Sometimes, escapist media works best when it presents a vision of a world that’s somewhat close to the one someone is trying to run away from, but without any of the real-life stressors that make that situation so taxing. (This writer watched a lot of VeepThe A.V. Club, Brandon Scott said he hopes his Max show, The Girls On The Bus, serves a similar purpose.
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Adapted from New York Times reporter Amy Chozik’s memoir Chasing Hillary, The Girls On The Bus follows four journalists (Melissa Benoist, Carla Gugino, Christina Elmore, and Natasha Behnam) as they track each candidate in a contentious election cycle.
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“There could be a lot of fatigue around political stories at this time especially with the new cycle, but I think our show offers a great escape because there’s a lot of levity, there’s a lot of humor, there’s a lot of heart, and there’s a lot of hope in it,” Scott said. “My hope is that people watch it and they have a good time, and it offers that escape, but it could also be a catalyst for folks to kind of be a bit more curious down the line about some of the themes explored, and maybe spark a new generation of journalists and people interested in moving into politics.”
For Scott, who plays a Democratic press secretary named Loafers (“That is his name... Loafers,” the actor quipped), even just playing someone involved in that world inspired him to dig deeper. “I went to DC for the first time. I’d never been there,” he said of his preparation for the role, which also included interviewing multiple real-life press secretaries and campaign managers. “Walking around the halls of The Capitol just filled my soul in so many ways.”
Journalism does feel like a good fit for Scott, who is extremely curious as an actor. “I would love to do a musical, I love the horror world, I love rom-coms, I love them all,” he said, when The A.V. Club asked what genre he’d like to explore next. He also pitched himself for a Marvin Gaye or Sam Cooke biopic, which we’d love to see. Get writing, people!
The Girls On The Bus is now streaming on Max.