paul Abbott as executive producer along with Emmy winner John Wells. The series features William H. Macy as the alcoholic patriarch of a working-class Chicago family, but truly stars Emmy Rossum as the eldest daughter who has to keep the family together.

Cusack will play Sheila, an agoraphobic housewife who strikes up a relationship with Macy's character.

The role was played by Allison Janney in the pilot, but with the "West Wing" star committed to ABC's midseason comedy "Mr. Sunshine" and producers determined to expand Sheila into a larger role, there wasn't enough Janney to go around.

Cusack has earned a pair of Oscar nominations for her performances in "Working Girl" and "In & Out." He TV credits include the short-lived "What About Joan" and a run on "Saturday Night Live."

Production on "Shameless" will begin in mid-September.

[tammyy2j]

Trailer

[Perdita]

Emmy Rossum has revealed she has been banned from watching the British version of Shameless, despite starring in the American adaptation.

The Phantom Of The Opera star plays oldest Gallagher sister Fiona in the US version, the part played by Ann Marie Duff in the award-winning comedy drama about a chaotic family on a Manchester council estate.

Emmy revealed: "I've never seen it. Paul Abbott, the creator, has asked that I not see it just so I take a fresh take on the story and the character.

"There's a lot of pressure to live up to and also do something different than the British series because it is so great and has such a loyal fanbase that we're not trying to copy - we're just trying to do our own version of it. I think the stories will be somewhat similar - similar-ish.

"I play Fiona - she's kind of the pseudo-mother of the brood. She is feisty and loyal and outspoken and I really dig her a lot. She's awesome."

The 24-year-old actress, who was speaking as she arrived at the CNN Heroes awards, said she was really enjoying the show's British sense of humour.

She said: "I like how ballsy it is, how fresh and it's got a lot of punk, rock and roll energy to it, so it should be good.

"Just getting to deal with the material is so fun and exciting and it's raw, it's challenging and I get to be funny, hopefully, which is fun."

:: British viewers can see CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute on Friday November 26.