Nellie Andreeva

Showtime has renewed both of its freshman series, drama Shameless and comedy Episodes, for a second season.  The William H. Macy-Emmy Rossum-starring family drama Shameless received a 12-episode order, while the size of the order for the Hollywood-centric Episodes starring Matt LeBlanc is yet to be determined. Production on both series will begin later this year. With the pickups for Shameless and Episodes, Showtime is now bringing back its entire winter Sunday lineup. In January, the pay cable network gave an early renewal to veteran comedy Californication. “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,” said Showtime entertainment president David Nevins. “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.”

From John Wells and Paul Abbott, Shameless is based on the long-running hit UK series and stars Macy as 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. The series averages nearly four million weekly viewers across multiple platforms and is on pace to be the network’s second-highest rated drama series behind Dexter (5.2 million).  Shameless hails from with John Wells Prods. and Warner Bros. TV, with Wells, Abbott and Andrew Stearn executive producing. Episodes is a co-production between Showtime Networks in the U.S. and the BBC in the UK, written and executive produced by David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik. Jimmy Mulville also executive produces through his Hat Trick banner. The show 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.

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