Shameless (season 2)

The second season of Shameless, an American comedy-drama television series based on the British series of the same name by Paul Abbott, premiered on January 8, 2012, at Sunday 9:00 p.m. EST on the Showtime television network. Executive producers are John Wells, Paul Abbott and Andrew Stearn, with producer Michael Hissrich. The season concluded after 12 episodes on April 1, 2012. The show's season premiere brought in 1.58 million viewers, which was higher than the season 1 premiere. The episode airing March 4, "Parenthood", received 1.6 million total viewers, its highest rated show of the season. The season finale scored 1.45 million viewers.

Shameless
Season 2
DVD Cover
Starring
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes12
Release
Original networkShowtime
Original releaseJanuary 8 (2012-01-08) –
April 1, 2012 (2012-04-01)
Season chronology

Plot

The second season begins in the summer, a few months after the events of Season 1. New developments shift in the lives of the Gallagher's family and friends: Fiona is now waitressing alongside Veronica at a bar; Ian continues his relationship with Mickey, who is still behind bars; Karen has joined Sex Addicts Anonymous and has a new eccentric partner, Jody; Tony now lives in the house next door to the Gallaghers; Kevin and Veronica begin trying for a baby.

With Steve out of the picture, Fiona fails to find a better companion, and is upset when Steve returns to the United States with a wife, Estefania, a drug dealer's daughter whom he married only to survive. When Steve finds out Estefania is still interested in her ex-lover, Marco, Steve attempts to smuggle Marco into the United States to get back into Fiona's good graces. Meanwhile, Karen is suddenly pregnant, and hints to Lip that he is the father. Though Jody takes Karen's hand in marriage, Karen realizes their marriage is a mistake and grows a hatred for her husband, kicking Jody out of her life and letting Lip back in. Karen also becomes increasingly unlikeable and distant in the stages of her pregnancy, and forms a complete disdain for her own baby. The brush with becoming a father encourages Lip to drop out of school, creating a disagreement between Lip and Fiona.

Frank's abusive mother, Peggy "Grammy" Gallagher is released from jail on medical furlough and immediately storms trouble within the family's already hectic lives. Frank is the most annoyed by his mother's return, being forced to act as her caretaker. When Grammy is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Fiona moves Grammy into the help of Sheila and Jody, who look after Grammy in her final days as an act of hospice; in the process, Sheila and Jody unexpectedly form a sexual relationship behind Karen's back. In order to hasten her death, Grammy dies at the request of being smothered, which is done by a reluctant Sheila. Frank, clearly confused and depressed from his abusive mother's death, reconnects with Monica.

Though Fiona is suspicious, Monica comes back to care for the children and help out around the house. With Monica around, Fiona begins branching out for other opportunities--this comes to a tragic end when Monica and Frank find Fiona's stash of family money, and proceed to blow it all on drugs. Broke and ashamed, Fiona breaks down and attempts to pick up the pieces, as she lets Steve slowly re-enter her life--in a grand scheme, Steve had smuggled Marco to the United States to reunite with Estefania. During the Thanksgiving season, a bipolar Monica hits her lows and attempts suicide in the kitchen, terrorizing the family. Monica is sent to a psych ward, to which she breaks out of with another patient, running away from her family once again.

On the day of Monica's attempted suicide, Karen gives birth. The Gallagher family comes to celebrate, but the baby is Asian and has Down syndrome. Karen reveals that the father is probably one of her classmates, Timmy Wong, and refuses to do anything with her child; Sheila and Jody steal Karen's baby from the hospital to ensure the baby has a better future. Karen is irked, and makes Sheila choose between her or the baby. Sheila chooses the baby.

The season concludes with a series of new storylines for the subsequent season: Sheila and Jody, now a couple, name Karen's baby Hymie. Rejected by her mother, Karen leaves her family, ending her relationship with Lip. Steve, who the family calls Jimmy now, is back together with Fiona, though Estefania comes crawling back in his life when Marco hits her. In the season's final scenes, the family gets rid of an unconscious Frank, removing him from their home and good graces.

Cast and Characters
See also: List of Shameless (American TV series) characters

Episodes
See also: List of Shameless (American TV series) episodes
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code		US viewers
(millions)
131"Summertime"Mark MylodJohn WellsJanuary 8, 2012 (2012-01-08)2J59511.58[1]
Summertime in Chicago, and the Gallaghers are back and up to the same tricks. Frank (William H. Macy), after losing a bet with a fellow bar patron, is now in over his head $10,000, and Karen (Laura Slade Wiggins) refuses to let him steal the money from Sheila (Joan Cusack) again; Frank uses Liam to win sympathy panhandling, until the bar patron takes Liam as collateral for the money. Lip (Jeremy Allen White) wants to continue seeing Karen, who is now attending Sex Addicts Anonymous meetings and in a sex-free relationship with a fellow group member; however, he is also preoccupied with school and selling pot and alcohol out of an ice cream truck with Kevin (Steve Howey). Fiona (Emmy Rossum) and Veronica (Shanola Hampton) are waitressing at a local club; Fiona is seeing someone else to get her mind off of Steve (Justin Chatwin). Ian (Cameron Monaghan) is still working for Kash (Pej Vahdat) and Linda (Marguerite Moreau); Ian also expresses interest in attending West Point, and Lip agrees to help him with his application and grades; he is also looking forward to Mickey's (Noel Fisher) release from jail. Debbie (Emma Kenney) and Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) run a babysitting service in the house to bring in extra funds. Sheila is simultaneously trying to find Eddie (who committed suicide last season) and working on being outside her home.
142"Summer Loving"John WellsMike O'MalleyJanuary 15, 2012 (2012-01-15)2J59521.25[2]
As Sheila overcomes more of her agoraphobia, a worried Frank finds a new financial plan in a fellow former bar patron by the name of Dottie (Molly Price), whose declining health makes her an ideal match for him. Fiona juggles her job, family life, and a burgeoning love life, with even her friend Jasmine (Amy Smart) trying to set her up with an older man. Veronica takes some of the elderly people from the retirement home on an excursion. Lip worries about Karen's relationship with Jody. After being released from jail, Ian tries to land a job for Mickey at Kash and Grab, and Mickey reluctantly agrees. Debbie and Carl deal with their growth spurts on wanting more space around the house.
153"I'll Light a Candle for You Every Day"Craig ZiskNancy M. PimentalJanuary 22, 2012 (2012-01-22)2J59531.28[3]
Still trying to get her mind off Steve, Fiona decides to reconnect with Craig (Taylor Kinney), an old high school crush. When she finds an abandoned purse with five hundred dollars in it, she assumes her luck is finally changing. Frank decides to do anything to get Dottie's money, including marrying her and intercepting the page telling her she has a new heart. After Harry (Harry Hamlin), an elderly man who Debbie befriends at the retirement home, dies, Debbie becomes obsessed with death. Kevin thinks about buying the Alibi Room, much to the dismay of Veronica. Lip meets with a soldier to gather information for Ian about West Point. Jody (Zach McGowan) is planning on asking for Karen's hand in marriage.
164"A Beautiful Mess"Mark MylodAlex BorsteinJanuary 29, 2012 (2012-01-29)2J59541.37[4]
After sleeping with Craig, Fiona is unprepared for the arrival of his irate wife. And on the family front, Fiona is concerned that she is dumping too much responsibility on the Gallagher children when stress causes Debbie to break out in a rash. Meanwhile, Frank begins to suspect his days in the Jackson household are coming to an end; Ian marches forward in his efforts to get into West Point; and Lip attempts to dig up dirt on Jody. This is the first episode of Lip and Mandy’s relationship.
175"Father's Day"Anthony HemingwayEtan FrankelFebruary 5, 2012 (2012-02-05)2J59551.01[5]
When Eddie Jackson's body turns up, Frank thinks he should be in line to claim his pension and insurance benefits. Meanwhile, Fiona attends a high-class wedding with her sugar daddy Richard (Johnny Sneed); Lip discovers startling news about Karen and Jody; Frank's room is rented to a hooker; Veronica suspects Kev of cheating but he was actually just secretly taking reading classes because he couldn't read. Sheila uncovers the truth about what transpired between Frank and Karen last year.
186"Can I Have a Mother"John DahlWilliam H. Macy & Steven SchachterFebruary 12, 2012 (2012-02-12)2J59561.44[6]
Frank's mother (Louise Fletcher) is released from prison and forces Frank along to extort money from an old acquaintance. Fiona and Steve go on a double date with their respective partners and have a romantic encounter in the bathroom, causing Fiona's date to leave immediately. Karen and Jody have their wedding; Lip tells Karen he wants her to have an abortion; Eddie's life insurance goes to Karen, and Frank throws a tantrum, causing Sheila to kick Frank out of the house; Ethel (Madison Davenport) runs away with Malik (Justin MItchell); Debbie informs Fiona of Steve's second life. When Frank is crestfallen after being insulted by his mother, Fiona shows him sympathy after seeing that he had a poor example of a parent as well.
197"A Bottle of Jean Nate"David NutterNancy M. PimentalFebruary 19, 2012 (2012-02-19)2J59571.41[7]
Jasmine decides to throw an end of summer party on a boat and invites Fiona, without telling her that Steve and Estefania (Stephanie Fantauzzi) will be on board. Lip tries to get back into Karen's good graces, even making up a prenuptial agreement for her and Jody. Ian continues to give Lip the silent treatment. Frank tries to get Fiona's help in dealing with Grammy.
208"Parenthood"Daisy Von Scherler MayerMike O'MalleyMarch 4, 2012 (2012-03-04)2J59581.60[8]
While Jody and Sheila comfort a dying Grammy, but Sheila actually ends up smothering Grammy to death at her request since she no longer wants to suffer. Frank steps out and stops at the Kash and Grab, where he walks in on Ian and Mickey having sex. Meanwhile, Lip wants to quit school, but Fiona tells him that if he reconsiders, she'll go back and get her GED; Lip takes Karen to a number of adoption agencies and doesn't like what she has planned; Steve decides to coach Carl's football team.
219"Hurricane Monica"Alex GravesAlex BorsteinMarch 11, 2012 (2012-03-11)2J59591.31[9]
Monica (Chloe Webb) blows back into town and immediately hooks up with Frank for more shenanigans, but the kids are left wondering if she's finally here to stay, and Frank is eager to pick up the ashes of his late mother and reclaim the cash he believes she's hidden. Meanwhile, after Fiona kicks out Lip, he stayed at Karen's and then moved in with Steve. Later, Sheila and Jody think the house is haunted by Eddie's ghost; they end up having sex. Ian's mom, Monica, tells him she knows about him having sex with Mickey and that he shouldn't be ashamed; she takes him to a gay club. Mandy's (Emma Greenwell) father breaks into the Gallaghers' house and punches Ian because he believes he got her pregnant.
2210"A Great Cause"Mimi LederEtan FrankelMarch 18, 2012 (2012-03-18)2J59601.16[10]
Fiona begins to plan for her future by taking classes for her GED and to take initiatives to move up in the club she worked at during the summer. As Monica settles into being with the kids again, Fiona has doubts about her until Jimmy reassures her and says she needs to enjoy it while it lasts. Ian continues to evade Mandy's dad as he thinks Ian got Mandy pregnant. Monica finds the Gallagher "Squirrel Fund" and blows it with Frank on non-essential items. Steve wants to reunite Estefania with her true love but has complications when they can't find him. Lip and Ian learn the identity of the father of Mandy's baby when they attempt to put her dad back in prison so he'll stop attacking Ian – her own father impregnated her when he was drunk. Ian initiates a fundraiser to pay for Mandy having an abortion. Sheila takes in an addict who's in hospice. Monica inadvertently causes havoc for the family and gets into an accident when she lets Carl drive a car. When Fiona realizes what's happened, and Lip tells her that Monica and Frank stole the "Squirrel Fund", she breaks down and tries to pick up the pieces once again.
2311"Just Like the Pilgrims Intended"Mark MylodStory by: LaToya Morgan & Nancy M. Pimental
Teleplay by: Nancy M. Pimental		March 25, 2012 (2012-03-25)2J59611.51[11]
The Gallaghers celebrate Thanksgiving by inviting a large group over, planning on eating the bald eagle Carl shot with a gun he found. Lip prepares himself for the arrival of his baby by creating a movie for when the child grows up. Estefania's boyfriend Marco (Thierre Di Castro) finally shows up and is enraged that Steve had sex with her, even though they're married. Frank tries to get his share of his mother's money from his brother Clayton (Kristoffer Winters) but is unsuccessful. Ian goes back to the gay club and sleeps with an older businessman calling himself Ned. As the Gallaghers celebrate thanksgiving dinner, Monica attempts to commit suicide, abruptly ending the family's gathering. Karen goes into labor and gives birth. The baby turns out to be Asian and has Down syndrome, and Lip realizes it's not his. The baby's adoptive parents decide not to take it, and Karen doesn't want it. Sheila ends up stealing it from the maternity ward.
2412"Fiona Interrupted"John WellsJohn WellsApril 1, 2012 (2012-04-01)2J59621.45[12]
The Gallaghers reel from the recent events of Monica's attempted suicide and the birth of Karen's developmentally delayed child. Jimmy gets back into Fiona's good graces and decides to let her meet his family. Frank plots to free Monica from the psychiatric institution but Monica escapes with her fellow patient (Jenna Elfman) and lover after Frank helps them climb out of a bathroom window. Monica told Debbie that the family would be better without her sticking around. Fiona passed her GED and tells Lip to finish high school and convinces him to move back into the house. When Sheila and Jody decide to raise Karen's newborn son, Karen makes them choose between her and the baby. Karen leaves and Lip tells her she will regret the decision in the future. Ian discovers when meeting Jimmy's family that Lloyd, the man he slept with a few days earlier, is really Jimmy's father. Estefania and Marco have a fight and he hits her, which leads her to beg Jimmy to stay in the Gallagher house.

Development and production

The show's second season began shooting on July 5, 2011[13] and it premiered on Sunday, January 8, 2012 at a new time slot at 9:00pm.[14]

Casting

Shanola Hampton, Steve Howey, Joan Cusack, and Laura Slade Wiggins return in the second season as Veronica Fisher, Kevin "Kev" Ball, Sheila Jackson and Karen Jackson. Also returning are Noel Fisher as Mickey Milkovich, Pej Vahdat as Kash, Tyler Jacob Moore as Tony Markovich and Vanessa Bell Calloway as Carol Fisher. The role of Mandy Milkovich, originally played by Jane Levy in season one, was recast due to Levy beginning work on her own TV series on ABC titled "Suburgatory". It was announced in late 2011 that Emma Greenwell would now appear as Mandy Milkovich for the duration of the show.[15] Zach McGowan appears as Jody Silverman a man Karen meets at Sex Addicts Anonymous and later marries. Stephanie Fantauzzi was cast as Estefania, Jimmys Brazilian wife and drug lord's daughter whom he marries as a way for her to come to the USA.

Reception

Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives the second season 100%, based on 11 reviews. The critics consensus reads, "The good times continue to roll in Shameless's second season as the series ups the ante with outrageous gags and unabashed joy for the ties that bind."[16]

DVD release
The Complete Second Season
Set details[17] Special features[18][19]
  • 12 episodes
  • 600 minutes (Region 1); 604 minutes (Region 4)
  • 3-disc set
  • 1.77:1 aspect ratio
  • Languages:
    • English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
  • Subtitles:
    • English, and French (Region 1)
    • English, Spanish, Danish, French, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, English and German for the Hearing Impaired (Regions 2 and 4)
  • The Complicated Life of Fiona Gallagher – (featurette) Fiona returns with a whole new host of problems, and Rossum talks about her character and the future of the Gallagher clan.
  • The Art of Acting Drunk – (featurette) William H. Macy takes a hard look at Frank and his future.
  • Behind the Scenes: Writing the Shameless Version – (featurette) A second-season roundtable chat featuring executive producer-writer John Wells, consulting producer Mike O'Malley, supervising producer/writer Nancy M. Pimental, writer Latoya Morgan and co-producer-writer Etan Frankel.
  • A Shameless Actor Discussion – Interviews between various cast members.
    • The Ghetto Girl and the Car Thief – Emmy Rossum and Justin Chatwin
    • Sibling Rivalry – Cameron Monaghan and Jeremy Allen White
    • The Bartender and the Sex-Cam Worker – Steve Howey and Shanola Hampton
    • Juvenile Delinquents – Emma Kenney and Ethan Cutkosky
    • The Agoraphobe and the Beautiful Mess – Laura Slade Wiggins and Joan Cusack
  • A Shameless Look at Season 3 – A behind-the-scenes sneak peek of the third season of Shameless
  • The Shameless Christmas Carol – Music Video
  • Deleted Scenes – A small selection of deleted scenes of the series.
    • Episodes: 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 13, 14, 16, 19
Release dates
 United States  Australia
December 18, 2012 (2012-12-18)[20] February 13, 2013 (2013-02-13)[21]

References
  1. Seidman, Robert (January 10, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: Kardashians Rule, Oprah Drools? + Atlanta 'Housewives,' 'Cajun Pawn Stars,' 'Mob Wives 2,' 'Rachael vs. Guy,' 'Leverage,' 'Shameless' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  2. Gorman, Bill (January 18, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Kourtney & Kim' Take The Crown + 'Cajun Pawn Stars, Atlanta 'Housewives,' 'Mob Wives 2,' 'Hell On Wheels' 'Leverage,' 'Shameless' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  3. Seidman, Robert (January 24, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Kourtney & Kim' Edge Down, Still Lead + Atlanta 'Housewives,' 'Ax Men, 'Mob Wives 2,' 'Shameless' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  4. Gorman, Bill (January 31, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Kourtney & Kim' Finale Goes Large + Atlanta 'Housewives,' 'Ax Men, 'Mob Wives 2,' 'Shameless' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
  5. Seidman, Robert (February 7, 2012). "Cable Ratings: ESPN Post Game Coverage Leads Quiet Super Bowl Sunday + 'Shameless,' 'Californication' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  6. Gorman, Bill (February 14, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'The Walking Dead' Starts Big + Grammys Red Carpet, 'Ax Men', 'Pawn Stars,' 'Shameless,' 'House Of Lies' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  7. Seidman, Robert (February 22, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: More Cable Beats Broadcast – 'The Walking Dead' Down, But Still Dominates + 'Ax Men', 'Khloe & Lamar,' 'Shameless,' 'House Of Lies' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
  8. Bibel, Sara (March 6, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'The Walking Dead,' 'Storage Wars,' 'Army Wives,' 'Real Housewives' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
  9. Kondolojy, Amanda (March 13, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'The Walking Dead' Dominates, 'Oprah's Next Chapter' Sees Series High". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  10. Bibel, Sara (March 20, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Walking Dead' Season Finale Laps the Field + 'Khloe & Lamar,' 'Frozen Planet,' 'Army Wives' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
  11. Kondolojy, Amanda (March 27, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: NBA Basketball, 'Mad Men' Season Premiere + 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 28, 2012.
  12. Bibel, Sara (April 3, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings:'Game of Thrones' Returns To Series High; + 'Khloe & Lamar,' 'The Killing' , 'Mad Men, 'Army Wives' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
  13. Emmy Rossum (2011-07-03). "@emmyrossum on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2011-07-18. Crazy week getting ready for season two. Tuesday july 5 is day 1 of shooting. Read thru Thursday was great. We have a lot of fun in store!
  14. Porter, Rick (2011-08-04). "'Weeds' may continue past Season 7; 'Shameless' returns in January". Zap2it. Archived from the original on 2011-08-31. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
  15. "Shameless: Winter Is Coming". TV.com. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  16. "Shameless S02". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  17. "Shameless: Season 1 (2011)". Archived from the original on November 6, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  18. Kenneth Brown. "Shameless: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  19. "Shameless DVD news: Announcement for Shameless – The Complete 2nd Season – TVShowsOnDVD.com". Tvshowsondvd.com. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  20. Lambert, David (August 22, 2012). "Shameless - 'The Complete 2nd Season' on DVD and Blu-ray: Date, Cost, Extras, Boxes". TV Shows on DVD. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  21. "Shameless (2011) – The Complete 2nd Season". Ezy DVD. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
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