Showtime Gets Shameless

Showtime has ordered 12 episodes of John Wells' latest series, "Shameless." Set to begin production at the end of summer, and likely to premiere in 2011, it's an American adaptation of the award-winning British drama series of the same name. The hour-long adaptation transports the unconventional Gallagher family to a working class neighborhood of Chicago, following them as they muddle through the current recession.

William H. Macy, last seen on TV playing a doctor in Wells' "ER," has been tapped to star in the series. He'll be playing single-dad character Frank Gallagher, an alcoholic trying to make ends meet. Emmy Rossum ("The Phantom of the Opera," "Dare") plays feisty eldest daughter Fiona, responsible for keeping her five brothers and sisters in check while her dad is passed out on the living room floor. Recurring guest star Allison Janney ("The West Wing," "Juno") takes on the role of Frank's love interest.

A pilot, co-written by Shameless creator Paul Abbott and directed by Mark Mylod ("Entourage"), was shown on cable TV channel Showtime and the network has now commissioned the further episodes. It is understood that Abbott will be "creatively involved" with the project.

"We're so happy to be bringing this richly textured drama about a dysfunctional blue-collar family to Showtime with two of the greatest television producers working today, John Wells and Paul Abbott," says Robert Greenblatt, president of Showtime Entertainment.

The move follows the success of British programmes, such as The Office, across the Atlantic. The British version of Shameless has already been shown on BBC America and the Sundance Channel. That said, this won't be the first time US TV has tried to remake one of Abbott's shows: ABC tried it with Cracker in 1997 and USA with Touching Evil in 2004. Neither were a particular success, but they also weren't on a pay cable channel like Showtime, which has become known for putting quality and talent above ratings and ad sales.