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Macy, Rossum set for Showtime series

Emmy Rossum arrives for the Gentlemen's Ball 2009 at the Edison Ballroom in New York on October 28, 2009. UPI /Laura Cavanaugh
Emmy Rossum arrives for the Gentlemen's Ball 2009 at the Edison Ballroom in New York on October 28, 2009. UPI /Laura Cavanaugh | License Photo

LOS ANGELES, April 12 (UPI) -- The U.S. cable television network Showtime says it has ordered 12 episodes of a family drama called "Shameless," starring William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum.

An adaptation of the long-running British series by the same name, "Shameless" is a collaboration by Showtime, Warner Bros. Television and Emmy Award-winning television and film producer John Wells.

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Macy's film credits include "Fargo," "Pleasantville" and "Seabiscuit."

Rossum has starred in "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Mystic River."

"Shameless," an hourlong drama set in Chicago, will also feature former "The West Wing" star Allison Janney in a recurring role, the network said.

The show will be executive produced by Wells and the series' original creator and Emmy Award-winner Paul Abbott. It is set to start production this summer.

"We're so happy to be bringing this richly textured drama about a dysfunctional blue-collar family to Showtime with two of the greatest television producers working today, John Wells and Paul Abbott," Robert Greenblatt -- president of entertainment at Showtime Networks Inc. -- said in a statement. "And to have William H. Macy and this incredible cast bringing these original characters to life is an embarrassment of riches."

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"Paul Abbott and I have been plotting to bring 'Shameless' to American audiences for several years now and we're delighted that Bob Greenblatt and Showtime have given us this wonderful opportunity," added Wells. "We're remarkably fortunate to get to work with this exceptional cast led by Bill Macy and Emmy Rossum. We can't wait to get started bringing the raucous humor, ribald characters and political incorrectness of Paul's 'Shameless' to Showtime."

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