A Shameless return to our screens

SHAMELESS returned to our screens on Monday night and it seems that the cracks are deepening in this rather popular show. Shameless is now in its eighth series and while ratings have grown over the years, although may dwindle if the first episode is anything to go by, the number of characters have been significantly reduced. Some of the best characters have been lost along the way and, unfortunately, the series is the lesser for it.
Set on the fictional council estate of Chatsworth in Manchester, the series centres on Frank, a hopeless alcoholic and his clutch of children. Frank has been the main character from the get-go and it’s his monologue that sets the tone on the opening credits. Basically, this is a man without a notion of what it means to be responsible and yet he has amassed a medley of children to look after him and themselves.
Frank Gallagher and the eight Gallagher children maybe the fulcrum on which the show rotates but the stars have often come from the supporting cast. The drug-dealing Maguires and their sons and only daughter were particular fun as is the older generation on the estate.
It has been critically acclaimed from the beginning and it’s portrayal of life on British council estates has been welcomed by those on it. In fact, up until the last few series, there was very little criticism of the show. It was always punchy with wit and witticisms as well as some slapstick comedy and a few wonderful rants punctuated by a myriad of swear words. However, the latest episode was all a little underwhelming.
The first episode of the current episode centred on Frank and his forthcoming nuptials to Mrs Doyle, also known as Pauline McGlynn who plays a sex-obsessed librarian who has fallen for the lager-swilling Frank. This maybe the crux of the disappointing reception with the series’ opening show, it centres too much on Frank. Frank, who is a wonderful character doesn’t really hold his own on the show. It is imperative that he is supported by the other cast and frankly the love-interest storyline for Frank has been played out too many times. We don’t really care if he gets a bird or not – it’s not him we’re interested in, it’s his family and their ability to function despite or, in the case of Debbie, to spite him. It also looks likely that the coming episodes will also focus on Frank and this means that like the previous series, the content and watchability of the programme won’t pick up until the middle of the series.
Now, don’t get me wrong, there is nothing particularly wrong with what Shameless are doing. The first episode did have some stand-out moments, such as when the lads all dressed up as Frank for the stag do but it has lost its kick but perhaps that is because it started so well all those years ago and we have just become used to it and the characters. I am not happy about the fact that Frank’s wife is returning though – a very lack-lustre character who really didn’t bring anything to the mix but we’ll wait and see how it all pans out.
Shameless can be seen on Channel 4 on Monday nights at 10pm.
Like all good British TV at the moment, the Americans are making Shameless for their audiences. The first episode, which was developed by Showtime, having moved from HBO stars William H Macy as Frank. The first episode was a play for play of the original series of the British one and while it was great that they didn’t deviate too much from the original idea, it made the episode for us fans a little boring because we knew what was going to happen. The eldest daughter, who has long since departed the estate, is very good but it remains to be seen if the younger characters will match their British counterparts and if the Americans can stomach the shock-factor that we have come to love in the original. I have my doubts but I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt. I really like Macy as an actor and I have always admired his ability to pick a good indie hit. He has of course a few blemishes on his acting resume but by and large, he steers the script course well, so hopefully this adaptation will be more along The American Office lines and less along the Coupling adaptation that was cancelled after only four episodes.
The water coolers and staff rooms of the country are abuzz with two words – Operation Transformation. Yes, that’s right in the wake of Gerry Ryan’s untimely death, the job has fallen to RTÉ starlett Kathryn Thomas who also co-hosts Winning Streak. The show has not changed too much. This year, the five leaders were chosen on air after a few hopefuls competed. People all around the country are jumping on the transformation bandwagon and even a staff room of teachers are hoping to be slimmer and trimmer by the series end. I am sure Kathryn Thomas will do a good job. If memory serves correctly, I think she has a background in kickboxing and is definitely a fit presenter for the job. You can follow a leader on the internet and tune in to RTÉ One every day where The John Murray Show will act as the radio partner. I cannot help but wonder if this move to the more serious Radio One will hinder the show but again time will tell.
It’s not really my kind of show and after three series, this fourth series has nothing new to offer. Good luck to the contestants but it is unlikely we’ll be mentioning it here again.
A good rerun to watch at the moment is on More 4 on Monday nights. Beaney’s Restoration Nightmare follows the journey of Property Ladder’s Sarah Beaney and her family as they try and restore their magnificent Georgian mansion so that it can be a top-flight wedding venue. This is a charming programme that shows just how the love of a building can drive you to care for it. A complete money pit, the house really tests the love of its owners and causes no end of heartache.