Rosie O'Donnell, Alex Brightman Set for Showtime Comedy Pilot SMILF

According to Variety, Rosie O'Donnell (Broadway's GREASE, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, SEUSSICAL) has joined the cast of Showtime's upcoming comedy SMILF, based on Frankie Shaw's award-winning short film. Set in Boston, SMILF will take a raw look at a single, 20-something whose desires for relationships, sex, and a career collide with the realities of young, single motherhood.

Along with series regulars, the show will also feature guest stars including Tony Award nominee Alex Brightman (Broadway's SCHOOL OF ROCK), Kyle Vincent Terry and "Quantico's" Graham Rogers.

O'Donnell will take on the role of Tutu, described as "Bridgette's (Shaw) mother, who is unapologetically herself and completely oblivious to social convention. Despite her troubled upbringing in the projects of Southie, she shows up for her daughter and grandson as best as she possibly can - which isn't always up to Bridgette's standards."

As BWW reported in August, Showtime announced that it has ordered the new comedy pilot based Shaw's Sundance Film Festival Jury Award-winning short film. Shaw will star, write, produce and direct the semi-autobiographical pilot, with Oscar nominee Michael London (Sideways), and Emmy nominees Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky (The Office, Bad Teacher) executive producing.

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