The Trump Presidency is often compared to a movie or television show.

Whether it is a comedy, drama, tragedy or horror story does slightly depend on the hour. And whether it is a comedy (think Scaramucci), a horror story (think Dreamers or those who rely on the Affordable Care Act) or a sad tragedy (think those Marine Guards who stand respectfully by the door of Marine One while Donald Trump swaggers past), there is at least a sense of relief that it is not an end of the world movie.

There are teasers of course. North Korea with a plot line involving the second most unstable man on the planet being teased, belittled and goaded, Iran being pushed from a potential road to peace by random abuse more often used to negotiate with the suppliers of granite kitchen benches and putting a third rate real estate developer in charge of Middle East peace talks.

But if it is an entertainment franchise, then it is showing all the signs of running out of money and viewers. Where we watch because, just perhaps, there will be a plot twist or a beautiful new unknown.

It started with two key protagonists. Trump and Clinton. But there was a strong, or at least a colourful, supporting cast. But no longer.

Bannon, Priebus and Flynn have gone. Written out of the story. And while there was an attempt at a spin off show for Bannon, it has been like most spinoffs, relegated to the dark hours. The producers have tried to bring in Clinton again – but the talking about herself in endless interviews format never really took off.

There were a few attempts at bringing in a colourful character. Think Scaramucci. Which turned into the biggest failure of a character since Jar Jar Binks.

The other original characters are being given no or few screen minutes. When was the last time there was more than a few seconds of dialogue from Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Kellyanne Conway, Mad Dog Mattis or Stephen Miller?

Rex Tillerson tried – but even calling the President of the United States a #%## moron only got him a minor story line. Steve Mnuchin tried with a boy meets girl on a private government plane under the romantic shadow of the eclipse. But he is now pretty typecast as the jerk jock and only gets screen time because he is dating the mean girl cheer leader. And Jeff Sessions has pretty much nailed the loser nerd role.

So it is clear that the producers have deliberately slimmed the cast to that cheap, but successful formula. The court room drama. No expensive sets. Or costumes.

Just serious lawyers – by the way, why has no one mentioned the serious lack of diversity in any legal team in the Russian investigation – in blue suits and black shoes.

An embattled President – again, cheap sets. All golf courses look the same.

A narrator – General Kelly.

The producers got some criticism for their special prosecutor character. Patrician, Princeton, wounded Marine lieutenant in Vietnam, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York and FBI Director appointed by both Republican and Democratic Presidents. Not really believable. But then it was pointed out that the original lead was a bone spur suffering, sexual predator and television host who becomes US president.

Two lead characters. And only one will survive! Which?