The Reel Review
When the male host of a TV network morning show (Steve Carell) is fired for sexual misconduct, his co-host (Jennifer Aniston) smartly fears her own job is now at risk by executives looking to replace her. A string of events results in a street smart, passionate reporter (Reese Witherspoon) in the anchor chair alongside her as the explosive scandal threatens to take down more careers.
The Apple TV+ series is a realistic, mind-spinning glimpse at the complicated dynamics of sexual politics, friendship, and competing personal agendas in the workplace. Aniston and Witherspoon exhibit exceptional onscreen chemistry as the unlikely duo, and Carell makes one hell of an arrogant creep as his character’s veneer is gradually pulled back. A strong ensemble cast – in particular, Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Marcia Gay Harden and Gugu Mbatha-Raw – makes this series stomach-churningly real. The scene with the network’s HR department prying into the consensual relationship of another two employees is a particularly creepy, invasive moment.
The ten episodes culminate in an epic, nail-biter of a finale as battle lines are drawn between the main players in the saga. Despite some extremely farfetched moments, the finale, as well as the series in general, is a compelling conversation starter about the insidious effects of sexual misconduct in the workplace.
REEL FACTS
• Both Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon have denied that their show is based on disgraced former NBC Today Show host Matt Lauer.
• The Wall Street Journal reports The Morning Show contains Apple products in an average of 32 shots per episode, although the show’s producers say they weren’t pressured by Apple to include their products.
• Reese Witherspoon appeared with Jennifer Aniston as Rachel’s sister Jill in a 2000 episode of the popular NBC sitcom Friends.
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