I wasn’t sure what to think when the preview screener for A&E’s new reality series Big Smo arrived on my desk. I had been unaware of the genre of music Smo performs — a crossover of country music, Southern rock and hip-hop known as “hick hop” to some people, as Smo tells us in the premiere episode. And following the premiere, I still don’t fully know what his sound is like, as the episode didn’t have too much of Big Smo’s original music in it, except for snippets at the end. We get inklings in the premiere that Smo is getting ready to head out on the road more to debut his first major-label album Kuntry Livin’ (which was released June 3; the series appears to have been filmed last fall/winter), and that he and his loved ones are torn about this opportunity — it could be his chance to hit it big (although we are told he already has a core of die-hard fans, known as “Kinfoke”), but the promotions and concerts will take him away from them more often.
Big Smo, at least from the first episode, seems to focus on Smo’s family life, introducing him, his girlfriend of four years Whitney — pictured above with Big Smo, and who serves as a stepmom or sorts to Smo’s two teen daughters, whom he calls his “posse,” in hip-hop parlance — and Smo’s mother, who serves as his “big money person.”
The scenes between Smo and his daughters, and with Whitney, are the most affecting elements of the first episode, and help, so far, differentiate this from being yet another show about a colorful Southern family that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing on A&E and elsewhere. There is a moment when Smo, with his mother’s help, decides he needs to take his relationship with Whitney to the next level and “put a ring on it,” and he has a talk with his daughters about Whitney that is surprisingly touching.
That leads us to another emotional moment, at the end of the episode, where Smo is on the road performing, and he, at the last minute, sends his bandmates back to pick up Whitney and the girls to attend the concert. It is there, onstage in front of an audience, that Smo proposes to Whitney, who accepts. Whitney’s presence in his life, and acceptance of his proposal, has also caused Smo to change the lyrics of one of his songs that imply he’d prefer life without a wife holding him back, to lyrics talking about his wife as a partner in his lifestyle.
The proposal was one of the moments in Big Smo that felt most real. Some of the other interactions between the people felt scripted even more than usual for a show like this. But the moments when the characters speak into the camera felt more real, especially Whitney, who I found to be the most endearing character of the series, so far. Smo’s bandmates seem like they are tacked on to pad time and add more humor (though I didn’t find them overly hilarious), and they are sort of annoying, at one point interrupting a romantic evening between Smo and Whitney to bicker about who is going to be the opening act for Smo’s next concert.
Although I didn’t hear enough of Smo’s music in this first episode to form an opinion on that (though, frankly, the little snippets I did hear made me think I probably wouldn’t be into it that much), Smo, his mom, Whitney and the girls are likeable enough that I was surprised to care as much about them as I did. We’ll see if that continues, and if Smo really does — in the words of his late father — “go big or go home.” It kind of seems like going home wouldn’t be the worst result for Smo, if things end up that way. There are a lot of good folks waiting for him there.
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Photo by Zach Dilgard
Copyright 2014
Would love to get quick chic recipe smo’s mom made looks so amazing
We love Big Smo!! My boys love the show and the music! Can we pleeeeeease get momma Smo’s quick chick and apple dumpling recipe?? It looked delicious!!!
Please email me the quick chick recipe
thanks
Please send me the quick chick recipe. THANKS!!
please send me a quick chick recipe
Please email me quick chick recipe
Please send me Big Smo’s momma’s quick chick recipe. It sounds amazing and my kids would love it. My middle son Garrett loves Big Smo, we all do but he is his #1 in our house. Garrett loves chicken and he really wants to try quick chick 🙂 Thanks so much
Please email the quick chick recipe
Does anybody know what song plays during the last half of the intro? It’s the one finishing right when the title screen comes on..
Oh please give me the recipe for “quick chick”
It sounds soooooo good! Please share!!!
My family loves Big Smo, especially my five year old. He now want me to make quick chick for him. Can you please send us the recipe!
Please email the recipe for quick chicken from the big
Smo show. As ‘quick’ as you can. Thank you.
I need the quick Chick recipe…please
Please send momma’s quick chick receipe. Would love to make it. I do not want to screw it up. Thank you in advance .
Would love to have the quick chick recipie
Please give me that recip . For quick chicken
PLEASE! Give us Smo’s mamas qick chick recipe
His album is forsale at every walmart
I have personally known good ol smo for 15 years an he is truly a good ol southern man who has always put his family first and been a family man his road has been bumpy but it’s made him who he is an his success is not that dreams come tru but that hard work dedication an keeping the faith does pay off he is a hard workin man a I salute him an smile every time I hear his name
Does any body no what the name of the song is that was playing at the beginning of the premiere it was the song that was playing at about a minute &35 seconds in….. thanks to any body who can let me no
It’s called Workin’ featuring Alexander King I believe
Big Smo just seems like a great family man. I live way in the “kuntry” with my fiance.. Big Smo sets the bar high for all country men. He’s the way country men should be: he loves his momma, and his family is always first on his priority list. Oh and does anybody know the name of the song Haden Carpenter was singing by the bonfire?! I can’t wait to see Smo and Whitney get married!!! I wish them all the best!!!!!!
Love Smos music, it hits home for us southern country folks who like all types of music we love the combination he has created. If you don’t beleive me go to a mud ride and check what people are blaring from the speakers of their trucks and ATVs. Smo Rocks! Keep it up we love ya!