Good news for fans of Showtime’s new series SHAMELESS and EPISODES. David Nevins, President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc announced today that the network has ordered second seasons of both shows.
The second season of the hour-long drama Shameless, starring William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum, will consist of twelve episodes while the number of installments to be produced of half-hour comedy Episodes, starring Matt LeBlanc, Tamsin Grieg, and Stephen Mangan, has yet to be determined. Both shows will go back into production later this year.
In announcing the renewals, Nevins said,
“The viewer loyalty and critical acclaim that has met both Shameless and Episodes since their January debuts makes it clear that these two brash and sophisticated series are burgeoning hits. John Wells is carving out a tone that is truly unique in the television landscape-equal parts drama and comedy. And Episodes marks the universally embraced and hilarious return to television of an inspired comedy triumvirate: Matt LeBlanc, and creators Jeffrey Klarik and David Crane. We are thrilled with the response to both series and eager to start planning for their second seasons.”
From John Wells (ER, The West Wing, Southland) and Paul Abbott (State of Play, Touching Evil) , Shameless is based on the long-running hit UK series and stars Emmyr winner and Oscar nominee William H. Macy (Fargo) and Golden Globe nominee Emmy Rossum (The Phantom of the Opera). Macy plays a working class patriarch of an unconventional Chicago brood of six kids headed by the eldest sibling (Rossum) who keep the home afloat while their dad is out drinking and carousing. About the renewal, Wells said,
“We’re delighted that our wonderful partners at Showtime are giving us the opportunity to make additional episodes of Shameless. We’re having an unbelievably good time making the show and look forward to bringing more of the humor, pathos, and wild sexuality of the dysfunctional Gallagher family to a shocked American audience.”
Episodes is a co-production between Showtime Networks in the U. S. and the BBC in the UK, written and executive produced by two of America’s most successful comedy writers David Crane (Friends, The Class) and Jeffrey Klarik (Mad About You, The Class). Jimmy Mulville executive produces through his successful Hat Trick production company (Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Worst Week). It centers around a husband and wife producing team who are forced to navigate the many pitfalls of the Hollywood television business when their successful British show is brought to America, and the U. S. network insists on making the show more audience friendly by replacing their venerable thespian lead with. Matt LeBlanc. Mulville said about the second season,
“To have the opportunity to make another series of this show with David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik and then to make that show for both Showtime and the BBC, whose combined portfolios of comedy are second to none, is both a thrill and a great privilege. At the end of the first series the writers have placed our three protagonists in the middle of comedy hell. Like the rest of the audience I can’t wait to see what is going to happen to them!”
Are you as excited for second seasons of Shameless and Episodes?
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