Showtime Picks Up Drama Starring William H. Macy

Showtime has ordered 12 episodes of the William H. Macy-led drama Shameless, Variety reports.

Based on a long-running British drama, it stars the 60-year-old actor as the alcoholic patriarch of a big blue-collar family in Chicago.

Check out photos of William H. Macy

Created by Paul Abbott (State of Play), Shameless is executive-produced by Abbott and John Wells. The series is expected to begin production in late summer; a premiere date has not been announced, the trade paper reports.

Macy took home two Emmys in 2003 for oustanding lead actor and writing for the TV movie Door to Door and reprised his role on ER during the series' final season last year.