Showtime has given a series order to half-hour comedy SMILF, which was initially put into development in spring 2015.
“It’s thrilling to find an artist with a strong, singular voice that is new to television,” said Gary Levine, President of Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. “Frankie literally does it all on SMILF: writer, producer, director and star, and the results are funny, emotional, surprising and unapologetic.”
Based on the award-winning short from Frankie Shaw (Mixology), SMILF follows Bridgette (Shaw), a single 20-something from Boston whose desires for relationships, sex, and a career collide with the realities of young motherhood.
In addition to Shaw, SMILF is set to star Rosie O’Donnell (The Fosters) in her first series regular television role. She’ll be playing Bridgette’s socially unconventional mother Tutu. The series comes at a time when Showtime has scaled back its half-hour presence, with only the final season of Episodes and the second go-around for Dice in the coffers.
SMILF is set to premiere this fall on Showtime.
Are you glad that Showtime hasn’t completely abandoned half-hour shows? Do you think this will be something to garner positive attention for Showtime? What else would you like to see Showtime develop in the future?
