Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Mom’s the word
There’s no question about it: being a mom is hard, and going it alone is even harder. Comedy, however, teaches us to laugh at the uncertainty, the struggle for work-life balance, and any awkward exchanges between exes that are tied into single motherhood. Frankie Shaw’s comedic genius pokes fun at co-parenting and other squirming single-mom moments in the series premiere of “SMILF,” airing Sunday, Nov. 5, on Showtime.
Shaw writes, directs, produces and stars in the series about a single mom trying to navigate the dating scene, her career and being a parent at the same time. In a show that comes across as shockingly funny and heartfelt, Shaw uses her raunchy Boston humor to explain the maladies of being a single mother in modern times. Starring some comedic heavy hitters, such as talk-show sensation Rosie O’Donnell (“The View”), the show has the makings of a great series.
“SMILF” is based on the short that won Shaw a Short Film Jury Award at the Sundance Festival in 2015. Shaw plays Bridgette, a young woman from South Boston (a “Southie”) trying to make it as an actress and create a better life for her son. Despite her struggles to make sense of her life, which is frankly a mess, she is still a great mom.
“Her No. 1 priority is making sure her kid has a better life than she had,” Shaw said in a promotional video on Showtime’s website. “[It] drives a lot of what she does.”
Shaw’s character is much the same in the show as in the movie: Bridgitte struggles through finding love and establishing her career, and she’s often sideswiped by her motherly duties and personal shortcomings.
“[Bridgitte] puts her foot in her mouth a lot,” the actress explains. “She has no boundaries and a lot of issues that get in the way of her leading a fully functional life, though she’s trying hard.”
Comedy queen O’Donnell plays opposite Shaw as Bridgitte’s mother, the socially illiterate Tutu. A household name, O’Donnell is best known as the host of “The Rosie Show” and one of the hosts of “The View,” but she’s also been a regular in “Drop Dead Diva,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “The Fosters.”
The actress spent Thanksgiving in Boston with Shaw and her mother, the latter of whom, by the end of the night, told her, “Rosie, there’s no one else I would want to play me,” Shaw recalled during Showtime’s portion of the Television Critics Association summer press tour.
Miguel Gomez plays Bridgette’s baby daddy, Rafi, a 28-year-old recovering addict. He’s hoping to be a good exboyfriend to Bridgette and a better father to their 2-year-old son, Larry (played by twin tots Alexandra and Anna Reimer). Gomez is best known for his role in the film “Southpaw” (2015) and as Augustin “Gus” Elizalde in the FX series “The Strain.”
Viewers can still expect the sharp, scrappy, Boston-style comedy that gave Shaw recognition in “The Freebie” (2010), and the sitcom “Blue Mountain State.” Most will recognize her from “The Pretty One” (2013) and the hilarious “Someone Marry Barry” (2014), but the actress is also no stranger to writing and directing. Her 2016 short “Too Legit” satirized some controversial remarks from Congressman Todd Akin and drew from her personal observances of sexism in America. She argues that this leads to an “epidemic of violence towards women,” which she and her colleagues face every day in the entertainment industry. Comedy, however, is the great equalizer — the one tool that can shatter the status quo and any illusions about what it means to be a woman, a mother, or single.
Recently, Shaw had a recurring role in Netflix’s “Flaked” with Will Arnett and appeared in Kevin Smith’s TV Movie “Hollyweed” (2016). She also snagged a recurring role in the first season of “Mr. Robot” on USA Network, and was a series regular in ABC’s “Mixology.”
Fans can also catch her supporting role in the feature film “Stronger” (2017), the inspiring real-life story of Jeff Bauman. The man captured the hearts of his city and the world, becoming a symbol of hope after he survived the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal (“Donnie Darko,” 2001) as Bauman, and David Gordon Green (“Pineapple Express,” 2008) directs.
While Shaw stretches her wings in feature-length films (she’s also set to star in sci-fi flick “Fluidic,” coming to theaters in 2018), she’s staying rooted in television. As a result, she’s attracted a stellar cast for “SMILF.”
Showtime has revved up its comedy lineup this year, possibly due to the network’s breadand-butter series reaching the end of their life cycles, such as “Nurse Jackie,” “Californication,” “House of Lies” and “Episodes.” According to deadline. com, “SMILF” was one of only three comedy pilots ordered by the network back in the spring, so Showtime must be confident in the show’s success.
Don’t miss the premiere of “SMILF,” airing Sunday, Nov. 5, on Showtime.