girls on the bus canceled

Max has made the decision not to move forward with a second season of its freshman drama series, “The Girls on the Bus.” The announcement comes shortly after the Season 1 finale of the show, which starred and was produced by Melissa Benoist.

In a statement, the streaming service expressed gratitude to the talented individuals involved in the project, including Amy Chozick, Julie Plec, Rina Mimoun, and the teams at Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television. Despite the cancellation, Max highlighted the series’ exploration of themes such as found family and the celebration of journalism.

The cancellation doesn’t come as a complete surprise, as “The Girls on the Bus,” based on Chozick’s book “Chasing Hillary,” didn’t make a significant impact in Nielsen’s streaming rankings. Despite occasional appearances on Max’s in-app Top 10 list, the series failed to gain substantial traction.

Created by Plec and Chozick, the first season of “The Girls on the Bus” followed the journey of journalist Sadie McCarthy (Benoist) as she pursued a career-defining opportunity covering a presidential candidate. Alongside her were fellow reporters Grace (Carla Gugino), Lola (Natasha Behnam), and Kimberlyn (Christina Elmore). The ensemble cast also included Brandon Scott, Griffin Dunne, Mark Consuelos, and Scott Foley.

Although the title implied a focus on the campaign bus, future seasons were intended to expand beyond this setting. Showrunner Rina Mimoun confirmed plans to shift the narrative to the general election for Season 2, with the reporters transitioning from the bus to a plane.

“The Girls on the Bus” initially found itself at Netflix before moving to The CW for development and eventually landing at Max with a series order in 2022.

Inspired by Chozick’s real-life experiences as a political reporter, the series offered viewers a glimpse into the demanding and competitive world of campaign journalism. Benoist not only starred but also served as a producer alongside the talented team behind the scenes.

Despite its brief stint on screen, “The Girls on the Bus” leaves behind a legacy of storytelling that celebrated the complexities of modern journalism and the bonds formed amidst the chaos of political campaigns.