With the legalization of sports betting, gambling has transformed from a clandestine activity to a mainstream pastime in the country. This cultural shift makes the series Bookie, featuring comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, a timely fit for today’s landscape. However, despite its relevance, the show has been canceled after just two seasons on Max.
In this comedy, Maniscalco portrays a veteran bookie trying to adapt to the evolving world of legalized sports betting while managing challenging clients. It reflects the significant changes in society over recent years, yet its journey on the streaming platform will be brief. According to Variety, the cancellation was confirmed by Max this week.
“Bookie” has been canceled by Max after two seasons, Variety has learned exclusively.
The comedy series starred Sebastian Maniscalco as a veteran bookmaker in Los Angeles who must fight to survive the legalization of sports gambling while navigating unstable clients. Created by Chuck Lorre and Nick Bakay, the show premiered on the Warner Bros. Discovery streamer in November 2023 and debuted its second season in December 2024.
“For two seasons creators Chuck Lorre and Nick Bakay and their hilarious cast, led by Sebastian Maniscalco, made us laugh while pulling back the curtain on the world of sports betting,” a Max spokesperson said in a statement. “We won’t be moving forward with a third season, but we are grateful to have worked with such a brilliant team on this laugh-out-loud comedy.”
In a recent interview with Awful Announcing, Maniscalco discussed his experience as a lead actor, noting that it offered a new challenge alongside his successful career as a touring comedian. He expressed hope for a third season of Bookie, but that prospect now feels dashed.
“I’m in the entertainment business, so you don’t get your hopes up for anything. The only thing you can control is doing your best work, and if they like it, they like it. I don’t expect much. I don’t get my hopes up because then I feel like if I do, I get disappointed. Hopefully, we’ll get a Season 3. I think this second season, there’s a lot going on, and I think it’s going to warrant definitely continuing on to a Season 3, so, we’ll see.”
Despite its cancellation, Bookie received positive reviews from both critics and fans, boasting a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes among critics and 86% among viewers. Considering its acclaim, especially among sports enthusiasts, the early termination of the series is disappointing. However, it appears that Max and Warner Bros. Discovery based their decision on internal metrics, potentially limiting the show’s future.
