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.
___________________________________
Photo by Zach Dilgard
Copyright 2014
Tried quick chick tonight, it was wonderful. Definitely gonna be making it again.
I made the Quick Chick. It was so decilious. If anyone makes this disk you better double the receipe. My family had it gone in a short time and was wanting more. I had never heard of Quick Chick till I watch your shows. It is definately going to be made at our house more often. Also this is a dish I have marked for family reuions and to carry to a homebound person, church gathering, and to the sick when I visit them. I can’t wait to try more receipes and also buy the cookbook.
Thanks for having a show that a family can watch together but don’t forget to give new receipes on the show also.
Marjorie P.
Oxford, MS
I am going to make the quick chick. I was wondering how do you prepare the chicken before shredding. Do you boil,bake, or fry it first?
Our family loves and enjoys your shows.
MP
Oxford, MS
Instead of “replying” to all of your comments:
Here’s Quik Chik, AKA Chicken ala Ritz:
QUIK CHICK Recipe (Highlight, then Right-click to save/print)
Ingredients:
•3 cups of cooked chicken shredded
•1 cup sour cream
•1 can cream of chicken soup
•1 sleeve (40-50) Ritz crackers ((Butter flavored is a plus!))
•3 Tablespoons of butter, melted
Directions:
1.Preheat oven to 350.
2.Place shredded chicken in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
3.Mix together sour cream and cream of chicken soup. Spoon mixture over chicken evenly.
4.Crush Ritz and pour butter over. Mix together. Sprinkle crushed Ritz over casserole.
5.Bake for 30 minutes.
Please send recipes for sure the quick chic 🙂 thank you and God bless!!
QUIK CHICK Recipe (Highlight, then Right-click to save/print)
Ingredients:
•3 cups of cooked chicken shredded
•1 cup sour cream
•1 can cream of chicken soup
•1 sleeve (40-50) Ritz crackers ((Butter flavored is a plus!))
•3 Tablespoons of butter, melted
Directions:
1.Preheat oven to 350.
2.Place shredded chicken in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
3.Mix together sour cream and cream of chicken soup. Spoon mixture over chicken evenly.
4.Crush Ritz and pour butter over. Mix together. Sprinkle crushed Ritz over casserole.
5.Bake for 30 minutes.
Do a search for ‘chicken ala ritz’ and there is your recipe.
Would love to have the recipe. Never heard of quick chick. And it looks easy to make.
Thanks
QUIK CHICK Recipe (Highlight, then Right-click to save/print)
Ingredients:
•3 cups of cooked chicken shredded
•1 cup sour cream
•1 can “Cream of Chicken” soup
•1 sleeve (about 40-50) Ritz crackers ((Butter flavored is a plus!))
•3 Tablespoons of butter, melted
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Line shredded chicken along bottom of a 9×13″ baking dish.
3. Mix together the sour cream and cream of chicken soup.
Spoon mixture over chicken evenly.
4. Crush the Ritz and add butter, mix together well.
Sprinkle crushed Ritz over casserole.
5. Bake for 30 minutes.
My sister lives in red springs Tennessee. My mom ran and owed the Donoho Hotel she was a great cook. I have never heard of Quick Chick
I would love the recipe
QUIK CHICK Recipe (Highlight, then Right-click to save/print)
Ingredients:
•3 cups of cooked chicken shredded
•1 cup sour cream
•1 can “Cream of Chicken” soup
•1 sleeve (about 40-50) Ritz crackers ((Butter flavored is a plus!))
•3 Tablespoons of butter, melted
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Line shredded chicken along bottom of a 9×13″ baking dish.
3. Mix together the sour cream and cream of chicken soup.
Spoon mixture over chicken evenly.
4. Crush the Ritz and add butter, mix together well.
Sprinkle crushed Ritz over casserole.
5. Bake for 30 minutes
Please may I have your momma’s quick chick recipe. And also I love your show u r awesome. Thanks
Here’s Quik Chik, AKA Chicken ala Ritz:
http://www.cooks.com/recipe/hk3mu4gi/chicken-ala-ritz.html
I too would like your momma’s/and now Whitney’s recipe for Quick Chik, thanks:). Think I found an apple dumpling one that sounds good, but if ya’ll published that one too, that would be awesome. Rock on!
Here’s Quik Chik, AKA Chicken ala Ritz:
http://www.cooks.com/recipe/hk3mu4gi/chicken-ala-ritz.html
May I have your moms recipes thank you
Here’s Quik Chik, AKA Chicken ala Ritz:
http://www.cooks.com/recipe/hk3mu4gi/chicken-ala-ritz.html
The quick chick looks and sounds so yummy!! please post the recipe I want to make it so bad.
I love the show!! I want Big Smo’s mama’s quick chick recipe. Haven’t been able to find it.
would love to have quick chick ,that was showen on Big Smo show.
I cant find any think like it and want to make it so please help me. thank Big Smo,or Mama Smo.
PLEASE < Puplish Big Smos mama reciepe for Quick Chick!!!!
We are your newest fans for sure, love the show, the family values are just awesome. Can I please get the quick chick recipe? We love down home southern food & can’t wait to try it yummy
Would love some of Amos mamas recipes, we love down home southern foods. The quick chick sounds amazing and maybe her Mac & cheese too please if possible send us the recipe thank you, we r some of your newest fans, kinfoke