Shameless: Grammy Gallagher’s Assisted Suicide

On “Parenthood,” the March 4, 2012 episode of “Shameless,” Grammy Gallagher (Louise Fletcher) was really feeling the pain. Sheila and Jody ended up taking care of her, with Jody going on a drug run only to have Frank come back and get in on the morphine drip, then steal the rest of her stuff. Off he went, oblivious to the fact that Mickey had a hit out on him.

As Jody and Sheila tenderly care for Grammy, serenading her and painting her toenails, she suddenly demands that they stop and asks for envelopes and stamps. She whips out a stash of 3 big bundles of cash which she plans to send to her kids via the U.S. Postal Service. Sheila observes how happy that will make Frank, but Grammy says it’s for her other kids and Frank isn’t getting anything because that’s what happens when you steal her drugs.

Jody takes her to the mailbox and while he is depositing the envelopes, she wheels herself right into traffic so the bus can run her over. But the bus stops. Back at Sheila’s, Grammy has managed to enlist Sheila’s help in checking out. A plastic bag over the head is employed as Sheila chants “go to the light, go to the light.” But it’s not working. After a bit of dickering over the finer points of murder — it’s not murder if you have her permission — they decide on smothering with a pillow.

Gram’s instinct to live did kick in but Sheila held firm to her resolve to be a big help and sat on the pillow over Gram’s head. Frank arrives to find out she’s gone.

Rest in peace, Grammy Gallagher, we’ll miss you on “Shameless,” even though you were the epitome of a crappy mother. It was part of your outrageous charm.