5 Reasons 'SMILF' Will Be Your New Fave Show

We're lucky to have plenty of brilliant, brash, and unapologetic female-centric comedies to add to our queues these days. But get ready, 'cause your list of funny-lady dream BFFs is about to get a new addition. The new half-hour SHOWTIME Comedy Series SMILF, created by and starring Frankie Shaw (Mr. Robot, Good Girls Revolt), follows Bridgette Bird, an aspiring actress living in Boston's gritty South Side who also happens to be a self-described "single MILF" — hence the title of the series.

Bridgette is on the brink of 30 and still figuring out her life, from dating, finances, sex, to her career. The thing is, she's figuring all of this out with her two-year-old son by her side at all times. And by all times, I mean literally all times — even when she brings a guy home, her son is sleeping next to her in their shared bed. She's a little like Fiona Gallagher of Shameless — just as hilarious and unapologetically street-smart.

And while we can easily see Bridgette getting along with your other favorite leading ladies, she's a class unto herself. Below, we discuss all the ways that Bridgette is a new and necessary comedic heroine. Make sure to catch the series premiere of SMILF on SHOWTIME with a new episode every Sunday 10pm, following SHAMELESS. Or catch a sneak peek of the first episodes now!

She's Beantown Born & Bred

New York and L.A. get a lot of play in the world of the millennial comedy, which is why Bridgette's Boston perspective feels new and fresh. From the name of her son — Larry Bird — to her prototypical Southie accent, to her foul-mouthed mom who hangs out on her stoop, so much of Bridgette's character is colored by her working class upbringing in South Boston. Like her neighborhood, she's a little rough around the edges, and definitely anything but bougie. But that's what gives her a down-to-earth, unstuffy, yet whip-smart quality you'll fall for immediately.

She's A Young Mom & That's Fine

With the addition of Little Larry, sh*t is more complicated for Bridgette than for your average single 28-year-old. Still, her son is clearly the love of her life. And while the notion of young pregnancy in pop culture is typically framed as a life-ruiner, that's not how things are portrayed in the show, which is poignant and champions a diversity in life choices.

She's Still Partially A Kid Herself

As a 20-something, it's not tough to be in touch with your inner child. After all, you're still figuring out how to be an adult. Such is the struggle we see with Bridgette. As a part-time English tutor doing odd jobs and hoping to make it in entertainment, she's still trying to get her career started. Living on junk food, she's still figuring out how to even feed herself. Not to mention, she still leans on her mom (even though Bridgette has to parent her sometimes). And while, sure, Bridgette is responsible for her toddler, she's still a little kid running for the bus at heart.

Her Sex & Dating Situation Is Unique

Sex and dating are both fertile grounds for comedy. But Bridgette, unlike many of the other young urban singles on TV, is navigating her quote-unquote "sexual prime" with a young kid in tow. If you thought guys were weird about dating in general, having a kid (as we see with Bridgette) is sure to weed out the f*ckboys. We see her as a sexual being, with desires and needs, as she flirts on the basketball court, tries to meet up for dinner with a prospect, or brings a dude home to clean the pipes. As you might guess, once people are enlightened to the presence of her kid, things often change. Luckily, she's got a good vibrator.

She Acknowledges She's A Little F*cked Up

Nobody gets out of this life without getting a little twisted — by your parents, by society, by other people. In SMILF, we see Bridgette deal with her own demons. She loves sex like any healthy human, but is a bit warped by it. She self-medicates with food, as many of us do. And at the end of episode one, she reveals a serious emotional wound that takes you totally by surprise — especially because it comes right in the middle of a commercial audition. Shaw's approach to the issue is both confrontational and honest, yet still funny. Not to mention, it makes us other flawed individuals feel less alone.

This article is sponsored by SMILF, a new half-hour SHOWTIME Comedy Series. Make sure to catch the series premiere of SMILF on SHOWTIME with a new episode every Sunday 10pm, following SHAMELESS. Or catch a sneak peek of the first episodes now!