Parents' Guide to

SMILF

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Edgy, honest Southie single mom comedy is for adults.

TV Showtime Comedy 2017
SMILF Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

  • Smilf TV Show: Scene #1
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  • Smilf TV Show: Scene #3

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What's the Story?

SMILF is a comedy series about life as a 20-something single mother on the south side of Boston. Bridgette (Frankie Shaw) is a young woman and sports fanatic who is raising her son, Larry, without a lot of help from his father, Rafi (Miguel Gomez). Although her mom, Tutu (played by Rosie O'Donnell), helps out, Bridgette finds herself feeling very alone -- a feeling compounded by the fact that Rafi enjoys a life of dating. She's committed to being a good mother but is still trying to find ways to have an intimate personal life.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This semi-autobiographical comedy offers an honest, unglamorous portrayal of what life is like as a single mom in a working-class urban neighborhood. As indicated by the title (which stands for "single mom I'd like to f--k"), sex and intimacy is a key theme. But it also uses humor to highlight all the ups and downs that come with the job.

It's edgy, and Bridgette, like all moms, isn't perfect. But she is committed to her son and tries to do the best she can. Tutu, though sharp-tongued and critical, also has a lot of good to give. As a result, SMILF shows how unbalanced and complicated single motherhood is, but manages to do so with a lot of heart.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what it means when a TV show or film is "semi-autobiographical." What parts need to be part of the creator's life story to be autobiographical in nature? When does something cross the line into fiction?

  • How does the media characterize single mothers? What are some of the stereotypes about them? Do shows like SMILF perpetuate or challenge these generalizations?

TV Details

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