The hit series Shameless had a popular run for 11 seasons on Showtime and seems to be having a resurgence. The show, which follows the extremely dysfunctional Gallagher family, led by William H. Macy as patriarch Frank, was a breakout vehicle for several cast members, including Jeremy Allen White.
White followed Shameless with his current role as the intensely gifted but conflicted chef and owner of a Chicago restaurant in the record-breaking series The Bear. With fans anxious for news about a third season of The Bear, it is little wonder that some are seeking out White’s work on Shameless to get a fix of that intensity. Not to fear, Netflix has all 11 seasons of Shameless while you’re waiting.
- Where to Watch: The easiest place to watch all 11 seasons of Shameless is on Netflix. You can also watch the first 8 seasons on Paramount+ with Showtime (7-day-free trial).
About Shameless
Shameless is a comedy-drama about six kids and their father struggling to make ends meet on the Southside of Chicago. Based on the BAFTA Award-winning British series of the same name, it follows patriarch Frank Gallagher (Macy), an unemployed alcoholic and addict, raising six kids the best he can. It’s rough, raw, and sometimes brutal, addictive television.
Over the 11 seasons, we see various wild plot lines in which Frank engages in far-fetched schemes, and the kids hustle to make ends meet and try to stay on the right side of the law, mostly. Led by Emmy Rosem as the eldest, Fiona, the clan is oftentimes off the rails in their behavior but is clearly driven by a deep bond to stick together. Fiona takes on the brunt of the work of raising the kids and trying to keep the rest of them (barely) on the straight and narrow, despite her own alcohol issues.
The crew is aided by their close friends and neighbors, Veronica (Shanola Hampton) and Kevin (Steve Howey). Also recurring is their father’s love interest, Sheila Jackson, played delightfully by Joan Cusack, and their troubled and estranged mother Monica Gallagher (Chloe Webb).
Jeremy Allen White’s Breakout Role
White plays the next eldest, Phillip or “Lip,” an academic genius with a 4.6 GPA but seriously poor judgment. Picking up habits from his parents and community, he struggles with alcohol, weed, smoking, and generally reckless behavior. But he also puts his smarts and wily family skills to good use raising money to keep his family fed and housed and often covers for his next younger brother, Ian (Cameron Monaghan), and other younger siblings Debbie (Emma Kenney), Carl (Ethan Cutkosky), and “baby” Liam (Christian Isaiah).
Where to Watch
While originally a Showtime series (which is now on Paramount+), only the first eight seasons are on Paramount+ due to a licensing agreement still in place with the current streaming home of the show, Netflix. All 11 seasons are available on Netflix, making it currently the go-to destination if you want to watch the full series. Read on below for details on both services.
How to Watch Shameless
Watch Shameless on Netflix
All 11 seasons of Shameless are currently available on Netflix. You can watch by subscribing to Netflix via one of the following plan options:
Also, check out our review of Netflix for more information on the service.
Watch Shameless on Paramount+ with Showtime
You can stream the first 8 seasons of Shameless on Paramount+ with Showtime. In order to get Showtime with your Paramount+ plan, you should get the Paramount+ with Showtime package (formerly Premium), which is $11.99 per month, then download the Paramount+ app. The app is supported by Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV devices, and modern browsers. Check out our guide on how to watch Showtime online without cable for more details.