SMILF: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Ratings

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6.8

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6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

SHOWTIME | Season Premiere Date: November 5, 2017

Summary: 20-something Bridgette (Frankie Shaw) tries to balance relationships, work, sex, and life as single mother in this comedy based on Shaw's 2015 Sundance Film Festival Jury award-winning short film of the same name.

Creator: Frankie Shaw

Genre(s): Comedy, Drama

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E11. Single Mothers Inspire Loving Families
Air Date: February 10, 2019
tbd
S1:E10. Sorry Mary, Im Losing Faith
Air Date: January 27, 2019
tbd
S1:E8. Mark's Lunch & Two Cups of Coffee.
Air Date: December 31, 2017

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

IndieWire Ben Travers

Oct 30, 2017

You won’t spend long dwelling on the title, but you’ll want to stick with this story. Read full review

Tim Goodman

Nov 3, 2017

None of SMILF would work beyond the struggling single-mom trope if it weren't for Shaw truly announcing herself here as a creative force. ... Showtime looks to have found something special with SMILF. Read full review

Troy Patterson

Dec 15, 2017

Three episodes in, I am charmed by Shaw’s way of sketching her character, Bridgette Bird, in brazen strokes of absurdity and delicate gestures of woe. ... Shaw proves herself a fantastically nimble performer, by turns tough and impish. Read full review

James Poniewozik

Nov 3, 2017

Like some past Showtime comedies (“Happyish,” “Nurse Jackie”), SMILF has an unsteady tone, swerving from emotional realism to quirkiness to slapstick raunch to abrupt fantasy sequences, in roughly descending order of what works best. There’s a riffing, open-mic quality to the first three episodes, as if the show were still trying on personalities. Read full review

Matthew Gilbert

Nov 3, 2017

The show improved with each one. The premiere is tonally all over the place--it’s hard to know which of Bridgette’s mistakes are meant to be funny, and which speak of tragedy. ... But then, in episode three, Shaw seems to find her footing, and I found myself thinking that SMILF could develop a “Shameless”-like charm. Read full review

Verne Gay

Oct 31, 2017

Frustrating series that has promise but no payoff. And that series title. Seriously? Read full review

Rob Lowman

Nov 6, 2017

Shaw is likable and undoubtedly a selling point for the series, but unless the show finds its focus, it’s not going to be enough. Read full review

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6.8

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User Reviews

BillJustBill

Nov 26, 2017

This show is so fresh, so original and through the laughs tugs at the heartstrings. It's probably one of the most original 30 minute comedies you've every seen, with the situations at one point subtle and nuanced, and at the next turn broad and really funny. Frankie Shaw who originated theThis show is so fresh, so original and through the laughs tugs at the heartstrings. It's probably one of the most original 30 minute comedies you've every seen, with the situations at one point subtle and nuanced, and at the next turn broad and really funny. Frankie Shaw who originated the show and also stars is (as one might expect) just right in the role she created for herself. The most charming character in the show is Frankie's "son" Larry, who is played by darling twin girls. They are unbelievably cute and perfect. (Because of production rules limiting work times, kid roles are often played by twins.) This is one of our favorite shows.… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

spilanip

Apr 24, 2018

An engaging, funny, sometimes painful show. Frankie Shaw is a delight, and Rosie can really, really pull her weight. Her acting chops are spot on. The script is fresh, and the direction is crisp. Looking forward to the second season.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

shqu

Nov 6, 2017

I hated this show so much I could barely watch 15 minutes of the first episode. I raised 2 children as a single mother, with no child support and a very modest salary, and this bears almost no resemblance to my life. From getting up at 5 to make lunches and breakfasts, get everyone dressedI hated this show so much I could barely watch 15 minutes of the first episode. I raised 2 children as a single mother, with no child support and a very modest salary, and this bears almost no resemblance to my life. From getting up at 5 to make lunches and breakfasts, get everyone dressed and out the door on time so as to arrive at work by 8 am, and then doing the reverse at the end of the day, every bit of energy I had went to my kids and my job. Yes, I missed having a relationship and doing fun things, but I can honestly say I never even had the energy for a sex fantasy. That early scene gives such a completely misleading picture of a single mother's life, which is all about taking care of (and loving) the kids, the job, the finances, the ancient car, the old house, the laundry, etc., while trying to keep a few precious friendships alive. I would love to see a show that REALLY portrays the life of a single parent, but it would probably be too boring to develop an audience..… Expand

8 of 12 users found this helpful84

bob516

Dec 13, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I hope this show improves after the first two episodes. Establishing the foundation for the show on such unbelievable grounds, that she is knowledgable enough to an essay to get into Harvard for one, strains any sense of credibility.
I think Shaw has great presence on the screen. I hope the writing and directing rise to the level of her performance.
Other than the dream sequences, and the references like Run Lola Run there is nothing that keeps me watching this show.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

StanCliffBroad

Jan 24, 2018

This show isn't just bad, it's dysfunctional. Edgy? No, just a spherical object banging itself against a wall, whilst trying to normalize everything that's bad in society today. It did one thing right, it ticked ALL the progressive boxes in the first episode.

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

BillySpandex

Dec 6, 2017

I'm not going to waste my time with a comprehensive review of this show, because all that can be said is that... "it's trash". Who is this show for? I grew up in a single parent household, and nothing about this show resonates with me. The characters are vacuous, the plot is non-existent,I'm not going to waste my time with a comprehensive review of this show, because all that can be said is that... "it's trash". Who is this show for? I grew up in a single parent household, and nothing about this show resonates with me. The characters are vacuous, the plot is non-existent, and it's just unbelievably dumb.… Expand

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

Seasons & Episodes

65

Series Overview
Season 2

73
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: January 20, 2019
Season 1

64
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: November 5, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E11. Single Mothers Inspire Loving Families
  Air Date: February 10, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E10. Sorry Mary, Im Losing Faith
  Air Date: January 27, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E8. Mark's Lunch & Two Cups of Coffee.
  Air Date: December 31, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E7. Family-Sized Popcorn & a Can of Wine
  Air Date: December 17, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E6. Chocolate Pudding & a Cooler of Gatorade
  Air Date: December 10, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E5. Run, Bridgette, Run or Forty-Eight Burnt Cupcakes & Grave...
  Air Date: December 3, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E4. Deep-Dish Pizza & a Shot of Holy Water
  Air Date: November 26, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E3. Half a Sheet Cake & a Blue-Raspberry Slushie
  Air Date: November 19, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E2. 1,800 Filet-O-Fishes & One Small Diet Coke
  Air Date: November 12, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E1. A Box of Dunkies and Two Squirts of Maple Syrup
  Air Date: November 5, 2017