The Apple TV+ American drama called “The Morning Show” is definitely one of those series that leaves you wanting more. It was released on November 1, 2019, and many fans are hoping to get a second season soon (including us!).
Female lead? Yes, please. The TV show not only stars two amazing actresses such as, Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, but they also worked as executive producers of the show. Also, it was directed and produced by the film and television director, Mimi Leder. That female approach surely gets noticed. Especially when it comes to such sensitive subjects, like the #MeToo movement and the cases of sexual misconduct in the media and the entertainment industry, in general.
If you haven’t watched yet, it is time to see why we highly recommend it!
What is The Morning Show about?
The show is about a fictional morning news program after one of its anchors (Steve Carrell) is fired for sexual misconduct. The series was inspired on the book of the American journalist Brian Stelter’s called “Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV.” The book discusses several daytime television shows, their hosts, and events that Stelter oversaw when he worked as a media reporter for The New York Times. But it is believed that “The Morning Show” is also inspired by the Matt Lauer scandal.
Although the show’s producers deny it, there are too many similarities between the show’s plot and the real-life case. Matt Lauer was co-anchor of the “Today” show, until one of NBC News employee accused him for sexual misconduct, which led him to be fired. The face of the Olympics and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was no longer the face of the American mornings.
Despite that similarity and the fact that there is an undeniable resemblance between Carell and Lauer, the series’ writer, Kerry Ehrin, has said that it is based not on one, but many, stories of powerful characters who sexually abused their subordinates. Like Charlie Rose, who came out of the CBS morning show (competition from Lauer’) after eight women accused him of various acts of sexual misconduct. Those accusations included harassment, groping, and making lewd phone calls.
Hollywood and sexual scandals
The Morning Show is another expression of how the patriarchy operates in our society, especially for powerful and protected man. TV networks try to brush their sexual scandals under the rug to avoid any sort of public disturbance. But the feminist movement is unstoppable and communication is an extremely necessary tool that can be used to expose sexual predators. The #MeToo movement set a precedent that can hardly be reversed.
As an example, within two weeks after Lauer was fired, NBC News received information about another three additional women who’d been inappropriately approached by him about dating back to 2000, 2001, and 2007, respectively.
Both “The Morning Show” and “Top of the Morning” focus on the behind-the-scenes schemes, carried out largely by male executives, to unseat female journalists from some of the most coveted jobs in television.
These cases show that not just the reputation of a beloved and acclaimed figure of power who starred on the morning news is at stake, but the entire reputation of a channel. These cases are also an example of how the power of media can be used to lift someone up or bring that person down, according to need.
Why you should watch “The Morning Show”
The Apple TV+ series is an excellent approach to how the inside world of the news business operates. It is a commentary on how the role of women can be carried away within this industry, such as many others. Is also an outstanding way to analyze how meaningful communication is in general in the world we live in and how media has a really strong influence in putting a topic on the public agenda.
Through communication, we shape the way we see the world. Media has a huge influence, but at the end of the day, it is people who can change the way big communication companies operate.
References
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a22627827/matt-lauer-nbc-me-too/
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