Where was Shameless filmed?

The show's pilot episode did a great job at introducing the Gallaghers and revealing snippets of their individualities. Off the bat, viewers know that they are in for a ride that’s both humorous and downright shocking.

In a montage, Frank, whose idea of expenses includes “alcohol and drugs,” introduces us to each Gallagher family member. Viewers then get an insight into what a typical morning is like at the Gallagher household, and we get the first glimpse of the exterior when they all flood out of the house to go about their day.

The house itself stands as a character in the show, and several epic things happen there, particularly on the front porch. 2119 South Homan Ave is the location where the exterior scenes of the Gallaghers’ house were filmed.

There’s even a foursquare location alongside plenty of tags and photos showcasing the real-life residence. An article published on Distractify reveals that the owner welcomes Shameless fans to step inside the gate and take photos on the famous porch.

A sign at the front of the house asks kind folks who drop by to also leave donations, which isn’t too much to ask given how kind the owner is to keep welcoming fans more than a decade later.
Bus 52, 157, or 21 will get you to the Shameless filming location as well as the Pink Line and the BNSF train.

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Frank is by all depictions a deadbeat whose main concern is getting high at his children’s expense. He cheats the system at any given chance for a quick buck and even shakes down his kids for some money.

His kids quickly pick up on his underhand ways, and as Fiona said “A con artist raised me, so I know one when I see one.” Frank also isn’t someone who is quick to part with his ill-gained cash. In the fifth episode of season 7, he surprisingly clears his $223.75 debt at the Alibi Room Bar. The Alibi is his favorite watering hole and he often racks up a high bill which he then has to find ways to clear.

The scenes at the Alibi were recorded at the Warner Bros. Backlot in Burbank, California. In fact, most indoor scenes were filmed in custom Shameless film sets located at the Burbank lot. When Emma Kenney gave a tour of the show’s set in 2016, she gave us a sneak peek of the Gallaghers’ house set as well as the Alibi. Going on a Warner Bros. Studio Tour allows you to explore the film sets up close which have hosted several other critically-acclaimed productions.

Get to the WB Studios via the Pink, 222, or 501 bus. The B Line (Red) subway will also get you there.

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Carl is the sibling who is always in trouble and he displays tendencies of being a psychopath quite early. He does have a soft spot for his dad but it wanes as the story progresses.

In Season 5, Carl starts dealing drugs and it isn’t surprising given that he has a dad who says things like “get hard drugs. Make daddy proud.” He even drags Chuckie Slott (Kellen Michael) into it.

When Chuckie is eventually arrested, Sammi Slott (Emily Bergl) isn’t too happy about it and she also has Carl arrested. The ninth episode titled “Carl’s Preliminary Sentencing” features several scenes where Fiona preps Carl for his preliminary sentencing hearing.

Carl refuses to sell out his dealer and ends up getting sentenced to a one-year term at a juvenile correctional facility. S. Trumbull Ave and Cermak Rd, Chicago IL is the location where they filmed the fourth episode scenes where Carl is seen selling drugs.

He isn’t the only Gallagher to end up behind bars, and the scenes where Fiona leaves jail were filmed at 3015 South California Boulevard. Ian and Lip’s jail scenes were filmed at 3303 W. Ogden Ave. Bus 322 and the BNSF can get you to Cermak Rd. S. Trumbull Ave is about a seven-minute walk away from Cermak Rd.

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After getting off house arrest, Fiona goes back to working at the Golden House diner which has since been renamed Patsy’s Pie. Dermot Mulroney portrays Sean Pierce, who manages the diner from Season 5 before Fiona takes over the mantle in Season 7.

Sean is big on giving second chances, and he hires several ex-convicts to work at the diner. Alongside Fiona, he also hires Carl, Lip, and Ian to work at the diner at various points.

In the ninth episode, Ian lands a job at Patsy’s as a dishwasher after getting back on his meds. Up until that point, he was in denial about being bipolar reflected by his former words “sometimes we get so wrapped up in getting what we want, that we forget to ask ourselves why we wanted it in the first place.”

Mickey Milkovich (Noel Fisher) convinces him to get back on track, and things start looking up for him again. The Golden House Restaurant & Pancake House located at 4744 N. Broadway St. was the set used to film the Patsy’s Pie scenes.

It’s an old-school classic diner located next to the Riviera Theatre. Bus 225 as well as the A and E trains will get you to the Golden House Restaurant.

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In the second episode of Season 9, Kevin “Kev” Ball (Steve Howey) and Veronica “Vee” Ball (Shanola Hampton) are searching for a preschool for their twins. The two are the Gallaghers’ neighbors who have a passionate and tumultuous relationship.

In fact, Kev’s words best described it when he said “she once tried to beat me to death with a frozen fish because I asked if there was more broccoli.”

The pair share several highs and lows through the series, and their battle conceiving during the third season was one such instance. Her mother even offered to be their surrogate but Vee miraculously gets pregnant.

They learn that she’s expecting triplets, the joy is short-lived after finding out that one isn’t viable. The couple eventually welcomes twin girls, and the ninth season sees them trying to find a perfect and affordable preschool for their daughters.

They checked out a daycare which in real-life is located at 2030 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles CA. Get to the Shameless film set via the Dash or 180 bus.

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The finale episode of the fourth season is hailed as one of the show’s best episodes. Episode 12 tied several story arcs while still also sparking enough chaos to form the premise for Season 5. Frank, who had a transplant, wakes up hospitalized and in a state of delirium. He finds out that the transplant medication comes with several side effects, and worse still, he can’t drink alcohol.

He eventually escapes the hospital with Carl’s help and the two end up making a pit stop at Lake Michigan. While taking his first drink since the operation, Frank leaves his wheelchair and takes in the scenic view.

That’s when he decides to duke it out with the big man. He shouts at the top of his lungs, “Is that all you got, that’s it? I’m still here you f––er! Frank Gallagher, I’m alive.”

The scene was filmed at North Avenue Beach located at 1601 N Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable. You can also visit the Shameless production location to have a word of your own with the man upstairs. There are designated grilling areas and swimming is allowed when there are lifeguards on duty.

Get to North Avenue Beach via the 36, 73, 151, 22, or 156 bus. The ME train as well as the Chicago ‘L’ Red Line, Brown Line, and Purple Line can also get you to the beach.

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