As hoped for, the good news arrived today: 'Shameless' has been confirmed as renewed for a second season!
This fantastic news comes on the heels of the previously-released BBC-report that Matt LeBlanc's half-hour Showtime comedy lead-in 'Episodes', was picked up for a second season as well.
Here are the details and the official Showtime announcement on the second season pick-up for Shameless and Episodes:
Emmy Rossum/ Justin Chatwin in Shameless
(Photo Credit: Showtime)
You can count on spending more time with the Gallagher family and “Matt LeBlanc,” now that Showtime has renewed both Shameless and Episodes for second seasons.
“The viewer loyalty and critical acclaim that has met both [these shows] since their January debuts makes it clear that these two brash and sophisticated series are burgeoning hits,” Showtime entertainment president David Nevins said in announcing the pick-ups. “[Shameless EP] 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.”
Shameless — which with nearly four million weekly viewers across multiple platforms is on pace to be Showtime’s second-highest rated drama series (behind Dexter) — was granted a 12-episode order for Season 2. The episode count for Episodes is at this time “TBD.”
Production on both shows’ sophomore runs will start later this year with an eye on 2012 premieres.
Source: TVLine - Shameless and Episodes Earn Second Seasons
Post continues after the jump!
Take this with a grain of salt 'Pucks' fans, as Showtime has not confirmed nor denied, but Showtime's 'Episodes' has reportedly been renewed for a second season:
Matt LeBlanc, Tasmin Greig and Stephen Magan are all set to return for season 2 of the half-hour Sunday night comedy which, with the 30-minute David Duchovny vehicle Californication, lead into the hour-long Shameless--making Sunday night must-see comedy night on Showtime.
The source at this time is the BBC as well as various Brit tabloids. Episodes is an international co-production and news of its renewal came from the BBC with the assumption that once Showtime can make an official renewal announcement about Shameless, the William C. Macy-Emmy Rossum hour-long American adaption of a 6-season British show of the same name, they will tie the Episodes news in as well.
Just a quick personal note. Matt LeBlanc, Tasmin Greig and Stephen Magan are truly fun to watch in this show that centers around a fading TV-star still in his physical prime, playing himself playing the lead character in an American adaption of a hit Brit comedy. Native Brits Greig and Magan have chemistry to spare as the ex-pat couple grappling with their award-winning 'baby' morphing into something comepletely unrecognizable to them. Further, the brash, cocky yet oddly endearing LeBlanc, is yet another hurdle they continually must maneuver around.
I watched all 7 episodes of 'Episodes' and felt that by it's conclusion I was ready for the story to pick up and keep going. I especially loved discovering Tasmin Grieg and Stephen Magan, who are well-known across the pond. And a surprise for me: for the first time I 'got' what people so enjoyed about Matt LeBlanc's previous award-winning television experience in the long running, fantastically successful, ensemble comedy, "Friends." LeBlanc has excellent comic timing, knows how to deliver a line, and if I may say, is quite easy on the eyes.
Hearty congrats to Episodes! Now c'mon Showtime, renew Shameless! I love that show!
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