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Shameless in America

Oh the shame, the shame, forget the glamour and the glitter, for America is just like us. Most television programmes about real life for average people in America are full of glamour and glitter. Everything is wonderful in the country where dreams come true, everybody has lots of exciting opportunities and spend most of their time smiling and wishing each other a "nice day". Television characters are flash and confident, with wonderful teeth. Everything just shines and looks so clean. Surely this can't be true and there must be another, more gritty side to America. Thankfully there is and for your enjoyment on More 4 television, there is a new programme called Shameless US .

Shameless US is a spin-off from Shameless a BAFTA award-winning British drama television series set in the fictional Chatsworth council estate, Stretford, Greater Manchester, England. The comedy drama, centred on British underclass and working class culture, has been accorded critical acclaim by various sections of the British media, including The Sun newspaper and Newsnight Review on BBC Two. The programme was created and partially written by Paul Abbott, who is also the programme's executive producer.

I have really enjoyed the 8 series of Shameless broadcast in Britain and switched on Shameless US to see how different it is across the pond. Well, I was warned that Shameless US contains Strong language from the start and throughout, nudity, sexual scenes and scenes of drug use. Great I thought, I am up for some of that! Well what a hoot it was - and so refreshing! Forget the usual glamour and glitter of American television, Shameless US is gritty, rough and very realistic. A television programme about average people, not the high-flyers. It is a comedy drama and is well put together. Shameless US follows closely the plot lines of previous Shameless episodes, so it is not radically new. It is as if Paul Abbott relocated to America and carried on doing the same job! The programme was a joy to watch and nothing offended me! Normally I do not take notice of peoples' accents but Shameless US forced me to listen carefully to understand the actors. The actors did not use the usual polished American film voices that are clear and are understood throughout the world. These actors spoke a very strong and local Chicago accent that takes a little getting used to.

Shameless US is a copy of Shameless and does not claim to be anything else. I am pleased the programmes have been made for two reasons.

1: Shameless US is fun, entertaining and a joy to watch.

2: Shameless US shows the rough, gritty and normal side to America, not the flash, arrogant and we are the best country in the world vision.

I wish Shameless US every success and it is worth a watch as it will make you smile.