‘Shameless’ season 5: What we know right now about Showtime’s plans

If you love “Shameless,” then tonight is going to be a potentially huge hour of TV for you. After all, this is where you can find out whether or not Fiona is going to wrap the season behind bars, or if Frank is actually going to be able to handle getting something close to a new lease on his life.

Here’s what we know for sure about a potential fifth season of the dramedy (which, given its Emmy submission history now, is the right label for it):

1. It has been officially renewed as of this writing, so there is no reason at all to worry about whether or not you’re going to have to go without new episodes in the future. The order is the same exact one as with every other series.

2. Thanks in part to the lineup that Showtime has constructed elsewhere, it’s hard to imagine the show functioning anywhere other than the winter season. This also keeps the shooting schedule consistent.

3. There have been no announced departures yet among the cast, which is at least some solace for the show given its past history. However, casting changes may be under wraps right now until after the finale airs.

The biggest question that we continue to wonder at this very moment is how well the show can continue to go down this same road of the Gallagher family being this dysfunctional and struggling in life. That is part of the premise of the show, but sooner or later, you want to assume that someone will find a little bit success in life. That’s why we wonder if the show does have some sort of shelf life rather than lasting the same eight seasons that “Dexter” did. (Let’s just hope this show ends better.)

What do you personally want to see happen with “Shameless” moving into the fifth season? Share below, and sign up now to get some not-so-shameless TV updates courtesy of our CarterMatt Newsletter.

Photo: Showtime