The Girls On The Bus Stars Talk Reuniting For Third Time Without Sharing A Scene Together

Sadie, an ambitious journalist who works for a major paper, is on the campaign trail following her dream in The Girls on the Bus. She bonds with three other female journalists, including veteran campaign journalist Grace, who always has the scoop; Kimberlyn, a conservative cable news reporter; and Lola, a social media star hoping to find her path in journalism. The four women have very different political leanings, perspectives, and levels of experience, but manage to find a kinship with one another and form a deep friendship that helps them as they dig deeper into the candidates they are following.

The Girls on the Bus is led by Melissa Benoist, both as an actor and a producer. Benoist, along with co-stars Carla Gugino, Natasha Behnam, and Christina Elmore, bring pathos and comedy to their roles as they explore the very real impact of political issues. Scott Foley, Griffin Dunne, and Brandon Scott deliver stellar performances as well. The Girls on the Bus is based on Chasing Hilary, written by Amy Chozick, who co-created the series with Julie Plec.

Screen Rant interviewed The Girls on the Bus stars Griffin Dunne and Brandon Scott. Dunne explained why his character, Bruce, feels a kinship with Sadie, how Benoist’s performance helped him with certain scenes, and what drew him to this character. Scott praised Benoist as a scene partner and shared his desire to share more scenes with Dunne.

Dunne & Scott Loved Their Very “Complex” Characters

Screen Rant: This show is phenomenal. I watched it all in a day and I want a season 2 now. That’s all I want.

Griffin Dunne: I like that. That’s great to hear.

Brandon Scott: Well, I hope they let you out of your dungeon to see it. [Laughs]

Griffin, what were you excited to explore with this character that maybe sets them apart from others you’ve played before?

Griffin Dunne: Oddly, it’s the second time I’ve played a recovering alcoholic or drug addict, but I really liked Bruce’s character. I don’t mean just by name, I mean his internal character. He’s very moral, he believes in the written word and in telling the truth. And I liked his temper when he caught people not telling the truth. He was a very complicated character who held a high standard in himself and expected the same from others. So, I was really drawn to that, to his morality, I guess.

That was one of my favorite parts of that character. And then, Brandon, Malcolm has been burned by Sadie before. Can you talk about how his relationship with her evolves throughout the season?

Brandon Scott: Yeah. He definitely has been burned by her, and when you initially meet him, he’s carrying the energy of that, let’s say. He’s definitely succeeded more in his life. He has a higher status, so it’s exciting to see him get to kind of flaunt that in front of his ex who burned him.

But then, what I love about this character is the mask, that’s all a mask for his pain. He’s really someone who wants to wear his heart on his sleeve but doesn’t know how exactly. And it’s exciting to kind of see him go through this triangle of persecutor to a victim, to rescuer, to a persecutor, a victim.

They go through this weird back and forth, to eventually kind of exit himself from that triangle and want to be an adult about this. And I think it’s exciting to see them both kind of struggle with that, but then find themselves out of that back and forth.

Scott Was In Awe Of Benoist’s Quick Line Memorizing

I completely agree. And then, this question is for both of you. This cast is just phenomenal across the board. Is there a particular moment you remember where another cast member really knocked out of the park as a scene partner and helped you almost elevate your own performance?

Griffin Dunne: Yes, you’re absolutely right about the talent of this cast. And most of my scenes were sadly without Melissa in the room. But I was able to see, I would see her work with other actors, and she never ceased to impress me. And the way her relationship with Carla and the other actors, it did raise the elevation of my work, I think.

And she made a strong enough impression that even when I was pretending to talk to her on the phone, I saw her so clearly in my mind’s eye and what her reactions would’ve been. I could actually, even though I was hearing a script supervisor yelling out the names, the other lines, I always had her in my mind, in my mind’s eye.

That’s so cool. And then, Brandon, do you remember a particular moment?

Brandon Scott: Yeah. Most of my scenes are with Melissa on this. So, the character Sadie, just seeing what she did with that, she’s so playful. I think a subject matter like this and a story like this, it’s great to bring the playful child to the characters, and she always just hit it out of the park. And it was amazing to also watch her learn these lines so quickly.

I guess that’s from Supergirl, but she would just come on set, and she’d have these monologues or whatnot. And I was asking her, I said, “Just pretty much, you’re just learning it here?” And she’s like, “Yeah, I just, I guess practice from Supergirl.” She just learns it so fast. So, that was very impressive. I have memory of a goldfish, so I’m trying to get on that level.

Oh my gosh, I’d be right there with you, I would not have been able to do that. And then, Griffin, can you talk to me about why Bruce feels this kinship with Sadie and decided to take her under his wing, because that’s definitely one of my favorite dynamics on the show.

Griffin Dunne: Oh, good. Thank you. Well, I think he recognizes the talent. I think he favors her more than the other reporters of stories who he probably edits, because he sees such promise in her, and he sees that she has real talent. And he feels very kind of paternal toward her, which is the way a father would have for his daughter. In my case, I actually have a daughter who’s very similar to Melissa in age.

You take their shortcomings or mistakes very personally, and the disappointment in someone you really love and care about is much more intense and heartfelt, which kind of makes my character exhibit such tough love toward Melissa’s.

The Girls On The Bus Is Scott & Dunne’s Third Project Together (Yet Still Haven’t Acted Together)

And then, Brandon, is there another cast member that you’d wish you’d been able to share more scenes with? Because, like you said, you worked primarily with Melissa.

Brandon Scott: He’s right here. He’s right here.

Griffin Dunne: Yeah.

Brandon Scott: And for those who don’t know, this is the third project I’ve been on with Griffin, and I’ve never gotten a scene with him. So, yep.

How?

Griffin Dunne: They got him, and I’m in New York, and he’s in LA, so we’re still got a ways to go.

Brandon Scott: Dancing around each other. This is the most time we spent together, right here.

Griffin Dunne: It’s true. It’s true. Got to change that.

Oh my gosh. Another question I have for you guys, because you do actually deal with the press a lot, as is obvious with this, did playing these characters and kind of diving into this world give you a different perspective or understanding of journalism?

Griffin Dunne: Yeah. I mean, I was really taken with the realism and the knowingness of what the life of a reporter who’s on call for whatever national or international crisis or event is. I had read The Boys on the Bus that came out in the early ’70s, so I sort of knew about the hijinks that went on in the hotels and the hotel bars that they would all stay in. I just thought it was just so entertainingly portrayed in the series. And so, yeah, it definitely deepened my understanding of what it is to be a reporter.

Brandon Scott: Yeah, deepened it, just how grueling it can be. But then also, just the want to get it right, and all the checks and balances, depending on which outlet you’re with, you have to go through to get it right. That was an excitement around it all. I think they did a great job in writing it, but then also capturing it with what you see on it through the series.

About The Girls on the Bus

Four female journalists who follow the every move of a parade of flawed presidential candidates, finding friendship, love, and a scandal that could take down not just the presidency but our entire democracy along the way.

Check back for our other The Girls on the Bus interviews:

• Melissa Benoist & Natasha Behnam
• Carla Gugino & Christina Elmore
• Scott Foley
• Amy Chozick, Julie Plec, & Rina Mimoun

The Girls on the Bus debuts on Max on March 14.