The show Shameless, currently airing on Showtime, is a well written, often hilarious and

[WCGreen]

sometime wrought with pathos show that depicts how a family gets along, games the system, does what ever it can to survive...

They run extension cords from the neighbors house when the electricity is shut off, they cut all sorts of corners just to get through another day.

One of the boys is so smart that he charges other kids at his high school to sit for the college entrance exams.

The father is a lout and is not above stealing from his kids in order to get that next high he needs just to survive.

When I first started watching, I couldn't help but think that this was going to make the poor look unworthy of help, that it was right wing propaganda to show that look, these people game the system and if only we cut off their benefits they will be forced to get a job...

I can't help it, I see angles and murky motivation behind a lot of stuff these days.

I even thought that the show was making it look fun to be poor and desperate.

And then you get sucked into the lives of these people and the awful Solomon like choices they are forced to make just to make it till the support checks arrive.

It's also about love and a fierce sense of loyalty that I can only wish my family had.

I know it was a taken from a show from the BBC but I watched theirs and I watched ours and they are distinctly different in that the British at least have something to offer to the lower classes while we blame them for their lot in life.

Then I read that piece in Vanity Fair, of all place, (IRONY) which collected it all in one place for every one to see that it is our society that is Shameless, not the people trapped in the murky netherworld with no way out.

http://www.vanityfair.com/society/features/2011/05/top-one-percent-201105 I took this from another post....

So the show is on reruns now. Showtime has a free weekend promotion. check it out if you get a chance.

It'll make you laugh but, if you are like me, it will make you cry as well...

[knowbody0]

1. I absolutely agree

yep, laugh, cry sigh.

[hlthe2b]

2. Yes... I was hesitant at first because of the "sloppy drunk"

angle, but heavens when it is William H. Macy in the role, it is far from gratuitous. It is a good show, mixing the more "seedy" side of life with REAL family values in the character of eldest daughter Fiona, who basically raises the entire clan-- including the child-like Father, Frank.

[Kaleko]

3. Thanks for the tip.

Though I don't think we get Showtime in Canada for some reason.

[dsc]

4. It is a fantastic show

One aspect you didn't mention that I find great is the relationship between Lip and Ian. It is such a sweet brotherly relationship.

[WCGreen]

7. Yea, it is...

[OneGrassRoot]

5. Love this show...

It's graphic, so it made me really uncomfortable at first, but I love several of the actors, so I persevered.

LOVE it. Lot of heart.

:thumbsup:

[cali]

6. it's not bad, but it's not as good as the original

the original is a british show that's been running for years.

[WCGreen]

8. I mentioned that in my post...

I don't really know if the either is better than the other. I think there is enough difference to make them variations on a theme...