As Apple plans to launch its new streaming service this fall, the tech company released a new trailer for one of the flagship series that will be featured on Apple TV+. The Morning Show depicts a fictional network broadcast being thrown into turmoil following the firing of a longtime anchor over allegations of sexual misconduct. Many have noticed the obvious parallels to the 2017 Matt Lauer scandal at NBC’s Today show.
Ironically, the new trailer aired during a commercial break in the 7:30 a.m. ET hour of Tuesday’s Today show. It begins with The Morning Show co-host Alex Levy, played by Jennifer Aniston, opening the program by telling viewers: “Good morning, I’m bringing you upsetting news, Mitch Kessler, my co-host and partner of 15 years was fired today.” A clip follows of Kessler, played by Steve Carrell, watching from home and complaining: “The network is now locking me out!”
“Her sell-by date expired,” one of the network executives in the trailer says of Levy and urges one of The Morning Show’s producers to “start grooming some new people.” They seek out up-and-coming reporter Bradley Jackson, played by Reese Witherspoon, to join the broadcast.
Jackson is shown telling Levy: “Most people want to trust that the person that is telling them about the world is an honest person – like you.” After a pause, a surprised Levy replies: “Yes.”
Apple is basing the show off a 2013 book from CNN Reliable Sources host Brian Stelter entitled Top of the Morning.
Looking back at how Savannah Guthrie informed viewers of Lauer’s firing on the November 29, 2017 Today show, the comparison to the new fictional series becomes clear:
In June, Guthrie interviewed the cast of Showtime’s The Loudest Voice, touting the show as a “damning portrayal” of Fox News founder Roger Ailes and “his downfall in the wake of sexual harassment allegations.” One wonders when Guthrie will sit down with the cast of The Morning Show and if she’ll see any parallels to NBC.
The trailer also aired during CBS This Morning on Tuesday, which of course fired co-host Charlie Rose due to sexual harassment allegations in 2017, shortly before NBC fired Lauer.
A commercial break during ABC’s Good Morning America featured the trailer as well.
As the saying goes, art imitates life.
