Whitford books 'Shameless' guest spot

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Bradley Whitford is to guest star in two episodes of the upcoming third season of the Chicago-set dramedy series "Shameless," Showtime announced.

The former star of "The West Wing" and "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" will play Abraham, "a powerful, well-dressed, sophisticated gay man who is a political activist," the cable network said in a news release.

"Shameless" stars William H. Macy as an alcoholic single father whose six children are frequently left to their own devices to survive. Emmy Rossum plays his oldest child, who does her best to care for her younger siblings.

Season 3 is to premiere Jan. 13.