The Article below was published in Vol. 135, Issue 6 of the Lake Forest College Stentor on March 6, 2020.
By: Adam Hartzer ’23
Layout Editor
With the release of Apple’s streaming platform, Apple TV+ in November 2019, The Morning Show debuted alongside its launch and quickly became the platform’s flagship series. Starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell, The Morning Show is a satirical drama that exposes the distorted truth behind the lives of news reporters and journalists in the broadcasting industry.
Alex Levy, played by Aniston, and co-host Mitch Kessler, played by Carell, both wake up with America each morning as the anchors of The Morning Show. However, after being partners for 15 years, Kessler is suddenly fired after being accused of sexual misconduct, leaving the entire network in turmoil. Levy is left contemplating how this occurred on the network and who her new co-host will be.
With the recent increase in sexual harassment allegations surfacing in the media industry as part of the “Me Too” movement, fictional The Morning Show is often compared to NBC’s Today show and the firing of Matt Lauer over allegations of sexual assault. The Morning Show not only explores how this climate impacts the anchors, but how it affects the entire staff and production of the show and the network as a whole. The series also emphasizes how mega-media corporations dictate and control the show’s cast regarding how they appear and present themselves on television. The Morning Show truly explores the modern-day definitions of journalism and media by challenging its authenticity when the anchors are forced into telling ingenuine but seemingly heartfelt stories with the sole purpose of satisfying the demands of the network executives.
It isn’t until Bradley Jackson, played by Witherspoon, joins The Morning Show team and begins pushing the boundaries of the show and upholding a sense of transparency when it comes to accurately reporting true information for all Americans. As the season progresses, relationships and secrets reveal themselves, forever changing the reputation of The Morning Show and the definition of journalistic integrity and accountability.
The complete first season of The Morning Show is available on Apple TV+ with a valid subscription. Any recent Apple purchases may be eligible to receive one year of Apple TV+ free. Apple TV+ did confirm that a second season of The Morning Show is in production and is expected to be released later this year.
