The Morning Show (American TV series)#Season 1 (2019)

Alex Levy co-anchors The Morning Show (TMS), a popular morning news program broadcast from Manhattan on the UBA network, which has excellent viewership ratings and is perceived to have changed the face of American television.

In the first season, after her on-air partner of 15 years, Mitch Kessler, is fired amid a sexual misconduct scandal, Alex fights to retain her job as a top news anchor while paired with a new partner, Bradley Jackson, a field reporter whose series of impulsive decisions increasingly threatens the network.

In the second season, the network CEO attempts to convince Alex to return to TMS as the COVID-19 pandemic engulfs the United States and the show itself. Meanwhile, Bradley deals with an identity crisis.

In the third season, the network struggles for viewers for its subscription service and contemplates a takeover by tech titan Paul Marks.

• Jennifer Aniston as Alexandra "Alex" Levy, co-host of UBA's TMS
• Reese Witherspoon as Bradley Jackson, former TMS co-host and news anchor at UBA
• Billy Crudup as Cory Ellison, CEO of UBA
• Mark Duplass as Charlie "Chip" Black, executive producer of TMS
• Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Hannah Shoenfeld (season 1), talent booker for TMS
• Néstor Carbonell as Yanko Flores, the meteorologist of TMS
• Karen Pittman as Mia Jordan, a producer at TMS
• Bel Powley as Claire Conway (seasons 1–2),{{efn|Bel Powley only appears in one episode of season two, although credited as a main cast member.}} a production assistant at TMS
• Desean Terry as Daniel Henderson (seasons 1–2), co-host of the weekend edition of TMS
• Jack Davenport as Jason Craig (season 1), Alex's ex-husband
• Steve Carell as Mitch Kessler (seasons 1–2), the recently fired co-host of The Morning Show
• Greta Lee as Stella Bak (season 2–present), President of UBA's news division
• Ruairi O'Connor as Ty Fitzgerald (season 2), social media expert at UBA
• Julianna Margulies as Laura Peterson (season 2–3), YDA co-host and former news anchor at UBA who has a relationship with Bradley
• Nicole Beharie as Christine Hunter (season 3), a former Olympian and new TMS co-host
• Jon Hamm as Paul Marks (season 3), a tech billionaire who attempts to buy UBA
• Marion Cotillard as Celine Dumont (season 4), a savvy operator from a storied European family
• Jeremy Irons as Martin Levy (season 4), Alex's father
• Aaron Pierre as Miles (season 4)
• William Jackson Harper as Ben (season 4), the network's self-assured and innovative Head of Sports
• Boyd Holbrook as Brodie (season 4), a popular and provocative podcaster and talk show host

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• Shari Belafonte as Julia
• Victoria Tate as Rena Robinson, Chip's assistant
• Hannah Leder as Isabella
• Joe Marinelli as Donny Spagnoli
• Eli Bildner as Joel Rapkin
• Amber Friendly as Layla Bell
• Tom Irwin as Fred Micklen (seasons 1–2; guest season 3), UBA's president
• Joe Pacheco as Bart Daley
• Janina Gavankar as Alison Namazi (seasons 1–2), co-host of the weekend edition of TMS
• Joe Tippett as Hal Jackson, Bradley's brother
• Michelle Meredith as Lindsey Sherman (seasons 1–2)
• Andrea Bendewald as Valérie (season 1; guest seasons 2–3)
• Marcia Gay Harden as Maggie Brener (season 1; guest seasons 2–3), a reporter and journalist
• Augustus Prew as Sean (season 1; guest season 2)
• Katherine Ko as Dhillon Reece-Smit (season 1)
• Ian Gomez as Greg (season 1)
• Oona Roche as Lizzy Craig (season 1; guest season 2), Alex and Jason's daughter
• David Magidoff as Nicky Brooks (season 1)
• Kate Vernon as Geneva Micklen (season 1)
• Roman Mitichyan as Sam Rudo (season 1)

• Theo Iyer as Kyle (seasons 2–3), Cory's assistant
• Choni Francis as RJ Smith (seasons 2–3)
• Tara Karsian as Gayle Berman (seasons 2–3)
• Holland Taylor as Cybil Reynolds (seasons 2–3), a seasoned board member of UBA
• Valeria Golino as Paola Lambruschini (season 2), a documentarian who befriends Mitch in Italy
• Markus Flanagan as Gerald Drummond (season 2; guest seasons 1, 3)
• Aflamu Johnson as Aflamu (season 2; guest season 3)
• Hasan Minhaj as Eric Nomani (season 2), Bradley's new co-host
• Patrick Bristow as Gordon (season 2)
• Katie Aselton as Madeleine (season 2), Chip's girlfriend

• Jack Conley as Earl (season 3; guest season 2)
• Tig Notaro as Amanda Robinson (season 3)
• Stephen Fry as Leonard Cromwell (season 3)
• Clive Standen as Andre Ford (season 3)
• Natalie Morales as Kate Danton (season 3)

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• Mindy Kaling as Audra Khatri (seasons 1–3), a rival morning news anchor
• Embeth Davidtz as Paige Kessler (seasons 1–2), Mitch's ex-wife
• Mark Harelik as Richard (seasons 1–2)
• Martin Short as Dick Lundry (seasons 1–2), a disgraced movie director
• Will Arnett as Doug Klassen (seasons 2–3)
• Meredith Scott Lynn as Linda (seasons 2–3)

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• Adina Porter as Sarah Gravele
• Brett Butler as Sandy Jackson
• Philip Anthony-Rodriguez as Gabriel
• Fred Melamed as Neal Altman
• Ahna O'Reilly as Ashley Brown
• Natalia Warner as Cecily
• Andrew Leeds as Alan
• John Marshall Jones as Noah
• Zuri Hall as herself
• Kelly Clarkson as herself
• Kelly Sullivan as Vicki Manderly
• David Morse as Mr. Jackson
• Julian Morris as Andrew
• Cheyenne Jackson as himself
• Robert Cicchini as Robert
• Mike O'Malley as Tim Eavers
• Romy Rosemont as Sheila Lutkin
• Brian Bowen Smith as photographer
• Paul Guilfoyle as Reid
• Ethan Cohn as Jared
• Dana Davis as Christine
• Maria Sharapova as herself
• Hayes MacArthur as Marlon Tate

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• Dave Foley as Peter Bullard
• Kathy Najimy as Sylvia Portman
• James Urbaniak as Backstage Manager
• David Bowe as Clyde Canter
• Patrick Fabian as Jeff
• Foo Fighters as Themselves
• David Paymer as Mr. Shoenfeld
• Brian Stelter as Carl Richardson

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• Alano Miller as Marcus Hunter
• Maria Canals-Barrera as Mercedes
• Ilia Volok as Pavlo
• Andrew Patrick Ralston as Elmer
• Esther Perel as Herself
• June Diane Raphael as Eagle News Anchor
• Retta as Herself
• Fortune Feimster as Herself
• Brent Bailey as Zach
• Sasha Alexander as Salma
• T.V. Carpio as Emma
• Daniel Kash as Seth
• Samantha Sloyan as Cheryl
• Lindsay Duncan as Martha, Cory's mother
• Eyal Podell as Larry Pane
• Shannon Woodward as Jess Bennett
• Elizabeth Perkins as Elena Daniels
• Joanne Baron as Brenda Litchfield

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{{Series overview

| color1 = #4A484E

| link1 = #Season 1 (2019)

| episodes1 = 10

| start1 = {{Start date|2019|11|1}}

| end1 = {{End date|2019|12|20}}

| color2 = #191B4D

| link2 = #Season 2 (2021)

| episodes2 = 10

| start2 = {{Start date|2021|9|17}}

| end2 = {{End date|2021|11|19}}

| color3 = #8F4114

| link3 = #Season 3 (2023)

| episodes3 = 10

| start3 = {{Start date|2023|9|13}}

| end3 = {{End date|2023|11|8}}

}}

{{Episode table |background=#4A484E |overall= |season= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|EpisodeNumber2 = 1

|Title = In the Dark Night of the Soul It's Always 3:30 in the Morning

|DirectedBy = Mimi Leder

|WrittenBy = Kerry Ehrin and Jay Carson

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|1}}

|ShortSummary = The Morning Show, a popular news and talk morning television show, is thrown into chaos when co-anchor Mitch Kessler is fired amid allegations of sexual misconduct. His co-anchor Alex Levy is furious at the network for keeping her in the dark and later meets with Mitch, who reveals the network has been planning on replacing her. Elsewhere, young "conservative" reporter Bradley Jackson becomes an internet viral sensation after a video of her angrily fact-checking a coal mine supporter at a protest is posted on social media. Bradley quits her local network following a confrontation with her boss, and, after an argument with her family, is asked to appear on The Morning Show for an interview by the show's head booker Hannah. Alex is skeptical about Bradley's claim that she was unaware of being filmed and presses her during the interview, but Bradley pushes back and doesn't give in. Network CEO Cory Ellison is impressed and later calls Bradley to ask her to meet with him so they can discuss her future.

|LineColor = 4A484E

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|EpisodeNumber2 = 2

|Title = A Seat at the Table

|DirectedBy = Mimi Leder

|WrittenBy = {{WritingCredits|order=t|s=Kerry Ehrin and Jay Carson|t=Kerry Ehrin}}

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|1}}

|ShortSummary = Cory arranges a meeting for Bradley with the show's executive producer, Chip Black, to see if she might become a field correspondent. His dismissive manner sets Bradley off, leaving her sure she has ruined her chances of getting the job. In the middle of a meeting for contract negotiations, and knowing the network needs her to stabilize the show after Mitch's departure, Alex tries to leverage the situation to get all of her demands, including co-host approval. Yanko Flores, the show's meteorologist, is pursuing a secret relationship with production assistant Claire; Yanko warns that they have to be careful about their relationship due to Mitch's recent controversies. Cory continues to use an unwitting Bradley to stir things up by getting her to come to an awards event honoring Alex, and seats the women next to each other. In the lobby, Cory scoffs when Alex demands co-host approval and calls her bluff when she threatens to leave the show. In retaliation, Alex goes rogue during her speech and takes things into her own hands by announcing Bradley as her new co-host, much to the shock of everyone in attendance.

|LineColor = 4A484E

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|EpisodeNumber2 = 3

|Title = Chaos Is the New Cocaine

|DirectedBy = David Frankel

|WrittenBy = Erica Lipez

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|1}}

|ShortSummary = The staff of The Morning Show are in turmoil over Alex's announcement. Cory tells the press that Bradley will debut the following Monday; as the team prepares to work all weekend to prep her, Alex arrives to assert some control over the proceedings. Meanwhile, a frustrated Bradley remains undecided over accepting the position. Mia Jordan asks Chip to make her Bradley's producer, and announces her new role before he has even offered it to her. Forced to go along with Alex's announcement or lose face, network president Fred Micklen is furious, but Cory reacts differently; he tells Fred to look at Bradley as an opportunity to reinvent the show and eventually be rid of Alex like they wanted. During Bradley's first camera tests, people question her initial wardrobe, and she challenges the copy Mia has provided her. Cory gets to know Bradley as they pick out a new wardrobe for her. Fred summons Alex to browbeat her in front of a room of network executives, but she boldly informs him that he lost power over the show long ago, and from now on they will be doing things her way.

|LineColor = 4A484E

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|EpisodeNumber2 = 4

|Title = That Woman

|DirectedBy = Lynn Shelton

|WrittenBy = Adam Milch

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|8}}

|ShortSummary = Bradley makes her debut on The Morning Show but, chafing at the rosy scripted persona the show has given her, decides to mention her personal struggles growing up, including having an abortion as a teen. This revelation incites controversy and infuriates Fred, but it also galvanizes the younger, pro-choice audience. Meanwhile, an internal investigation is launched by the company's human resources department into Mitch's conduct, with most of the crew backing Mitch and denying knowledge of his sexual misconduct. Alex is convinced to give up the Friday interview with one of Mitch's accusers to Bradley, but when Bradley goes off-script, the accuser reveals more than what the producers had planned, disclosing that the staff was aware of Mitch's behavior. Alex confronts Bradley for her actions, but Bradley accuses her of knowing about Mitch's accusations.

|LineColor = 4A484E

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|EpisodeNumber2 = 5

|Title = No One's Gonna Harm You, Not While I'm Around

|DirectedBy = David Frankel

|WrittenBy = Torrey Speer

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|15}}

|ShortSummary = The Morning Show braces itself for the upcoming story from The New York Times (NYT) on Mitch's behavior, leading him to crash the studio and beg his former coworkers to speak on the record in his defense. His pleas fall on deaf ears and security escorts him out. When the weekend hits, Alex hosts a charity fundraiser, which seemingly goes well, but she is thrown by talk of Bradley's success and Cory's proposal that they collaborate, leading her to seek solace from Mitch. Bradley tries to bond with her coworkers by going out to celebrate Claire's birthday at a bar, only for the night to get heated as talk eventually turns to Mitch. Bradley receives a call from her estranged father. As the NYT story hits, Mitch is enraged that Fred has ceased defending his actions and vows revenge.

|LineColor = 4A484E

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|EpisodeNumber2 = 6

|Title = The Pendulum Swings

|DirectedBy = Tucker Gates

|WrittenBy = Kristen Layden

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|22}}

|ShortSummary = The Morning Show travels to California to cover the wildfires engulfing the state. Alex struggles on and off screen as she is still angry at Bradley for accusing her of covering for Mitch and is devastated by Jason's decision to officially divorce. After melting down on screen she is comforted by Bradley, and the two later reconcile, with Alex opening up about the divorce and Bradley talking about her alcoholic father. Fearing for his job, Chip suggests he could be an ally in helping Cory take over from Fred, leading Cory to suggest that Chip should come to him when he has real dirt on Fred. Hannah gives Claire professional advice, which helps Claire land a job as Bradley's assistant. Later, Hannah catches Claire sneaking into Yanko's room to celebrate.

|LineColor = 4A484E

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 7

|EpisodeNumber2 = 7

|Title = Open Waters

|DirectedBy = Roxann Dawson

|WrittenBy = Jeff Augustin

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|11|29}}

|ShortSummary = Alex and Jason tell their daughter, Lizzy, that they are getting a divorce. Lizzy blames Alex for prioritizing her job over her family. Alex's PR team warns her that news of the divorce could damage her career, causing her to lean on Bradley for support. Yanko and Claire are called to HR and decide to come clean about their relationship, a decision that relieves Yanko but leaves Claire wondering if her job is on the line. After a member of the production team makes an inappropriate remark about Mia which gets him fired, Mia has a meltdown and confirms to the entire studio that she was involved with Mitch. Bradley contemplates an offer from Mitch about interviewing him on air to reveal that the network was involved in covering for him. After promising he can get a witness to corroborate his story, Mitch turns to Hannah, who he believes exchanged sexual favors for a promotion from him.

|LineColor = 4A484E

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 8

|EpisodeNumber2 = 8

|Title = Lonely at the Top

|DirectedBy = Michelle MacLaren

|WrittenBy = JC Lee

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|12|6}}

|ShortSummary = In 2017, Mitch stresses over turning 50. Now that his affair with Mia has recently ended, Mitch has Chip remove her from his team and place her with Alex, who the network is considering replacing due to tanking ratings. The cast and crew of The Morning Show surprise Mitch with a huge birthday party at the studio, where Claire meets Yanko for the first time. As the party winds down, Hannah begins to see reports of the 2017 Las Vegas shooting breaking on Twitter. Mitch and Alex travel to Vegas to cover the shooting; Mitch asks Chip to bring Hannah, still only a junior booker, along with the team. Alex and Mitch struggle emotionally with the reporting. When Mitch cannot sleep, he heads out to a memorial and runs into a distressed Hannah. They return to Mitch's hotel room, where he kisses her and rapes her. Upon returning to New York, Hannah barges into Fred's office; he stops her before she can report the incident and promotes her to head booker to buy her silence. She accepts the offer in shock and disappointment.

|LineColor = 4A484E

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 9

|EpisodeNumber2 = 9

|Title = Play the Queen

|DirectedBy = Kevin Bray

|WrittenBy = Erica Lipez & Ali Vingiano

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|12|13}}

|ShortSummary = Bradley reveals to Alex that she wants to go forward with interviewing Mitch in order to take down Fred. After Alex takes the news badly, both women begin to work behind the scenes to get what they want; Bradley turns to Cory for backing while Alex secretly approaches Fred to work out a plan for getting rid of Bradley. Hannah reveals to Claire that she was the one who reported them to HR, causing them to fall out and Claire to loudly declare her love for Yanko. The strain of public scrutiny, however, proves to be too much for Claire and she breaks up with him. Hannah confronts Mitch about how powerless she felt during their sexual encounter only for him to berate her for her naiveté. Hannah reluctantly agrees to corroborate how Fred enabled her promotion, but wants to remain anonymous. A heartbroken Chip, who learned that Alex was willing to get rid of him as part of a pact with Fred, agrees to help Cory and Bradley in producing the Mitch interview.

|LineColor = 4A484E

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 10

|EpisodeNumber2 = 10

|Title = The Interview

|DirectedBy = Mimi Leder

|WrittenBy = Kerry Ehrin

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|12|20}}

|ShortSummary = After Mitch reveals that Hannah will corroborate his side of the story, Bradley meets with Hannah, who breaks down while recalling Mitch's sexual assault. She asks Bradley to not reveal her identity and to wait until she accepts a new job offer at UBA in Los Angeles before doing the interview with Mitch. Aware that moves are being made behind the scenes to expose his knowledge and cover-up of sexual misconduct, Fred grants Alex co-host approval in order to gain her support in firing Chip. Chip explains the interview plan to his assistant, Rena, and gets her to agree to smuggle Mitch into The Morning Show to do the interview live and on air, letting her know that he has been fired and that they need to act soon. Claire, trying to make amends with Hannah, shows up at her apartment and discovers that Hannah is dead from an overdose. News of her death shocks everyone, resulting in Bradley calling off the interview and a physical fight between Chip and Mitch in the lobby of Mitch’s apartment. While on air, Alex snaps and along with Bradley, exposes Fred and UBA for their knowledge of sexual misconduct and the creation of a toxic culture. The feed is cut off as Bradley encourages more people to speak out.

|LineColor = 4A484E

}}

}}

{{Episode table|background=#191B4D|overall=|season=|title=|director=|writer=|airdate=|country=U.S.|episodes={{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 11

|EpisodeNumber2 = 1

|Title = My Least Favorite Year

|DirectedBy = Mimi Leder

|WrittenBy = Erica Lipez & Adam Milch and Kerry Ehrin

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|9|17}}

|ShortSummary = Following the events of Alex and Bradley's on-air exposé, UBA performs damage control and fires Cory. Three months later, Alex has quit the show and lives a quiet and secluded life in Maine, while Bradley remains on the show with a new co-host, Eric. However, the show dwindles in ratings and Cory struggles in his faithfulness to Bradley, who wants to relocate to the evening news. Seeing no choice, Cory travels to Maine and attempts to convince Alex to return to the show, which she refuses. On New Years Eve, Mia chooses not to run a story about the impending pandemic, while Bradley learns that Eric will be moved to the evening news; she fights with Cory over his clear underhandedness, as she helped him get his job back. Alex receives a reading from a psychic that motivates her to return to UBA. She calls Cory, who offers her a chance to host a prime-time talk show if she fills in for the show. Before Cory can celebrate the news of Alex's potential return, he sees a news ticker that reveals Hannah's family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against UBA.

|LineColor = 191B4D

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 12

|EpisodeNumber2 = 2

|Title = It's Like the Flu

|DirectedBy = Mimi Leder

|WrittenBy = Torrey Speer & Kristen Layden

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|9|24}}

|ShortSummary = Cory informs Bradley that Alex is in negotiations to return to the show, leading her to call in sick for three weeks to negotiate what she wants. Before Alex returns to the show, Cory tries to hold a small intimate dinner to welcome her back, but more and more guests are invited. Over dinner, they discuss the novel coronavirus and whether it is newsworthy or not. When an overwhelmed Alex tries to leave early, she is confronted by Bradley, who is still angry that Alex abandoned her when she needed her the most. Alex also tries apologizing to Daniel, who is upset with her after ruining his chance to become anchor. While hiding in Italy, Mitch is confronted by a woman feigning anger at what he had done, intending to upload it to social media; another woman, Paola, comes to Mitch's defense. Cory decides to settle with Hannah's family, but realizes they are after more than money when he learns the dollar amount they asked for in negotiations. Alex asks Chip to return as her producer, which he agrees to.

|LineColor = 191B4D

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 13

|EpisodeNumber2 = 3

|Title = Laura

|DirectedBy = Lesli Linka Glatter

|WrittenBy = Brian Chamberlayne & Jeff Augustin

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|10|1}}

|ShortSummary = Bradley covers the start of the campaign season, while Alex is confirmed to return to the show. Daniel and his colleagues travel to Wuhan to cover the COVID-19 pandemic and are forced to quarantine as a result of the lockdown. Mia ultimately cancels Daniel's segment to focus on other stories, much to his dismay. In Italy, Mitch meets with Paola, who reveals herself to be a documentarian. He agrees to help her in a documentary over an overturned rape case in the country. UBA journalist and news anchor Laura Peterson interviews Alex in advance of a tell-all book about UBA by Maggie Brener. During the interview with Laura, Alex feels uncomfortable when asked about her relationship with Mitch, and she maintains that she has not contacted him in a long time. Laura also interviews Bradley, and the two women build a bond in the process. Bradley ends up kissing Laura, who returns the kiss.

|LineColor = 191B4D

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 14

|EpisodeNumber2 = 4

|Title = Kill the Fatted Calf

|DirectedBy = Jessica Yu

|WrittenBy = Ali Vingiano & Scott Troy

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|10|8}}

|ShortSummary = As UBA prepares to host the Democratic presidential debate, members of The Morning Show jockey for a spot. Daniel asks Mia to push for him to moderate the debate, but UBA's news division president Stella dismisses him. Cory keeps pushing for Alex, who is dead set against moderating. Bradley finally makes up with Cory, who informs her she is out of the running since they do not want two straight white women moderating. When Bradley informs Laura of this, the two fight as Laura cannot understand why Bradley refuses to admit her bisexuality, and Bradley is angered at being labeled. Yanko receives backlash online after referring to Groundhog Day as his "spirit animal". Desperate to get their spots as moderator, Bradley comes out to Stella but fails to get the job, while Daniel goes off script and badly serenades Alex, confusing the staff. After consulting with Stella on the importance of her presence, Alex finally agrees to be a moderator. In Italy, Paola learns that she has been exposed to COVID-19 and informs Mitch she has potentially exposed him as well.

|LineColor = 191B4D

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 15

|EpisodeNumber2 = 5

|Title = Ghosts

|DirectedBy = Tucker Gates

|WrittenBy = Erica Lipez & Adam Milch

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|10|15}}

|ShortSummary = Trying to put an end to the Shoenfeld lawsuit, Cory calls Fred to stop smearing Hannah's image. Fred refuses and threatens to publicly reveal that Cory helped negotiate his exit settlement if he can't make Hannah's family accept the deal. Desperate, Cory visits Hannah's father and warns him about the smear campaign, but his plea is ignored. After Yanko's apology is perceived as insincere, Stella arranges for Yanko to meet with the Seminole for a segment, but he refuses. Distressed over Maggie's upcoming book tour, Alex confronts Maggie, who reveals the book will mention her affair with Mitch. Angered and distracted, Alex ditches the debate, forcing Bradley to replace her. Cory learns of Laura and Bradley's relationship. Outside UBA, Stella is assaulted by a man spewing racist comments on COVID-19; Yanko fights with the man and the ensuing brawl is filmed by a passerby. In Italy, Paola and Mitch are quarantining together. Mitch reluctantly agrees to an interview about his past mistakes, in which he shows remorse for the way he treated Hannah after the Vegas incident.

|LineColor = 191B4D

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 16

|EpisodeNumber2 = 6

|Title = A Private Person

|DirectedBy = Rachel Morrison

|WrittenBy = Torrey Speer & Stacy Osei-Kuffour

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|10|22}}

|ShortSummary = As Alex's absence from the show stretches out indefinitely, Cory brings in Laura as a substitute host, while Stella pressures Chip into getting Alex back as soon as possible. Bradley is thrilled that she and Laura can merge their personal and private lives, but things become complicated when Bradley's addict brother Hal appears for a surprise visit. Despite feeling grateful for standing up to her, Stella is forced to suspend Yanko after his fight video goes viral. During the show, Cory leaks the news that Laura and Bradley are dating. Laura tries to reassure Bradley that they can deny the rumors, but Bradley is frustrated that she has to disclose her private life to the public. Upon returning home, Bradley is confronted by Hal, who is unsupportive of her relationship with Laura; Hal also reveals that he has been struggling to overcome his addiction. Meanwhile, Chip realizes that Alex is missing, and no one knows where she is.

|LineColor = 191B4D

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 17

|EpisodeNumber2 = 7

|Title = La Amara Vita

|DirectedBy = Mimi Leder

|WrittenBy = Kerry Ehrin & Scott Troy

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|10|29}}

|ShortSummary = While quarantining with Paola in Italy, Mitch receives a surprise visit from Alex, who has flown in to demand he release a statement denying they ever had sex. After obtaining a promise that he will issue a denial, Alex prepares to leave Italy but is forced to stay due to the COVID-19 restriction measures. Returning to Mitch's mansion, Alex and Mitch spend time together; Alex confides that she missed him, and confesses that she once thought she was pregnant again after having sex with him. When a news report shows up detailing Mitch's preference towards African-American women, Alex decides to leave. Depressed, Mitch visits Paola and the two have sex. While Alex drives to the airport, Mitch drives back home. Feeling the turmoil of how people view him, Mitch carries out a suicide by willingly driving his automobile off a cliff.

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}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 18

|EpisodeNumber2 = 8

|Title = Confirmations

|DirectedBy = Victoria Mahoney

|WrittenBy = Brian Chamberlayne & Ali Vingiano

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|11|5}}

|ShortSummary = When a meeting at UBA is interrupted by an Italian reporter asking for comment on Mitch Kessler's death, The Morning Show newsroom tries to confirm the story so they can break the news themselves. When Cory envisions Alex breaking the news live on air, Chip is forced to confess that he is no longer in contact with Alex. Chip fears that Alex is dead after discovering that her last credit card charge was in Italy, and that there might have been a woman involved in the car crash with Mitch. Stella confronts Alex's assistant, who reveals that Alex had recently boarded a plane. When Alex finally arrives stateside, a relieved Chip reveals the news of Mitch's death to her; the network obtains a second confirmation of Mitch's death when Alex contacts Paola. Alex refuses to break the news to the viewers and instead decides to personally report the news to Paige, Mitch's wife. She is shocked when a resentful Paige reveals her knowledge about Alex's affair with Mitch. With Alex's blessing, Bradley breaks the news of Mitch's death live nationally on The Morning Show.

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}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 19

|EpisodeNumber2 = 9

|Title = Testimony

|DirectedBy = Miguel Arteta

|WrittenBy = Scott Troy & Justin Matthews

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|11|12}}

|ShortSummary = With time running out before Maggie Brener's book is published, Alex offers to terminate her contract with The Morning Show but is turned down by Cory, who insists the network will protect her. Alex nevertheless braces herself to leave the show. Yanko reunites with Claire, who reveals that she is helping Hannah's family with the lawsuit. Paige visits The Morning Show and informs the conflicted staff that they are welcome to a memorial in Mitch's honor. Alex crashes the memorial and gives a speech where she reveals she saw Mitch in Italy. Cory asks Bradley to interview Maggie about her book. To everyone's surprise, Bradley harshly criticizes Maggie for castigating Alex over her consensual affair with Mitch. The interview leads to widespread support of Alex. However, things change the following morning as leaked footage of Alex at Mitch's memorial goes viral. A distraught Alex trips and bumps her head, landing her in the hospital where it is revealed she has contracted COVID-19.

|LineColor = 191B4D

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 20

|EpisodeNumber2 = 10

|Title = Fever

|DirectedBy = Mimi Leder

|WrittenBy = Kerry Ehrin

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|11|19}}

|ShortSummary = As COVID-19 begins to spread across the U.S., Bradley takes a leave of absence to search for her missing brother. Alex struggles during quarantine as she is symptomatic and is suffering emotionally from the fallout of the leaked footage of her at Mitch's memorial. To aid her, Chip asks Cory to have Alex do a program about her experiences with COVID-19. Cory decides to air the segment on the company's failing streaming service, UBA+. As the entire city and country shut down, the staff is told that they will have to operate from their homes, and Stella asks Daniel to be the main anchor for the time. Daniel refuses and quits his job to take care of his grandfather in Los Angeles. Cory decides to help Bradley in her quest to find her brother, before confessing that he is in love with her. He helps Bradley locate her brother who has managed to stay clean, but is in the hospital surrounded by COVID-19 patients. A feverish Alex manages to complete her segment on her symptoms, but tells the audience that she is done apologizing for who she is.

|LineColor = 191B4D

}}}}

{{Episode table |background=#8F4114 |overall= |season= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |country=U.S. |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 21

|EpisodeNumber2 = 1

|Title = The Kármán Line

|DirectedBy = Mimi Leder

|WrittenBy = Charlotte Stoudt

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|9|13}}

|ShortSummary = In two years following the pandemic's tipping point, Bradley has received a coveted spot in the evening news, while Alex has remained as TMS host with Yanko and their new co-host Christine Hunter. During an interview with psychologist Esther Perel, a staggering question brings feelings of loneliness to Alex. Cory remains as UBA's lead and cuts costs from all its divisions for the sake of keeping UBA+ afloat, seeing backlash from UBA's ruthless board chairman Cybil. Alex prepares for a space flight in a rocket belonging to billionaire Paul Marks. During a private conversation with Alex, Paul reveals he and Cory had been secretly finalizing the deal to integrate UBA into his corporation and that the flight was crucial to make it happen. Bradley struggles to put through an unauthorized report on the arrest of abortionist Luna Garcia; Alex and Chip help Bradley by covering Luna's detention without notice hours before the liftoff. A desperate Cory approaches Bradley and persuades her to replace Alex in the spaceship. She passes an express training and is launched into space alongside Cory and Paul. As the shuttle approaches the Kármán Line, the connection with Earth disrupts.

|LineColor = 8F4114

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 22

|EpisodeNumber2 = 2

|Title = Ghost in the Machine

|DirectedBy = Mimi Leder

|WrittenBy = Michelle Denise Jackson

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|9|13}}

|ShortSummary = After a brief pause, the connection with the spaceship restores and it lands on Earth safely. Alex and Chip also return after their arbitrary leave, and they fly back to New York with Bradley and the rest of the crew. Luna is released from custody and is free of charges, but wants to stay away from UBA. Alex passes the news of the deal between Cory and Paul to Bradley and Cybil so they could hatch a plan to frustrate it together. UBA falls under a massive cyberattack and is taken off air. The hackers request $50 million ransom so the extracted confidential information of the employees will not spill further on the internet. The board led by Cybil vote not to proceed with the payout, and Bradley warns that compromising information may arise. UBA hires tech analysts to close the breach and investigate into the impact of the hack. They determine that all media on all devices connected to the network, bringing various inside conflicts and private relationships to light. Meanwhile, Alex accidentally finds out that Chip and her assistant Isabella have been dating for a year, which causes an acute depression.

|LineColor = 8F4114

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 23

|EpisodeNumber2 = 3

|Title = White Noise

|DirectedBy = Thomas Carter

|WrittenBy = Joshua Allen

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|9|20}}

|ShortSummary = UBA faces backlash from their rivals as the hacked private information begins to leak. Cybil's e-mail referring to Christine as Aunt Jemima and salary detraction from non-white staff members spark racist allegations across the board. Christine is severely offended by Cybil's remark and wants to have an interview with her on TMS to address it. The meeting with staff members fails when Yanko criticizes the racial views of some of his colleagues. Cory agrees to Paul's initial offer and tries to push it through at the board, but Cybil refuses. During her interview, a furious Christine presses Cybil over her remarks, and Cybil suddenly declares that Christine should be grateful for getting the co-host position. Her reputation undermined, Cybil is exiled from her position by a no confidence vote and Leonard Cromwell is appointed as the new board chairman. Cory visits Paul at a private event to ratify his deal, but Paul declines the offer and claims that UBA has become an excessively toxic network, leaving Cory and the collapsing UBA on their own.

|LineColor = 8F4114

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 24

|EpisodeNumber2 = 4

|Title = The Green Light

|DirectedBy = Tucker Gates

|WrittenBy = Kimi Howl Lee

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|9|27}}

|ShortSummary = As the networks have their annual advertising buy parties, representatives from the lender inform Cory that since Q1 revenue is down 23% year to date and 48% of the revenue comes from advertising, UBA must match the previous year's ad buy or they will not underwrite the loan. Cory tells them to trust him and that Stella will come through as she successfully wines and dines clients in a fancy restaurant to secure a $200,000 per spot ad buy. Alex takes Paul to a Coney Island amusement park and apologizes for bailing on the suborbital flight. Cory has an upfront party at his mansion with many of the UBA personalities to help sell the brand to the advertisers in attendance. Fred informs Cory that every fiscal decision must go through him as he is overseeing the loan as a consultant. Unwilling to work with Fred, Cory informs Stella that he is going to secure the funding from another source. Immediately after their conversation, Alex and Paul arrive at the party in a helicopter that lands on the beach behind Cory's house. Mia's boyfriend Andre travels within Ukraine to cover a hospital bombing and provides photos of the scene to Mia, but asks her not to release them until he confirms he is safe. Mia agrees, but later releases the photos anyway to ensure UBA's exclusive.

|LineColor = 8F4114

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 25

|EpisodeNumber2 = 5

|Title = Love Island

|DirectedBy = Stacie Passon

|WrittenBy = Zander Lehmann

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|10|4}}

|ShortSummary = In flashbacks to the beginning of the pandemic, Bradley moves in with Laura to co-host the show remotely, and she learns of her drug addicted mother's death from Hal. Laura and Bradley's relationship deteriorates over time, and Bradley decides to move out after getting into a heated argument with Laura about Bradley's mother. Cory purchases a mansion and meets his neighbor Paul Marks on the beach. While working on obtaining programming that will boost the UBA+ streaming service, Cory convinces Stella to air the documentary with Mitch's last interview. Andre watches the documentary and is stunned when Mia reveals the extent of her past relationship with Mitch. After Mia overreacts to him going out to a few bars one night, Andre takes an assignment in Afghanistan. That winter, Bradley is capturing video of the events inside the Capitol, only to discover that Hal is one of the people struggling with the police. Later that day, Hal informs Bradley that his girlfriend is pregnant; Bradley deletes the footage to allow Hal to get back to his life, and she shows Stella her other videos, which lands her the job on the evening news. When the FBI requests all of Bradley's video footage, Bradley tells Cory that she had to delete one video because Hal was in it. Cory only provides the FBI with the edited video footage aired on the network to avoid a scandal.

|LineColor = 8F4114

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 26

|EpisodeNumber2 = 6

|Title = The Stanford Student

|DirectedBy = Mimi Leder

|WrittenBy = Micah Schraft

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|10|11}}

|ShortSummary = Back to the present, the merger between Hyperion and UBA is back on the table and a Q&A session ends badly when Alex asks Paul to comment on a rumor regarding his company's surveillance software. Hal visits Bradley and introduces her to his wife and daughter. He tells Bradley that he is going to turn himself in and she is unsuccessful at deterring him from doing it. She freezes during a broadcast, remembering the scene with Hal at the Capitol, but composes herself quickly to plug the next segment with a homeschooling parent. Laura senses Bradley's anxiety while having a drink with her so she visits Hal and expresses her desire to be in a relationship with his sister. Hal decides not to turn himself in and leaves a note for Bradley telling her that before returning home with his family. Alex interviews Paul at his house for her show and asks a question about a business deal in the past between Paul and a former student (Stella) which prompts him to tell a story about how his ex-wife left him. Alex spends the night at Paul's house after the interview where they are intimate with each other. Chip proposes to Isabella, but she declines because she thinks he has feelings for Alex. Paul meets with Stella and informs her that when the merger is completed, Cory will be fired and she will be the new CEO.

|LineColor = 8F4114

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 27

|EpisodeNumber2 = 7

|Title = Strict Scrutiny

|DirectedBy = Jennifer Getzinger

|WrittenBy = Bill Kennedy

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|10|18}}

|ShortSummary = Cory and Bradley travel to Connecticut and convince Cory's mother to stop speaking with the DOJ about the upcoming merger and she agrees, but warns Bradley that Cory is a bad person. Alex and Paul spend more time together at Alex's house and confide in each other about being alone. Many of the UBA personalities and Paul attend a red carpet fundraiser, have their picture taken, and give interviews to reporters. Paul confirms that Hyperion 2 will be launching in August to transport 2 people to the International Space Station. Stella informs Mia of Paul's plans to fire Cory and she tells Stella to take the job because "White men don't give them up willingly" and Stella agrees. The same company that outed Bradley have a photo of Alex and Paul together and are threatening to release it. Paul shows Alex the photo and they decide to pay to get rid of the story, but the company is not interested in the money. The UBA team are shocked when news breaks of the overturning of Roe v. Wade. A disgruntled former employee of Hyperion, Kate, a long time friend of Stella, meets with her at UBA to caution her about the merger. When Stella suggests they go speak to Paul down the hall, Kate gets nervous and declines, prompting Stella to admonish her. Stella tells Cory about Paul's offer and they hatch a plan together, agreeing that Stella will sign the employment contract, earn Paul's trust, and see how things play out. Chip sees Alex and Paul kissing in her office.

|LineColor = 8F4114

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 28

|EpisodeNumber2 = 8

|Title = DNF

|DirectedBy = Millicent Shelton

|WrittenBy = Selina Fillinger

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|10|25}}

|ShortSummary = The photo with Alex and Paul kissing is leaked by "The Vault", causing Alex and Chip to have a disagreement about whether to release a statement addressing the leaked photo. Alex informs Cory that her interview with Paul will not be aired that week, to which Cory insists on having the interview aired the following week to improve the optics of the UBA acquisition deal by Paul. Alex’s intended interview guest that week cancelled so Chip replaces the guest with another guest who subsequently confronts Alex on air about her relationship with Paul. Consequently, Alex fires Chip for not doing enough to prevent that disaster from happening. Laura becomes jealous of Cory and starts scanning through Bradley’s emails that were posted online previously by the UBA hackers. She discovers that Hal is the one that assaulted the police officer at the Jan 6 Capitol riots and that Bradley and Cory covered it up. Andre and Mia reconcile. Stella asks Bradley to speak to Kate, believing her to be a whistleblower against Paul, but she is unsuccessful. Paul suggests to Alex that he is planning to sell off most of UBA’s assets as soon the purchase is completed and wants her involved in rebuilding UBA into a different company. Paul's assistant Amanda approaches Fred for help valuing UBA's assets.

|LineColor = 8F4114

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 29

|EpisodeNumber2 = 9

|Title = Update Your Priors

|DirectedBy = Stacie Passon

|WrittenBy = {{WritingCredits|order=t|t=Laura Wexler|s=Shalisha Francis-Feusner}}

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|11|1}}

|ShortSummary = Alex agonises over Paul's offer to sell off UBA, but a conversation with Maggie Brener convinces her to accept. Bradley, Stella, and Chip try to dig up dirt on Hyperion before the acquisition deal goes through. Alex asks Bradley to leave UBA with her but she declines, citing her concerns about Paul. Laura confronts Bradley about Hal and breaks up with her, but says she won't report on it. Cybil reveals that she has bought the majority of UBA shares in an attempt to stop the acquisition, and warns Cory that Paul is going to sell the network. Cory and Alex argue about her underhandedness, and he desperately tries to shut down the deal. Paul threatens Bradley to stop pursuing his company, revealing that he knows about Hal. Rattled during a report on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, she resigns on-air. In an attempt to destroy Cory, Paul plants an article in "The Vault" that he was grooming Bradley during her early days at UBA, and outed her and Laura to the press after she rejected him.

|LineColor = 8F4114

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 30

|EpisodeNumber2 = 10

|Title = The Overview Effect

|DirectedBy = Mimi Leder

|WrittenBy = {{WritingCredits|order=t|s=Charlotte Stoudt and Anya Leta|t=Anya Leta}}

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2023|11|8}}

|ShortSummary = Bradley refuses to talk to Cory, and reveals that Paul knows about what they did for Hal. Alex is upset when she finds out that Paul planted the article. Stella tells the TMS team about Paul's plan to sell the company. Alex visits Bradley, who is paranoid that Paul is spying on her, and Bradley begs her to prevent the acquisition. Alex sends a text to Bradley that Paul later references, confirming that he has been surveiling her. Yanko and Chris interview Chip on TMS and he publicly exposes Paul's plan to dismantle UBA which, alongside efforts from Cory and Cybil, helps to turn some of the voters on the board. Paul offers Cory money and the promise of clearing his name if he stops fighting the deal, but he declines. On the day of the vote, Alex proposes an alternative deal where Laura's network NBN offers to merge with UBA. Stella reveals that Paul had Kate cut the transmission on his rocket and masterminded the hack to blame UBA and hide that his tech malfunctioned. Alex tells Paul to pull out of the deal or she will report the story and end Hyperion. Bradley co-operates with the investigation to clear Cory's name. Alex supports Bradley and Hal to turn themselves in to the authorities.

|LineColor = 8F4114

}}

}}

{{Episode table |background=#0D3269 |overall=5 |season=5 |title=27 |director=16 |writer=23 |airdate=24 |writerR={{Cite web |url=https://directories.wga.org/project/1181339/the-morning-show/ |title=The Morning Show|website=Writers Guild of America West |accessdate=February 12, 2025}} |airdateR={{cite web |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/themorningshow/listings/ |title=Shows A-Z - The Morning Show on AppleTV+ |website=The Futon Critic |accessdate=January 9, 2025}} |episodes=

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 31

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Title = My Roman Empire

| DirectedBy = Mimi Leder

| WrittenBy = Charlotte Stoudt & Zander Lehmann

| OriginalAirDate =

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 0D3269

}}

}}

On November 8, 2017, it was announced that Apple had given the production a series order consisting of two seasons of ten episodes apiece. The series was set to be executive produced by Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Jay Carson, and Michael Ellenberg. Carson was expected to act as a writer and showrunner for the series as well. Production companies involved with the series were slated to consist of Media Res, Echo Films, and Hello Sunshine.{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/apple-jennifer-aniston-reese-witherspoon-morning-shows-amazing-stories-1202610068/ |title=Apple Unveils Inaugural Scripted Series: Jennifer Aniston-Reese Witherspoon Morning TV Drama and 'Amazing Stories' |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |date=November 8, 2017 |website=Variety |access-date=October 23, 2018 |archive-date=October 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024035154/https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/apple-jennifer-aniston-reese-witherspoon-morning-shows-amazing-stories-1202610068/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jennifer-aniston-reese-witherspoon-morning-show-drama-lands-at-apple-2-season-order-1056144 |title=Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon Morning Show Drama Lands at Apple With Two-Season Order |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=November 8, 2017 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=February 18, 2018 |archive-date=April 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430023831/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jennifer-aniston-reese-witherspoon-morning-show-drama-lands-at-apple-2-season-order-1056144 |url-status=live }} On April 4, 2018, it was announced that Carson had departed the production over creative differences. He was replaced as executive producer and showrunner by Kerry Ehrin.{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/apple-morning-show-jennifer-aniston-reese-witherspoon-kerry-ehrin-1202743257/ |title=Apple Sets Showrunner Shuffle on Morning Show Drama, Nabs Kerry Ehrin in Overall Deal |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |date=April 3, 2018 |website=Variety |access-date=April 4, 2018 |archive-date=April 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404051229/http://variety.com/2018/tv/news/apple-morning-show-jennifer-aniston-reese-witherspoon-kerry-ehrin-1202743257/ |url-status=live }} On July 11, 2018, it was reported that Mimi Leder would serve as a director and executive producer for the series.{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/mimi-leder-to-direct-executive-produce-apples-morning-show-series-starring-reese-witherspoon-jennifer-aniston-1202424694/ |title=Mimi Leder To Direct & Executive Produce Apple's Morning Show Series Starring Reese Witherspoon & Jennifer Aniston |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=July 11, 2018 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=July 11, 2018 |archive-date=July 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711203853/https://deadline.com/2018/07/mimi-leder-to-direct-executive-produce-apples-morning-show-series-starring-reese-witherspoon-jennifer-aniston-1202424694/ |url-status=live }} On October 23, 2018, it was reported that Kristin Hahn and Lauren Levy Neustadter would serve as additional executive producers for the series.{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/steve-carell-star-apple-morning-show-series-reese-witherspoon-jennifer-aniston-1202487958/ |title=Steve Carell To Star In Apple's Morning Show Series With Reese Witherspoon & Jennifer Aniston |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=October 23, 2018 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=October 23, 2018 |archive-date=October 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023220110/https://deadline.com/2018/10/steve-carell-star-apple-morning-show-series-reese-witherspoon-jennifer-aniston-1202487958/ |url-status=live }}

On June 22, 2020, Aniston revealed in a Variety interview with Lisa Kudrow that the show's development began prior to the Me Too movement, but was ultimately reworked to include and partially focus on it.{{cite web |title=Jennifer Aniston & Lisa Kudrow - Actors on Actors - Full Conversation |url=https://youtube.com/c7K8E5rke48?t=946 |website=Variety |access-date=June 23, 2020 |archive-date=June 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625121825/https://www.youtube.com/c7K8E5rke48?t=946 |url-status=dead }}

The show cost $15 million per episode, with Aniston and Witherspoon each earning $2 million per episode, not including producing fees and ownership points.{{cite web |title= Inside Apple's Long, Bumpy Road to Hollywood |url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/apples-bumpy-tv-launch-inside-tech-giants-impending-arrival-hollywood-1247577 |website= The Hollywood Reporter |date= October 15, 2019 |access-date= November 24, 2019 |archive-date= November 16, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191116034837/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/apples-bumpy-tv-launch-inside-tech-giants-impending-arrival-hollywood-1247577 |url-status= live }} On January 10, 2022, Apple renewed the series for a third season.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/the-morning-show-renewed-season-3-apple-charlotte-stoudt-showrunner-1234907453/|title=The Morning Show Renewed For Season 3 At Apple, Charlotte Stoudt Joins As Showrunner & Inks Overall Deal With Streamer|date=January 10, 2022|first=Peter|last=White|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=January 10, 2022}}

On May 1, 2023, Apple renewed the series for a fourth season.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/the-morning-show-renewed-season-4-1235599281/|title='The Morning Show' Renewed for Season 4 on Apple TV+ Ahead of Season 3 Debut|date=May 1, 2023|first=William|last=Earl|website=Variety|access-date=June 7, 2023}}

Alongside the initial series announcement, it was confirmed that Aniston and Witherspoon had been cast in the series' lead roles. In October 2018, it was announced that Steve Carell, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Billy Crudup, Néstor Carbonell and Mark Duplass had been cast in series regular roles.{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/gugu-mbatha-raw-billy-crudup-join-apple-morning-show-drama-1154931 |title=Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Billy Crudup Join Apple Morning Show Drama |last=Goldberg |first=Lesley |date=October 25, 2018 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=October 25, 2018 |archive-date=October 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025220958/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/gugu-mbatha-raw-billy-crudup-join-apple-morning-show-drama-1154931 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/nestor-carbonell-mark-duplass-apple-morning-show-series-reese-witherspoon-jennifer-aniston-1202490050/ |title=Nestor Carbonell & Mark Duplass Join Apple's Morning Show Series |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=October 26, 2018 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=October 26, 2018 |archive-date=October 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027021651/https://deadline.com/2018/10/nestor-carbonell-mark-duplass-apple-morning-show-series-reese-witherspoon-jennifer-aniston-1202490050/ |url-status=live }} On November 7, 2018, it was reported that Bel Powley, Karen Pittman, and Desean Terry had joined the main cast of the series.{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2018/11/apple-morning-show-series-bel-powley-karen-pittman-desean-terry-cast-1202497683/ |title=Bel Powley, Karen Pittman & Desean Terry Join Apple's Morning Show Series |last=Hipes |first=Patrick |date=November 7, 2018 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=November 8, 2018 |archive-date=November 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108144427/https://deadline.com/2018/11/apple-morning-show-series-bel-powley-karen-pittman-desean-terry-cast-1202497683/ |url-status=live }}

On October 9, 2020, Greta Lee and Ruairi O'Connor officially joined the second season as regular characters.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/the-morning-show-greta-lee-ruairi-oconnor-cast-season-2-1234594696/|title='The Morning Show' Adds Greta Lee & Ruairi O'Connor to Cast for Season 2|date=October 9, 2020}} On November 13, 2020, Hasan Minhaj was also announced as a new cast member.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/hasan-minhaj-cast-the-morning-show-season-2-apple-tv-drama-series-1234615159/|title = Hasan Minhaj Joins 'The Morning Show' for Season 2 of Apple TV+ Drama Series|date = November 13, 2020}} On December 3, 2020, Julianna Margulies announced she joined the second season of the series.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/12/julianna-margulies-season-2-cast-the-morning-show-1234636517/|title=Julianna Margulies Joins Season 2 Cast of 'The Morning Show'|date=December 2, 2020}} In August 2022, it was announced that Jon Hamm and Nicole Beharie had joined the main cast for the third season, with Tig Notaro joining in a recurring role.{{cite news|title=Jon Hamm Joins Apple TV+'s The Morning Show |url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/jon-hamm-apple-the-morning-show-1235088720/|work=Deadline Hollywood|last=White |first=Peter|date=August 10, 2022|access-date=August 10, 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=Nicole Beharie Joins Season 3 Of The Morning Show As New Series Regular |url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/nicole-beharie-season-3-the-morning-show-new-series-regular-1235098701/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=31 August 2022 |date=August 31, 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=Tig Notaro Joins Season 3 Of The Morning Show |url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/tig-notaro-the-morning-show-season-3-1235104558/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=31 August 2022 |date=August 31, 2022}}

Principal photography for the first season commenced on October 31, 2018, at the James Oviatt Building in Los Angeles.{{Cite web |url=https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/los-angeles-whats-filming-reese-witherspoon-jennifer-aniston-app-65820/ |title=L.A. What's Filming: Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston's 'The Morning Show' |last=Steves |first=Ashley |date=October 31, 2018 |website=Backstage |access-date=November 1, 2018 |archive-date=November 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101095654/https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/los-angeles-whats-filming-reese-witherspoon-jennifer-aniston-app-65820/ |url-status=live }} Filming continued in Los Angeles until filming started in New York City on May 9, 2019.{{Cite web |url=https://hollywoodlife.com/2019/05/08/reese-witherspoon-brunette-hair-makeover-the-morning-show/ |title=Reese Witherspoon Hair Makeover: Actress Goes Brunette On 'The Morning Show' Set – Before & After Pics |last=Charles |first=Marissa |date=May 8, 2019 |website=Hollywood Life |language=en |access-date=May 10, 2019 |archive-date=May 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510081619/https://hollywoodlife.com/2019/05/08/reese-witherspoon-brunette-hair-makeover-the-morning-show/ |url-status=live }} Production on the first season also concluded that May, after seven months of filming.{{Citation |last=TheEllenShow |title=Jennifer Aniston on Adam Sandler's Questionable Wardrobe |date=June 5, 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNaZhbIOQQ8&t=274s |access-date=June 26, 2019 |archive-date=October 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030155130/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNaZhbIOQQ8&t=274s |url-status=live }}

Production on the second season began on February 24, 2020.{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/11/the-morning-show-mimi-leder-hard-season-1-apple-tv-plus-1202186478/ |title=The Morning Show: Mimi Leder on a Demanding Season 1 Shoot — and Why She's Going Back For More |last=Travers |first=Ben |date=November 3, 2019 |website=IndieWire |access-date=November 3, 2019 |archive-date=November 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103155153/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/11/the-morning-show-mimi-leder-hard-season-1-apple-tv-plus-1202186478/ |url-status=live }} On March 12, 2020, Apple TV+ halted production on the series due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/morning-show-shuts-down-production-due-coronavirus-concerns-1284295 |title='Morning Show' Shuts Down Production Due to Coronavirus Concerns |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=March 12, 2020 |access-date=March 12, 2020 |archive-date=April 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404013745/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/morning-show-shuts-down-production-due-coronavirus-concerns-1284295 |url-status=live }} The second season resumed filming on October 19, 2020.{{Cite web|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|date=2020-10-05|title='The Morning Show' To Resume Production On Season 2 With Steve Carell Returning To Apple Series|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/the-morning-show-resume-production-season-2-steve-carell-returning-jennifer-aniston-reese-witherspoon-apple-1234590639/|access-date=2020-10-28|website=Deadline|language=en-US|archive-date=October 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005183649/https://deadline.com/2020/10/the-morning-show-resume-production-season-2-steve-carell-returning-jennifer-aniston-reese-witherspoon-apple-1234590639/|url-status=live}} Between February and March 2021, Steve Carell, Jennifer Aniston, Mark Duplass, and Hannah Leder were spotted in Los Angeles filming the second season.{{Cite web|date=2021-02-17|title=Steve Carell spends the day filming season 2 of 'The Morning Show' - Bollyinside|url=https://www.bollyinside.com/news/entertainment/steve-carell-spends-the-day-filming-season-2-of-the-morning-show/|access-date=2021-02-18|website=Bollyinside - US Local News & Breaking News Stories|language=en-US |last1=Desk |first1=Hollywood }}{{Cite web|last=Parker|first=Ashley Joy|date=March 11, 2021|title=Rain Or Shine! Jennifer Aniston Spotted Filming Season 2 Of 'The Morning Show' After Production Delays — Photos|url=https://okmagazine.com/p/jennifer-aniston-the-morning-show-season-2-filming-rain/|access-date=March 19, 2021|website=OK Magazine|language=en-US}} On May 18, 2021, filming for season two concluded.{{Cite tweet |last=Duplass |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Duplass |user=MarkDuplass |number=1393304965502803968 |date=May 14, 2021 |title=Last day shooting Season 2 of @TheMorningShow. |language=en-US |access-date=June 8, 2021}}

Production on the third season began on August 16, 2022,{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Chinea |date=2022-06-21 |title=Jennifer Aniston on Cutting Her Own Hair, The Morning Show, and Protein Bars |url=https://www.thecut.com/2022/06/jennifer-aniston-drops-her-wellness-routine.html |access-date=2022-06-21 |website=The Cut |language=en-us}} and it was announced on February 11, 2023, that the season's filming had wrapped up.{{cite web |last1=Clarendon |first1=Dan |title='The Morning Show' Cast Wraps Season 3 |url=https://www.tvinsider.com/1081217/the-morning-show-season-3-wrap-behind-the-scenes-photos/ |website=TV Insider |date=February 12, 2023 |publisher=NTVB Media Inc |access-date=12 February 2023}}

Production on the fourth season began on July 8, 2024 and wrapped on December 5, 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://tvline.com/news/the-morning-show-season-4-release-date-trailer-cast-photos-1235278940/|title=The Morning Show Starts Production on Season 4: See Jennifer Aniston & Co. in First Behind-the-Scenes Photo|website=TVLine|first=Kimberly|last=Roots|date=July 8, 2024|access-date=July 8, 2024}}{{cite web | url=https://people.com/jennifer-aniston-upcoming-the-morning-show-season-hard-to-film-exclusive-8768094#:~:text=Season%20four%20wrapped%20filming%20in,bringing%20this%20season%20to%20life | title=Jennifer Aniston Says 'The Morning Show's Upcoming Season Was 'So Hard' to Film: 'It's Jam-Packed, That's for Sure' (Exclusive) }}

After the Apple Special Event of March 25, 2019, Witherspoon announced on Instagram that the series would premiere in the fall of 2019. It premiered on Apple TV+ on November 1, 2019. In January 2021, Apple announced that the second season would premiere in 2021.{{Cite web|title=Apple services entertain, inform, and connect the world in unprecedented year|url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/01/apple-services-entertain-inform-and-connect-the-world-in-unprecedented-year/|access-date=2021-01-06|website=Apple Newsroom|language=en-US}} The second season premiered on September 17, 2021. It was announced that the third season would premiere on September 13, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Strause |first=Jackie |date=2023-06-29 |title='Morning Show' Reveals Premiere Date and First Look for Season 3 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/morning-show-season-3-premiere-date-photos-1235526110/ |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

During the Apple Special Event, a teaser trailer was released with footage from the series as well as footage from other original series set to premiere on Apple TV+.{{Citation |last=Apple |title=Apple TV+ Preview — Coming Fall 2019 |date=March 25, 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt5k5Ix_wS8 |access-date=May 11, 2019 |archive-date=May 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509214337/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt5k5Ix_wS8 |url-status=live }} Furthermore, Aniston, Witherspoon, and Carell were at the event to promote the series.{{Cite web |url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/25/jennifer-aniston-reese-witherspoon-tease-thrill-ride-apple-series-morning-show-9015516/ |title=Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon tease Apple's new series The Morning Show |date=March 25, 2019 |website=Metro |language=en-US |access-date=May 11, 2019 |archive-date=May 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511134247/https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/25/jennifer-aniston-reese-witherspoon-tease-thrill-ride-apple-series-morning-show-9015516/ |url-status=live }} On August 12, 2019, Apple released a first look trailer for the series.{{Citation |title=The Morning Show — Official Teaser Trailer {{!}} Apple TV+ | date=August 12, 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeXtt2X6nDk |language=en |access-date=August 12, 2019 |archive-date=August 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812140959/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeXtt2X6nDk |url-status=live }} It was also revealed that the series would be titled Morning Wars in Australia, in order to distinguish the series from the Australian morning talk show of the same name.{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/MacRumors/status/1160927411954946048/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1160927411954946048&ref_url=https://www.macrumors.com/ |title=Looks like "The Morning Show" will be called "Morning Wars" in Australia pic.twitter.com/LngIcFoRW3 |last=MacRumors.com |date=August 12, 2019 |website=@MacRumors |language=en |access-date=August 12, 2019}}

{{Television critical response

| rotten_tomatoes1 = 62% (107 reviews)

| metacritic1 = 61 (37 reviews)

| rotten_tomatoes2 = 67% (51 reviews)

| metacritic2 = 60 (25 reviews)

| rotten_tomatoes3 = 72% (78 reviews)

| metacritic3 = 65 (30 reviews)

}}

On Rotten Tomatoes it received an overall score of 64%,{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_morning_show |title=The Morning Show |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=March 17, 2022}} and an overall score of 61 on Metacritic.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-morning-show |title=The Morning Show |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=March 17, 2022}}

For first season of The Morning Show, the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 61% approval rating, based on 106 reviews, with an average rating of 5.9/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Flashy, but somewhat frivolous, The Morning Show often feels more like a vanity project than the hard-hitting drama it aspires to be—but there is pleasure to be had in watching Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon give it their all."{{Cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_morning_show/s01 |title=The Morning Show: Season 1 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820235838/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_morning_show/s01 |archive-date=August 20, 2020 |url-status=live |access-date=September 12, 2022}} Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 61 out of 100 based on reviews from 37 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-morning-show/season-1 |title=The Morning Show: Season 1 Reviews |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111030204/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-morning-show/season-1 |archive-date=January 11, 2020 |url-status=live |website=Metacritic |access-date=December 23, 2019}}

The second season of the series received a 67% from Rotten Tomatoes based on 51 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "The Morning Show's second season has a slew of stupendous performances—but too many characters attempting to address too many hot-button issues makes it hard to know what any of them are actually trying to say."{{Cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_morning_show/s02 |title=The Morning Show: Season 2 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=October 15, 2021}} At Metacritic, the website gave the second season a 60 out of 100, based on 25 reviews.{{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-morning-show/season-2 |title=The Morning Show: Season 2 Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=October 15, 2021}}

The third season of the series received a 72% from Rotten Tomatoes based on 78 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Leaning into its soapier elements while bolstering an already star-studded cast with some welcome additions, The Morning Show upgrades from a shaky prestige program into an addictive guilty pleasure."{{Cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_morning_show/s03|title=The Morning Show: Season 3 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=September 14, 2023}} At Metacritic, the website gave the third season a 65 out of 100, based on 30 reviews.{{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-morning-show/season-3/|title=The Morning Show: Season 3 Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=September 14, 2023}}

Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times gave a positive review and wrote: "The Morning Show doesn't have the cinematic gravitas of the Showtime series The Loudest Voice or the Aaron Sorkin poetry of HBO's The Newsroom. It's more along the lines of the solid but underachieving Sports Night TV series from the late 1990s."{{cite web |date= October 29, 2019 |last= Roeper |first= Richard |author-link= Richard Roeper |title= Sex scandal a wakeup call for news team on AppleTV+'s solid, starry new series The Morning Show |url= https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/10/29/20938259/morning-show-review-appletv-apple-tv-plus-streaming-for-all-mankind-dickinson-jennifer-aniston |website= Chicago Sun-Times |access-date= November 24, 2019 |archive-date= November 30, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191130091745/https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/10/29/20938259/morning-show-review-appletv-apple-tv-plus-streaming-for-all-mankind-dickinson-jennifer-aniston |url-status= live }}

According to TV analytics provider TVision, The Morning Show has been viewed by panel members 5.03 times as much as the average Apple TV+ original series or shows TVision has measured since Apple TV+ launched in November 2019.{{cite web|date=July 23, 2021|title='Ted Lasso' Is Apple TV+'s Biggest Hit… but Not That Big|url=https://variety.com/vip/ted-lasso-is-apple-tvs-biggest-hit-but-its-not-that-big-1235025787/|first=Kevin|last=Tran|access-date=July 7, 2022|archive-date=July 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707122425/https://variety.com/vip/ted-lasso-is-apple-tvs-biggest-hit-but-its-not-that-big-1235025787/|url-status=live|website=Variety VIP+}} The series became the second-most watched Apple TV+ series after Ted Lasso.

In December 2023, Deadline reported after the third season was released, the show became Apple TV+’s most watched series.{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=2023-12-21 |title=Mark Wahlberg's 'The Family Plan' Apple TV+'s Most Watched Movie Ever As 'The Morning Show' Broke Records For Streamer's TV Drama Series |url=https://deadline.com/2023/12/mark-wahlberg-the-family-plan-apple-tv-plus-most-watched-movie-ever-the-morning-show-broke-records-for-drama-series-1235678791/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-morning-show/umc.cmc.25tn3v8ku4b39tr6ccgb8nl6m|The Morning Show}} – official site
• {{IMDb title}}

{{The Morning Show}}

{{Apple TV+}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morning Show (American TV series), The}}

Category:2019 American television series debuts

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