Little Voice, a slice-of-life romantic dramedy from Waitress’ Sara Bareilles (Girls5Eva) and Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam) and J.J. Abrams’ (Lost, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens) Bad Robot, has become the first cancellation from Apple TV+. Deadline reports that the series, which landed on Apple TV+ July 2020, “had a quiet run, drawing loyal but small audience compared to other recent half-hour Apple series such as Ted Lasso, Mythic Quest, Physical and Schmigadoon!”
Brittany O’Grady (The White Lotus, Star) starred in Little Voice as Bess, an early 20s, New York City-based singer/songwriter out to find her big break. According to Entertainment Weekly, “much of Little Voice‘s music was written by Bareilles when she herself was a 20-something aspiring singer-songwriter. Though she’s stressed that Little Voice is not her story, the show was inspired by her own struggles as a young artist.”
Though not her precise story, Little Voice likewise shared the name of Bareilles’ sophomore album. Not only was Little Voice Bareilles’ first major-label album, but it featured “Love Song” which became a breakout hit for the singer/songwriter.
Along with writing and serving as executive producer, Bareilles composed Apple TV+’s Little Voice’s soundtrack. The singer/songwriter released the album More Love: Songs from Little Voice Season One last September, after the show’s summer 2020 premiere. Bareilles additionally made a cameo as herself in the series final episode “Sing What I Can’t Say.”
While extremely hands-on in the production of Little Voice, the series’ cancellation does not quite leave Bareilles in the lurch. The musician and actress will still keep busy in the role of fictional pop star Dawn Solano in Peacock’s Girs5Eva, which was recently Emmy-nominated and renewed for second season. Bareilles will additionally return to the role of Jenna Hunterson in Waitress when the show re-opens on Broadway next month.
Unfortunately, Little Voice’s cancellation marks the first from the streamer since its launch in 2019. Meanwhile, season two of Ted Lasso has been massive hit for the platform as has Rose Byrne’s (Spy, Bridesmaids) Physical, which just received season two renewal.