THE END OF THE ROAD: Mzansi Magic cancels The Road; dramatically cuts back episode order of The Bomb Shelter's failed multimillion rand telenovela.

The Road on M-Net's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161), the telenovela produced by The Bomb Shelter, has been effectively cancelled and its episode order dramatically reduced by almost half, making the Sophiatown show-set-inside-a-show production likely the most expensive local production flop in Mzansi Magic history.

Originally commissioned and envisioned to run for 208 episodes, the axe came down on the expensive multimillion rand Bomb Shelter produced show with its elaborate 1950's era sets filmed in a lot in an abandoned factory in Jeppestown, with Mzansi Magic deciding to cancel and end The Road as soon as possible that's been suffering from tepid viewer response and barely there ratings.

The Road as a Monday to Thursday telenovela with Gail Mabalane, Sthandiwe Kgoroge, Darlington Michaels and Muzi Mthabela on M-Net's Mzansi Magic supplied channel to MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform will now end on 31 March after 128 episodes.

"The Road will draw to a close in March 2016," says Mzansi Magic, noting that "audiences have appreciated this groundbreaking drama that in many ways was a first for South African television and has kept viewers glued to their screens."

That's not quite true: The Road debuted in August 2015 with 437 000 viewers and plunged to a barely registering just over 120 000 viewers - a far cry Mzansi Magic's top show, the telenovela isiBaya at 754 000 viewers.

Asked why The Road was cancelled and its episode order cut down, Bongi Potelwa-Metsing, Mzansi Magic publicist tells TV with Thinus that "as the story progressed new twists and turns became evident giving life to a faster build-up to the storyline climax".

With lackluster ratings for an expensive show, Mzansi Magic made the decision to cancel The Road late last year.

Asked how the cancellation and change in episode order affects the production and impact on the original story the show wanted to tell, Mzansi Magic says "contracts with our suppliers are confidential" but says the story as it was written will come to an end as planned.

"As  with all great stories, by the time we reach the final episode, viewers will be taken on a journey with our characters, revealing a resolution as planned and ending on a high note".

Although liked by TV critics for its innovative dual story despite the wooden acting of some of the actors, The Road, set in two time periods - both the present and olden days Sophiatown, together with a murder mystery - proved too high-brow, intricate and meta-media for Mzansi Magic viewers.

Mzansi Magic's latest telenovela The Road conjures up Sophiatown as a TV show set behind a TV show, with a murder mystery in two time periods.

Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) is going both high-brow and old school with its latest telenovela The Road starting tonight at 19:30 - a love story set against the backdrop of iconic Sophiatown filled with murder, mystery, politics and music.

"We hope our viewers will enjoy the authentic, sweeping love story set through an famous era's glamour and music," says Nkateko Mabaso, the M-Net director for local interest channels.

The Road with its high-brow concept hopes to capture the same success with audiences as Mzansi Magic did with Isibaya, although the intricate tale might be too difficult for some viewers.

The Road is set in two time periods - both the present and olden days Sophiatown - together with a murder mystery. Then there's the somewhat mind-bending aspect of the real-life actors playing characters in the story who are actors. These "actors" play characters in a Sophiatown setting, when a murder occurs.

Production company The Bomb Shelter describes it as "the beautiful singer Stella and talented writer Themba are star-crossed lovers longing to be together, but only destiny will tell if they end up in each other's arms".

"A heavyweight TV producer eager to tell and capture the touching story takes on the challenge, leading to spell-bound actions he couldn't have predicted".

The reality however is that the story is much more intricate that this, and it remains to be seen whether viewers will stick around for the viewing that requires some effort and concentration amidst the lavish beauty of 1950's recreated Sophiatown.

"This is a major milestone for us," says Nkateko Mabaso. "The Road marks our fourth venture into the genre and we've gone all out to create a high-quality, compelling drama for our audiences."

"We want them to feel immersed in the emotions of the characters and the demands of their worlds. The aim is to make a visually stunning, storyline-driven drama that will keep viewers enticed."

The Road will try to infuse and pay tribute to the sounds of the 50's and some of its greatest musicians into the story - and to then contrast that to modern-day Johannesburg.

The Road stars former Isidingo alum Darlington Michaels who has vowed to never return to the SABC3 soap saying he was badly treated and viewers can forget about "ever seeing me on Isidingo again".

Other The Road actors include Muzi Mthabela, Nandi Ngoma, Tsholofelo Maseko, Moneoa Moshesh, Solomon Sebothoma, Sithembiso Khoza, Gail Mabalane, Neo Ntlatleng and Sthandiwe Kgoroge.