This document provides an analysis of the British comedy-drama television series "Shameless". It summarizes that the show is set on a council estate in Manchester and depicts the lives of the dysfunctional Gallagher family. It analyzes the characters, plotlines, production company, and target demographic for the show. The target audience is described as those between ages 17-50 from working class backgrounds who could relate to the themes of trying to scrape by in life. A clip from the show is also briefly summarized, setting up a scenario where a government official questions the Gallaghers about fraudulent benefits claims.

1. Shameless
Miss Cerrone
Unit 4, Task 2
Analysis of a media product

2. Shameless is a comedy drama set on a fictional
council (Chatsworth) estate in Stretford,
Manchester. It tells the lives of the Gallagher
family, their friends, neighbours and enemies. It
was first broadcast In January 2004 on Channel
4 at 10pm. It has since gone on to broadcast a
further seven series with another commissioned
for 2011.
Shameless
The show

3. The show follows the rollercoaster lives of the
dysfunctional Gallagher family and the friends and
neighbours who come into contact with them in their
community. The families lives are chaotic mainly due
to their irresponsible, drunken father Frank and
unreliable, dissatisfied mother Monica. With their
parents unable or unwilling to look after them the
Gallagher clan find themselves looking out for each
other through life's ups and downs.
Shameless
The plot

4. Shameless
The characters
The Gallaghers
Frank Gallagher – the
reluctant father
Monica Gallagher – the
unreliable mother
Carl Gallagher –
the lotario
Phillip Gallagher –
the intelligent
‘Del Boy’
Debbie Gallagher –
old beyond her
years
Ian Gallagher – the
quiet one
Liam Gallagher –
the new ‘Debbie’
Fiona Gallagher –
the big sister

5. Shameless
The characters
The MaguiresMimi Maguire – the
bossy mother
Karen Maguire – the
reformed wildcat
Kelly Maguire –
the tart with a heart
Mickey Maguire –
the clown
Jamie Maguire –
just like his father
Shane Maguire – the
crazy one Paddy Maguire –
the gangster boss

6. Shameless is produced by Company Pictures, an
independent British television production company. As
well as Shameless it has created; Wild at Heart, Skins,
and Talk To Me. It tends to work with the same group
of writers and directors including Paul Abbott, Bryan
Elsley and Danny Brocklehurst.
Paul Abbott created the initial ideas for Shameless and
is now an executive producer on the show as well as
still writing some episodes.
Shameless
The makers

7. Shameless can be classed as a comedy drama as it
mixes key conventions from both genres. It has the
classic conventions of a drama series; recurring
characters, multiple plot lines, realistic dialogues and
settings and key themes running through the
programme. It mixes these with moments of high
comedy and humour and also by exaggerating normal
social situations or expectations.
Shameless
The genre

8. Shameless
The audience
Class
I believe that the audience of Shameless
fit into the C1-E demographic. I think those
in the A & B categories would not fully
understand the humour and themes of
the show and the lifestyle of the characters.
Age
I believe that the audience of Shameless
fit into the 17-50 age group. I think the language
and sexual content of some the show means
it is not suitable for younger viewers. Although
some of the characters depicted in the show
been younger than this.
Gender
I believe that the audience of Shameless
are both genders because the representations
of both sexes is so strong in the show.
Ethnicity
I believe that the audience of Shameless
fit into various ethnic categories. The show
depicts characters who are white,
black, mixed race, Asian and Irish. It is a
realistic representation of the multi-cultural
country we live in.
Lifestyle
I believe that most of the audience of Shameless
have at some point come from a working class
background and have experienced some of the
themes presented in the show.

9. This is the clip that I will analyse for my Case
Study.
Shameless
Textual Analysis

10. The narrative in the clip is about a DSS officer coming to check who actually lives in the
Gallagher household so that they can make sure there are no fraudulent claims being made.
Sheila answers the mans questions without thinking and gives away the fact that two of the
children they are claiming for do not actually live there anymore. Frank then tries to talk his
way out it but the DSS officer walks into the house and its clear he’s going nowhere.
The meaning created in the clip is to set the audience up for another episode of Frank trying
to lie, cheat and scam his way out of trouble or responsibility. It also reinforces the
characterisation of Frank as a no-good layabout who does not want to work but would
rather claim benefits and even ones he is not entitled to.
This attracts the target audience because it might be a situation some of them have found
themselves in (trying to scrape by in life), it also reinforces the themes in the show as the
audience know that Frank will inevitably come up with some crazy or weird scheme in order
to get himself out of trouble again and this will create humour – one of the main reasons
the audience watch the show.
Shameless
What is the narrative/plot ofthe clip? What meaning is created by the narrative/plot in the clip? How/Why does this
attract the target audience?

11. The setting of the clip is Frank and Sheila’s house on the council estate in Chatsworth (a
fictional place), Manchester.
Shameless
What is the setting ofthe clip? What meaning is created bythe setting of the clip? How/why does this attract the target
audience?