‘SMILF’ Canceled at Showtime After Two Seasons
“SMILF” is coming to an end at Showtime after two seasons.
The cancellation comes after it was reported in December that “SMILF” producer ABC Studios opened an investigation into series creator, star, and showrunner Frankie Shaw after actress Samara Weaving raised concerns to fellow cast member Rosie O’Donnell and one of the show’s directors after being asked to perform a sex scene in the nude with co-star Miguel Gomez during production on the show’s second season. Weaving also said that she had been made uncomfortable by Shaw’s behavior during production of a similar scene in Season 1, as Weaving had a no-nudity clause in her contract.
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“After weighing a variety of factors, Showtime has decided that ‘SMILF’ will not move forward for a third season,” the network said in a statement Friday. “The remainder of the second season will continue to air as scheduled on Showtime through its series finale on March 31. We remain extremely proud of the two seasons of ‘SMILF,’ and thank Frankie Shaw for her singular voice and unique creation, as well as the dozens of writers, producers, actors, directors and crew members both in Los Angeles and on location in Boston, who contributed to this exceptional series.”
In addition to the cancellation, Variety has confirmed that Shaw’s overall deal with ABC Studios has been suspended.
“Frankie Shaw’s overall deal with ABC Studios has been suspended without pay while we review our options,” a studio spokesperson said in a statement.
O’Donnell is said to have passed Weaving’s complaint on to an executive at Showtime, who in turn spoke with compliance officials at ABC Studios and Showtime. Shaw addressed the allegations publicly shortly before the Season 2 premiere in January, saying, “This is my first time doing this job and we moved fast, and I was learning on the go and I’m just really grateful that I can take these lessons of being a more aware and attuned showrunner moving forward.”
Shaw issued her own statement Friday, which read, ““I can’t express how much I’ve loved making this show, how much I love the cast and crew and appreciate Showtime as creative partners.” — Frankie Shaw.”
According to sources, Shaw was also developing a series based on the Sylvia Plath novel “The Bell Jar” at Showtime, though no final deals for the project are believed to be in place.
“SMILF” was based on Shaw’s short film of the same name. It was nominated for two Golden Globes for its first season: best comedy series and best actress in a comedy for Shaw.
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