SMILF

I found some scenes hard to watch, but that's what makes this show great. Frankie Shaw is amazing and real. (Where did she come from??) The role of Tutu was made for Rosie O'Donnell; she's loud, sad, rough and incredible. I'm two episodes in and I believe this show has such promise...can't wait for more.

Lifelong Boston Southie Bridgette Bird (Frankie Shaw) is a struggling single mom. Her old dream of playing basketball has faded. Her baby daddy Rafi (Miguel Gomez) is dating hot Nelson Rose (Samara Weaving). Her mom Tutu (Rosie O'Donnell) is unstable. She tutors Ally (Connie Britton)'s kids. Eliza is her best friend.

This is a great character. Her overt sexuality is unusual for a single mom role. She's a terrifically flawed character. She's best when she's striving to be better like when she's trying to stay with basketball. Otherwise, it's wallowing for wallowing's sakes and that happens a lot in the second season. She can't win or the show is not the show but she can't just drift either. The second season is a bit of the sophomore jinx. It seems to be a show in transition. Connie Britton is fazing out of the show. I didn't know why it got cancelled after only two seasons until I read about the controversy. It's a shame especially since Samara Weaving was never meant to be that sexualized character. She's a hot model but she's reserved in that aspect. I hope that Frankie simply let the pressure of show-running get to her.

If you enjoyed the tv programme Girls, check out SMILF ... Different, irreverent, honest and funny. Modern life with larger than life characters, all flawed, warm and fabulous.

This show both stands and falls by the fact that its lead wrote the script and it is based on their life experiences.

On the one hand this makes it a well acted and introspective look at the life and struggles of a single mother, with some original takes on everyday situations and it certainly has a lot to say. On the other hand though there are some things that are a little too self-indulgent or one-sided, and while this may be an unpopular opinion, the perceivable age difference between the creator and the character is somewhat jarring. It comes across like the lead should be a woman in her early 20s, but instead of casting someone of the age appropriate to the story she is trying to tell, she instead cast herself, which may be more ego in this case than anything else. (It was the initial noticing of this that made me question if it was written by the actress in the first place, as the choice would seem strange for any other reason)

Overall this is another example of good modern writing, giving a personal perspective that is interesting and generally entertaining. The show has a nice raw quality that is worth something, it's just possible that the creator should have taken herself out of the equation and cast a more fitting lead. (I'm the same age as the lead and if I was casting a young single father I would go for someone 10 years younger than myself, this isn't about gender, it's about accuracy)

I honestly did not expect much figuring that this was a Shameless knockoff just trying to out-shock what shocking things Shameless brings us each week. But I was wrong. The writing is wonderful, bringing unexpected storyline twists in each episode and quickly building viewer empathy for the characters who are caught up in life, but have dreams, and making us care about them. The acting is great, delivering some of Rosie's best work. Gritty, edgy, whatever you want to call it, this is not the same old crappy filler between commercials that is delivered so often.