Apple TV+’s inaugural series, The Morning Show, captured the attention of viewers when it launched in 2019. Lead by the powerhouse duo of Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, the show centered around the lives of anchors on a morning news program, reminiscent of The Today Show. While it’s expected for such a series to feature a multitude of side characters, The Morning Show often veered off course by allocating equal screen time to everyone.
As co-anchors, Alex Levy (played by Aniston) and Bradley Jackson (played by Witherspoon) should naturally receive the most focus. Although they do have slightly more screentime than their co-stars, The Morning Show has consistently diverted attention away from its main stars throughout both seasons. While it’s necessary for some TV shows to explore supporting characters in-depth, this series isn’t Game of Thrones or Grey’s Anatomy, where every character is inherently vital to the narrative.
The Morning Show boasts an array of intriguing characters. However, there is a distinction between those capable of carrying their own storylines and those who fall short. For instance, the excessive focus on Paola Lambruschini (played by Valeria Golino), a random Italian documentarian that Mitch Kessler (played by Steve Carell) meets while in Italy, is needless. Moreover, dedicating significant screen time to Yanko Flores (played by Néstor Carbonell), the weather forecaster who is embroiled in a scandal due to his utilization of the phrase “spirit animal,” is an unjustifiable choice. While Carbonell portrays the character well, Yanko simply doesn’t possess the substance to warrant a larger storyline.
Determining which characters merit more screentime is a combination of considering the actor’s prowess and the trajectory of the character within the narrative. In the case of The Morning Show, lessons need to be learned from the unfocused second season. It’s imperative to be more discerning regarding who receives the most time on screen. Julianna Margulies’ character in Season 2, Laura Peterson, stands out as someone deserving of ample screentime, if not more. Peterson, played by Margulies, is a seasoned news professional, and the merging of her talent with Margulies’ acting experience make her a riveting addition to the series. Likewise, Billy Crudup’s Cory Ellison and Mark Duplass’ Charlie Black, who started as supporting characters but eventually became indispensable to the cast, should be given prominence alongside Aniston and Witherspoon. These five individuals form the core of the show and should be the primary focus, rather than stretching the narrative thin by introducing numerous subpar storylines.
There must be a certain synergy between an actor and their character for them to command substantial screentime. When a supporting character lacks this synergy yet receives excessive attention, it becomes glaringly apparent and throws the series’ equilibrium off balance. The Morning Show must avoid repeating this mistake, as it risks diminishing the overall quality of the show. While the series remains one of Apple TV+’s most successful endeavors, securing an early Season 4 renewal, Season 3 is a crucial opportunity to reset and delineate the true power players. Without this adjustment, The Morning Show could become a monotonous experience where viewers prefer to skip certain parts rather than engage fully.
Fortunately, the response to Margulies’ character has been overwhelmingly positive, leading to an expanded role for Peterson in Season 3. Margulies herself confirmed this, stating that she appears in eight out of the ten episodes of the upcoming season. This demonstrates a shift in the showrunners’ approach, indicating a more thoughtful consideration of screentime allocation.
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Khushi Patel is a science fiction author who lives in Austin, Texas. She has published three novels, and her work has been praised for its originality and imagination. Khushi is a graduate of Rice University, and she has worked as a software engineer. She is a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America, and her books have been nominated for several awards.
