A meet cute is derailed by a screaming baby in the first teaser for “SMILF,” Frankie Shaw’s upcoming Showtime series. The spot kicks off with Shaw’s character, Bridgette, flirting with a guy she just played basketball with. The two are clearly attracted to one another, but before Bridgette can suggest they grab a drink, her son starts crying and calling for her. “Cute kid,” the guy says, as he practically runs away.
“SMILF” is an adaptation of Shaw’s award-winning 2015 Sundance short of the same name. Inspired by the “Good Girls Revolt’s” star’s own experiences, the show centers on Bridgette, a 20-something Boston-based woman whose pursuit of sex, romance, and career aspirations is complicated by the fact that she’s a single mom.
“Where would you say mine falls? I just mean in terms of circumference,” Bridgette asks her doctor, and, yes, she’s talking about her vagina. She hasn’t been very sexually active as of late, but she’s seemingly self-conscious about having given birth. “Have fun. Go have sex,” her doctor tells her impatiently. Bridgette finds someone to have sex with, but the encounter leaves much to be desired — and once again she’s interrupted by her baby.
Shaw is writing, directing, and executive producing the series. We asked Shaw her advice for other female helmers during Sundance 2016 when she premiered her newest short, “Too Legit.” “Just start making stuff — you learn through process,” the “Mr. Robot” alumna said. “Just pretend you belong there doing it. It’s going to feel shitty, but sooner or later you’ll learn how to make what you see in your head into what you see in your movie — at least, here’s hoping.”
Check out SMILF’s teaser to get some backstory on the father of Bridgette’s child and to catch a glimpse of her outspoken mother (Rosie O’Donnell).
“SMILF” premieres on Showtime November 5.
