StayTuned Magazine

Big Smo recap Episode 1: “Go Big or Go Home”

June 11, 2014 Jeff Pfeiffer Reality TV, TV News & Program Updates

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

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.

___________________________________

Photo by Zach Dilgard
Copyright 2014

22 Comments

  2. Loved the show. Watched it this last week and will be continuing to watch. May I also get the quik chick recipe. Thank you!!!

  4. I FOUND THIS RECIPE ONLINE. SOUNDS AND LOOKS THE SAME.

    http://www.cooks.com/recipe/t596n5v2/quick-chick-trick.html

    QUICK-CHICK TRICK

    6-8 chicken breasts
    16 oz. sour cream
    1 can Campbell’s cream of chicken soup
    1 stick butter, melted
    1 pack Ritz crackers (about 40)
    9×13 inch Pyrex dish

    Cook chicken; shred into Pyrex dish. Heat sour cream and soup. Pour this sauce over chicken. Put a pack of crushed Ritz crackers evenly on top of sauce. Pour a stick of melted butter over crackers. Heat at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Serves 5 or more.

  9. My husband DAVID ask me to post THANK GOD FOR TESLITY SHOWS THAT ARE REAL GENINE PEOPLE .. Need more shows like duck dynasty and SMO REAL PEOPLE ENOUGH KARDASHIANS !!! LOL

  10. Loved the family dynamics of a blending family filling their dreams , having a stepfather who raised my brothers and I and respected both my father and family, not raised in the south , but born in michigan blue collar with same values , Whitney is a excellent partner and MOTHER THO SMO GIRLS!! I just really want Smis moms quick chick reciepe please email to my family! Whitney willing to learn how to cookbSMIS FAV dishes and his mom to embrace and want to help aher and share her reciepe , priceless great start to a healthy relationship not only with his girls but his mother AWESOME !!! Please email quick chick reciepe!! Thank you David and Renee Spring give ill . Maybe after the wedding Mama can write a recipe of all SMI FAVORITE FOODS ILK ATART WITH THE QUICK CHICK; I have 200 peices of chicken left over from a vreat cancer benefit … Please help and share your QUICK CHICK RECIEPE ASAP… God bless your future marriage ,growing success , I see a great things for you and fiancé .. Sure hope to see you and your family grow. , I respect Whitney as a women not only for your support but her love of your children as her own!!! SURE HOPE WE SEE A ADDITIION TO YOUR FAMILY AFTER YOUR HONEYMOON!!! They will be loved and blessed .. Whitney you are the example if how a woman who lives her soul mate live their children… Can’t wait for a addition to your family and my quick chick reciepe .. GOD BLESS TO YOU ALL !!

      • One more reply bonus you on the same night as duck dynasty … Already my two favorite shows and people I can relate… My uncle is a bow and arrow hunter makes and owns OWNS AND RUNS GONZA BESR CAMP IN UPPER MICHIGAN !!! Love you all and so relate ,, wild Ted and my uncle hunt and make arrows so your families are very similar to mine … The BEST

  13. I saw the show for the first time today. Actually, it was by mistake that I began watching. As a result, I’m now a fan. By the way, PLEASE share Big Smo mom’s quick chick recipe. It can be emailed to me. “I want some”
    THANKS, and I will continue to watch

  16. Omg I love the show!! Please send me
    The quick chick recipe!! U guys made it sound amazing!

  19. Loved the show….. My whole family watches
    My kids are all adult boys now…. We want the quick chick receipe

  20. We love watching Big Smo. The most recent episode had a recipe called quick chick and we LOVE chicken. Could we please have the recipe for quick chick? We wish Big Smo and his family the best. Thanks

Comments are closed.

© 2025 StayTuned Magazine