Summary
Even with one no longer on the air, audiences continue to point out the similarities between the US version ofShamelessand FX’s record-setting comedyIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I have always been a fan of the latter show, with its cast of maniacal and self-absorbed characters all being a thrill to watch as they leaped from one wild misadventure to the next, all with little-to-no consequences for whatever they got up to. For years, people have told me that my love ofSunnymadeShamelessa perfect watch for me, and I’ve finally taken to watching it.
Beyond the feeling of missing out on being on the fan wagon during its run, I do finally understand why the Showtime comedy isoften compared toIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Their sense of comedy, their unique reverence for their respective locations and quick-paced story do frequently feel reminiscent of the other, while still not feeling so overt that they can’t coexist with one another. With that said, though, there is definitely a clear winner between the two shows.
Shameless Wants You To Want To See Its Characters Grow
It’s Always Sunny Has Rarely Shown Any Major Character Development
One of the big points of difference betweenShamelessandIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiais how they handle their ensemble casts of characters. Both shows undeniably find their central groups in bizarre situations in an effort to get ahead in their lives, whether it be trying to make Paddy’s Pub more popular or getting out of the ever-increasing debt the Gallaghers frequently find themselves in. The difference between them, though, is thatShamelesswants you to root for the characters to succeed and grow, whereIt’s Always Sunnyrarely does this.
Almostevery member ofShameless' Gallagher familyis offered meaningful chances at growth across its 11 seasons, save for William H. Macy’s Frank, who largely only looks out for himself. Emmy Rossum’s Fiona frequently tries to be a mother-like figure for her siblings, including getting well-paying jobs to support them all, even as her self-destructive habits often prove a hindrance. Jeremy Allen White’s Lip strives to use his intelligence to go to college and get a career to support his family, though similarly struggles to balance that with every family emergency and his own struggles with sobriety.
Shameless UK vs Shameless US: The 18 Biggest Differences
Shameless was adapted from a show of the same name that aired in the UK, and although there are similarities, there are also a lot of differences.
Even with 16 seasons under its belt,It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s The Ganghas rarely shown any kind of emotional growth or evolution. The sole exception has generally been that of Rob McElhenney’s Mac, who was always teased as being potentially gay until seasons 11 and 12 firmly established him as being such. While the rest of the group were largely indifferent to it, as they are often with each other, Danny DeVito’s Frank has also shown some semblance of growth with his support of Mac, particularly season 13’s “Mac Finds His Pride”.
Shameless Leans A Little More Dramatic
It’s Always Sunny Is Fine Relishing In Its Twisted Comedy
Another major difference between the two shows is the overall tone in their stories. WhileShamelessis generally seen as a comedyby everyone who watches it, it’s also far more dramatic than that ofIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. With the aforementioned character development, the Showtime title does present a number of serious turns for the Gallagher family and those around them. Some more notable instances include Fiona going to prison, the family being separated by CPS, Ian’s managing of his bipolar diagnosis, and Karen’s shunning of her child, causing Sheila to spiral.
Aside from “Mac Finds His Pride”, in which the eponymous character comes out to his dad and is subsequently shunned because of it,It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiahasn’t delivered many emotional or serious moments for The Gang. Instead, McElhenney, Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day have instead allowed the show to just deliver one insane misadventure after another. This isn’t inherently a bad thing, either, as part of the show’s charm has been just seeing what The Gang will get up to next, and how they will work their way out of it.
It’s Always Sunny Is The Clear Winner
Shameless' Frequent Backsteps In Its Character Growth And Inconsistent Tone Make It Hard To Binge.
While there are enough differences to set them apart, I do finally understand now whyShamelessis often compared toIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but the FX comedy is the clear winner in my books. Though judging a show by its bingeability may not be the fairest measurement of its overall quality,It’s Always Sunnyis generally an easier showto throw on in the background and watch for hours on end. Its lack of serialized storytelling and character growth make it easy to hop onboard anywhere, while its consistently comedic tone is a delight.
WithShameless, it’s better suited for watching in bursts rather than binging. Every time a character goes backward from the positive growth seen, it hits harder knowing how close they were, and a show with 11 seasons of this kind of storytelling is hard to spend an afternoon on when you’re just waiting for the backstep. Even worse is when a character is made worse in the time between the season finale and subsequent premiere, with Debbie coming to mind in particular for her quick change from an innocent and bright young girl to a troublemaking and thoughtless teenager.
Season 17 ofIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiawill premiere in either late 2024 or 2025.
Shameless' inconsistent tone also makes it hard to want to keep watching the show, in comparison toIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Moments that would be serious in any other show are played more comedically with its indie rock soundtrack, taking me out of the moment, while some truly heavy story developments also hit hard enough to need a break from binging further. While I’m certainly not sayingShamelessis a bad show by any means, it definitely doesn’t reach the same heights asIt’s Always Sunny.
Shameless
Cast
Shameless is a Black Comedy, Family Drama created by Paul Abbott and starring William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum, and Justin Chatwin. The premise follows the Gallagher family and their closest friends as they deal with a not-so-helpful father, Frank Gallagher. His children each find their own path, growing into their own flawed people without much guidance or help from the family patriarch.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a television series that premiered in 2005, chronicling the chaotic lives of four self-involved friends running an Irish pub in Philadelphia. Their misguided decisions and skewed perspectives often result in amusing and uncomfortable situations, complicating their professional and personal relationships.
