Showtime's Shameless with William Macy Can't Party like the British TV Original
Based on the award-winning British TV series of the same name, I had high hopes for "Shameless". But it soon became obvious that the name was about all it had in common except for the most superficial similarities. The British TV version has everything this one lacks except William Macy, and he's not enough to compensate. Sure, both are about a dysfunctional family with lots of sex scenes. The difference is that Showtime's version was devoted almost entirely to teens having sex or getting interrupted while trying to have sex. The original has sex scenes that are part of the plot instead of substituting for the absence of any plot, smart dialogue, human drama or laughs.
I think most of the audience at the Washington DC screening felt the same way. No one in my vicinity ever even giggled, and several people walked out early. There were a few people laughing wildly at everything. At one point they even laughed at a long distance shot of a rooftop so they didn't seem very discriminating. There was one nice moment when William Macy comes out of a drunken stupor and tries to comprehend why his home now contains a brand new front loading washer. Still, by then it was too little too late.
Looking back, I think a recent New York Times article actually explains what went wrong. The show's creator Paul Abbott speaks with sensitivity about people in grave poverty. John Wells ("ER" and "The West Wing") who made the American show is a different story. He says he hired writers who were "really damaged people" which seems to be his verdict on growing up poor or having a family member suffering from mental illness. While the original show is full of people who look at home in the surrounding housing project and have passed the age of 30, Well's version is shot mostly in Los Angeles where it's geographically and mentally distanced from the Chicago neighborhood it depicts.
I consoled myself by re-watching some of the British TV show on YouTube. There are at least a full few episodes plus lots of clips so compare for yourself. Showtime may have William Macy but the new "Shameless" is no improvement.
Published by Anne Wright
Freelance writer and longtime student of Buddhism and nonprofit professional. As an AC Featured Arts & Entertainment Contributor, she draws on her experience in development and managerial positions with n... View profile
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7 Comments
Post a CommentThe kids should have left Billy Macy's character rotting in jail in Canada. He has no redeeming qualities and is the most unlikeable father I've ever seen, punching his son in the face, stealing groceries from his kids and keeping two fat checks for himself. His offensive comment about liberals and Obama being a Muslim and not American was beyond offensive! The writers must belong to the Tea Party!I grew up in a family where my dad was an alcoholic, didn't work half the time, my mother was sick and my 13 and 14 year old brothers, and 16 year old sister had to support us. I was in elementary school. My old man took off when I was 12, and we were happy! It was less stressful after the drinker was gone. This show is unrealistic! Even my dad wasn't evil like Bill Macy acts. My dad was nice when he was sober. The dildo in the butt joke is overused. I like the kids but I'm never watching this show again.
Showtime should have left Billy Macy's character rotting in jail in Canada. The character has no redeeming qualities and is the most unlikeable father I have ever seen, punching his son in the face, stealing groceries from his kids and keeping two fat checks for himself. I grew up in a family where my father was an alcoholic, didn't work half the time, my mother was sick and my 13 year old brother, 14 year old brother and 16 year old sister had to support us. I was in elementary school. When my old man finally took off when I was 12, we were so happy! Everything was less stressful after the drinker and hell raiser was gone. This show is totally off the wall and unrealistic! Even my dad wasn't evil like Bill Macy's character is. He was at least nice when he was sober. Now he seems to be contemplating going to bed with his girlfriend's daughter. I love Joan Cusack but the dildo in the butt joke was overused. I like the kids and gave the show another chance after he pu
Not all British shows translate well to the US. For instance, while "All in the Family", "Sanford and Son" and "The Office" did as well or better in the USA than they did in Britain, others have failed completely. For instance, the British show "Coupling" is probably one of the funniest TV shows I've ever seen, and it failed miserably in the USA.
Too bad that an actor like Macy is stuck in such a turkey.
Interesting - good report!
good write up, haven't seen this, and probably won't, but I still love Mr. Macy :)
Doesn't sound like a winner.