James Marsden will play Cam and Mitch’s shirtless neighbor on ABC’s sitcom Modern Family. Dane DeHaan will play a troubled gay teen on HBO’s shrink series In Treatment. And Showtime’s new odd-ball family dramedy Shameless (see above trailer, starring William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum) will have Cameron Monaghan playing a teenager who gets involved with a married older man (whom he works for?). That one premieres Jan. 9. We’ll be watching.
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Hilarious
Shameless looks like yet another unrelatable show that tries too hard to take a voyeuristic look at “poor people”.
America is getting worse and worse with “class” and having this overwhelming desire to feel better than people they see as beneath them.
Jersey Shore, Shameless, The Middle, etc, etc. Get this shit off my tv please. At the very least make it realistic so maybe these assholes who think they’re so rich might want to find ways to help these people by hiring them when they apply to work for them rather than watching them with morbid fascination through the eyes of an unrealistic television persona.
There are plenty of people barely putting food on the table, meanwhile we watch idiotic television shows to giggle about how quirky they are. Don’t forget to lock your car doors when they walk by.
JWOWW
It looks like a an absolute carbon copy of the British version… I wonder if it’ll be like The Office and eventually get its own storylines.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
@Hilarious: How can you not like The Middle? That show actually takes a fairly accurate portrayal of a middle class family trying to make ends meet. I don’t find it condescending at all. Its funny, pretty damm quirky (Brick/Atticus is one of the bestest kid charachters/actors on the TVs in years). And Axel is kinda sorta cute and always hangin around in his underwear………. :p
GaryG
@PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS: Totally agree with you. Now don’t get me wrong, I think Modern Family is a brilliant show, but many times I’ve found myself laughing even more at the Middle. I find all of the characters and actors to be be perfectly spot-on. And as for Shameless, let’s not judge until we’ve actually seen an episode. Oh I forgot, we have to be catty queens who do nothing but judge.
hans
I hate the middle. I think it’s the smug superiority people from the “heartland” feel about how they are somehow more “real” Americans. It just rubs me the wrong way. I hate it, with the exception of the weird kid.
edgyguy1426
I love Love LOVE the Brit version and this looks identical, and yeah the middle teen boy has an affair with the grocery store owner. The Brit series is now in it’s 7th year so they’re doing something right.
craig
It kind of reminds me of The Riches.
Mr. Enemabag Jones
Oh boy–More hets playing gay! God knows we don’t have enough of them.
[email protected]
Why does the U.S. keep making American versions of British TV? Not that there’s anything wrong with that (I love England, and some of my best mates are from there). Just curious, is all…
Matthew
hopefully Ian’s character in the american version doesn’t end up like his UK counter part. They completely killed it for me the last[7th] series. I’ll be sooo pissed if they make this show the exact same(though it mirrors each other for the first season anyways) for 7 seasons. You may be able to do it with the first season but no one will be watching if they can just go and watch the British version to see what the lastest american episode is about.
Hilarious
@PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS: As someone who grew up in one of those areas I can tell you it’s not realistic at all.
But hey if you like the show more power to you. I just don’t find anything cute or funny about these types of shows that basically only serve to laugh at “quirky” characters who are considered “poor”.
On the flip side of the coin the only show on network television that took an actually humorous and realistic look at wealthy families “Arrested Development” was quickly canceled. Any other shows about wealthy families are all to be taken seriously and show them to be so perfect or dramatic, but never show their ass in a comedic light.
Basically we’re being bred to laugh at our “lessers” and too dumb to realize it. Moving on from “race” to “class” isn’t learning or growing. It’s changing the name and continuing to move backwards.
On a site that frequently covers civil rights issues we sure seem to be slow on picking up right from wrong.
Ogre Magi
Shameless looks like a must see!
Lawrence
OMG SHAMELESS IS COMING TO NORTH AMERICA. I could not be more excited. And yes I dont give a damn about the discussion going on – while it’s a great discussion, and one that should probe be have. I enjoy my TV and let me just enjoy the fact that I have more shows to watch online!
Ian
@Hilarious: With respect, I think your comments reflect more upon yourself. I grew up middle class and I watch both The Middle as well as Raising Hope, and I see the characters on both shows as being my equal in the human experience, not lesser thans.
Ian
@[email protected]: It’s a lot cheaper to import popular concepts and initial scripts from other countries rather than to pay for writers to come up with something original.
drums
@Hilarious:
I totally agree with what you said about laughing at (not laughing with) depictions of working-class people on television, but in defence of this new show, it looks like it’s trying to be genuinely heart-wrenching and empathetic. Sure, there are funny parts, but it looks very much like there are many touching aspects that speak to family-minded folk. And lord knows we need more depictions of working-class gay people in television. Consider how many middle-to-upper-class gay characters are on tv versus truly working class gays. Anything to help swing the balance and make people realise there are gay people in all walks of life.
Viral
Who the hell is Cameron Monaghan? And why was he worth mentioning…?
Never heard of the British Shameless, but if it’s on showtime, then it’ll prob do well (look how good the US QaF came out compared to the British version.) I’m a little leery of Justin Chatwin teaming back up with Emmy Rossum, it’ll bring back the trauma of the horrible Dragon Ball Z movie
Pip
mmm James Marsden is delicious.
Hilarious
@drums: I agree but in a time when we’re begging people to stop picking on gay teens, watching Hollyweird move onto it’s newest target is just irritating.
This surge of comedies that pick at “lower middle class” families is sickening and reminds me of how people are ok with bullying and rights being taken away when they aren’t the target.
@Ian: Not at all, I’m 27, and never even had to work.
My comments are a reflection of the people I’ve come to know over the years of many colors and backgrounds. Manly my first best friend who was both white and “lower middle class” exactly whom these shows are making fun of.
I was raised not to make fun of people who didn’t have what I have. I’m not sure why so many people think it’s ok, especially on a site full of gay men and women who should know exactly what it’s like to be made a mockery of or ogled with morbid fascination rather than genuine concern.
The same way I wouldn’t sit quietly if these shows were making fun of poor black people I won’t sit quietly when these shows are making fun of poor white people or poor Asians or anyone else just because they don’t wipe their ass with wads of cash.
I think it’s pretty clear these shows are a mockery, saying otherwise is hardcore denial. Watch that trailer again.
jason
Depictions of gay men on American TV are largely tokenistic. We’re sort of there as very occasional background noise, and usually as a means of testing other people’s reactons. Our sexuality is rarely, if ever, celebrated.
Bisexual men get even less exposure, partly because liberals cannot cope with male bisexuality as a concept or as a reality.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
@Hilarious: I hear what you are saying, but I really don’t find The Middle to make fun of those who are struggling. The show depicts the issues they face, not being able to afford cable, M&D both having to work, deciding which bills to pay etc. But the family deals with it and all pull together to help the family get by. By having such a family of loony toons makes it funny, with out making fun of the situation………