"Shameless" on BBC America: must-see TV?

LOL @ "Shameless writer Paul Abbott" until I figured they probably meant the title of something he wrote as well:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7106950.stm (final paragraph)

US cable network HBO is to remake Channel 4 show Shameless.

An American version of the series starring Woody Harrelson was originally proposed three years ago when creator Paul Abbott met with NBC. However, the project fell through.

HBO official Mike Lombardo acknowledged the challenge presented by the new adaptation, telling TBIvision: "We are developing a US version of Shameless with [The West Wing's] John Wells writing. [The question is] how do you move that show to America and not lose its essence?"

The UK version of the show has aired on BBC America and the Sundance Channel in the US.

I'm pretty sure the US has only seen the first season of the orig version (it's on DVD thx to James McAvoy's rising star).

I get really tired of all of the remakes. The American version of Life on Mars was so dreadful. I've never seen Shameless, but I wish people would just come up with something a bit more original.

There are so many new original US shows doing the rounds as well tho.

I'm in the midst of watching Abbott's State of Play BBC series (not realizing it was the same writer til now). That was sposed to be remade as a Brad Pitt film until the plug was pulled (budget or scheduling) recently.

did you watch the remade Cracker? it looked bad

nope, no sense in that.

whaddya know, they went ahead and made the State of Play film w/ Ben Affleck & Russell Crowe (groan):

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473705/

i reckon it'll be okay, in that rachel mcadams is in it.