Trivia / Shameless (US)

• Ability over Appearance: According to details written in the early script of the show's pilot episode, Fiona Gallagher was originally supposed to be very average-looking and overweight, with rattier clothes and messy blonde hair; a huge contrast from the slender, brunette beauty Emmy Rossum.
• Acting for Two: William H. Macy played both Frank and Jerry Gallagher, identical twins. Its greatly subverted when the character is never seen again after the first season, but is referred and talked about.
• Approval of God: Paul Abbott was originally against the idea of an American remake, fearing it would be stereotypically set in the South. He changed his mind, once John Wells told him it would take place in Chicago.
• Directed By Castmember: William H. Macy directed three episodes in total. Emmy Rossum directed two episodes.
• Enforced Method Acting: For the scene where Fiona is arrested and subjected to a cavity search, Emmy Rossum was actually naked, as she was not allowed to wear a vanity patch. This caused her to have a panic attack, which became a case of Throw It In!.
• Fake Nationality: Pêpê Rapazote, the actor who plays Estefania's father, Nando, is actually Portuguese, not Brazilian. He speaks very few lines in Portuguese for it to be noticeable, though.
• The Other Darrin:
  • Jane Levy played Mandy in season one, before departing the show for Suburgatory. Emma Greenwell replaced her starting with the second season.
  • Dove Cameron played Holly Herkimer in season 2, before Danika Yarosh took over the role from season 4 onwards.
• The Other Marty: Allison Janney played Sheila Jackson in the original pilot, but when the producers decided to expand the role, Janney had to drop out, because she was a full-time regular on Mr. Sunshine (2011), so Joan Cusack was cast.
• Separated-at-Birth Casting: Emmy Rossum and Ethan Cutkosky looked like they could be actually siblings. This also applies to Emma Kenney and Cameron Monaghan.
• Playing Against Type: Both William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum play characters almost diametrically opposite from what they were known for before.
  • Dove Cameron who usually plays the Genki Girl type, played the promiscuous Holly Herkimer.
• What Could Have Been:
  • Woody Harrelson was originally set to star as Frank Gallagher, back when the show was to air on NBC, then HBO, and then Showtime, before dropping out after the success of Zombieland.
  • Originally, Fiona would return in the final season. After receiving the news of Frank's illness, she would return to resolve the question of who would be Liam's guardian after the sale of the house. Emmy Rossum agreed to return, but unfortunately the COVID-19 pandemic ended up interrupting the production exactly in the period of time that the actress had reserved, preventing her return.
  • Originally, there would be a scene in the series finale showing the Gallagher receiving news of Frank's death, but the showrunner finally decided that the scene was too melodramatic and didn't match the tone of the series.
• Written By Castmember: William H. Macy wrote an episode for season two.

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