The Morning Show returned on Wednesday with promises to explore issues like deepfakes, conspiracy theories and corporate coverups — in other words, just normal, every day stuff that currently keeps us up at night.
Here, Executive Producer Mimi Leder recaps the fourth season premiere episode that dropped on Apple and teases what to expect from new characters like Brodie Hartman, who plays a Joe Rogan-type podcaster, and Marion Cotillard as UBN Board President Celine Dumont.
DEADLINE When did you decide to dive into the world of deepfakes and conspiracy theories?
MIMI LEDER That all evolved immediately when we were discussing what this season will be about. It’s been two years after the events of season three. We try to reflect what’s going on in the world. And this season, as with every other season, freedom of the press remains a real cornerstone plot line for us. What is the truth?
DEADLINE What a heady time to depicting news on broadcast television. Is anything going to happen in this season that coincidentally mirrors what’s happened in real life?
LEDER All I can say is we had our storylines and we were shooting things that hadn’t happened, and then they happened and we were like, “oh my God, how has that happening?” Charlotte Stoudt, our head writer extraordinaire, has her finger on the pulse for sure. My mouth was on the floor a couple of times. There are deepfakes, coverups, misinformation, it’s all out there. We’re a newsroom. Even though we’re a morning show, that’s our job. We talk about relevant issues that are shaping our world today. And it’s all done through the high stake lens of the UBA newsroom, which is now UBN, because the merger was completed.
DEADLINE It’s already feeling like a political thriller.
LEDER It is very much a political thriller with a lot of humor, hopefully, thrown in there. This season is dealing with themes like the cost of power and examining how far people will go in their quest for power. We’re sort of jumping off a glass cliff in the beginning of the season. They only give women power when a company is on the edge of failing. Can they run a company without succumbing to the zero sum model of the patriarchy? Can you foster a human workplace in a for-profit corporation? It’s a character driven show, but we’re dealing with journalists. Bradley [Reese Witherspoon] comes back after two years. She digs into something very, deep … an important coverup.
DEADLINE Will it take some time before Bradley meets the person who sent her those texts?
LEDER It’ll take some time and digging. She goes on this journey to expose the truths, as great journalists do.
DEADLINE Should we be afraid that she’s getting into misinformation territory?
LEDER Be afraid? Yes. You should be afraid. I mean, you watch that every day. Aren’t you afraid every day? There are corporate coverups and big fakes and conspiracy theories. Hopefully we are reflecting that in our stories.
DEADLINE Why did you make Bradley a teacher at a community college? Couldn’t you put her at Brown or something?
LEDER Well, we thought she could kind of hide there and live a quieter existence in a community college. And also, young minds are fertile, so it felt like the right place for her to be.
DEADLINE Why was Alex [Jennifer Aniston] hesitant about having Bradley come back? Because of all her baggage?
LEDER Her baggage, yes. If you remember in season three, Alex knew, and so did Cory [Billy Crudup], that Bradley deleted footage of her brother, Hal. They were the only ones who knew about it. Nobody else at UBN knew. So in a sense, Alex was hiding the truth of what she did. I mean, she did go to the FBI, but Alex was well aware of what happened. That’s why she was hesitant because it was not safe for her.
DEADLINE You introduced the character of Brodie Hartman. I’m assuming he’s your Joe Rogan, right?
LEDER Right. When you are talking news versus conspiracy theories, Bro Hartman … I mean, oh my goodness. I love this character. He’s the patron saint of the manosphere. We felt we had to reflect a Joe Rogan-type character and his success on UBN was the key to the merger to keep it relevant and financially solvent. He sometimes says what objective reporters can’t or won’t say out loud. His character’s a real reflection of the backlash of men in the United States who feel emasculated and he’s part of Trump’s oligarchy. He taps into the feeling that straight white men have lost status and purpose. He’s just so complex and funny and complicated. He’s the guy you love to hate.
DEADLINE Can Celine Dumont be trusted or is she another woman in power who’s struggling to stay afloat?
LEDER That’s really an interesting question because can the women do it better than the guys? I’m not sure. She has a lot to prove personally.
DEADLINE Alex’s attempt to help this young Olympic athlete defect to the U.S. Will this scandal dog Alex for several episodes?
LEDER Yes, definitely. It’s very complicated and you’ll be at the edge of your seat.
DEADLINE What’s going to happen for Cory this season? Will he be redeemed?
LEDER Cory survives. He always survives. He’s a self-made man, and he can always land on his feet. But this year he may discover his genius. He has a more complicated backstory, and you’ll see what happens. He begins as a producer, he’s lost his status, and he’s struggling to make a comeback.
DEADLINE Cory’s joke about the orange sky, and whether it meant that Trump was just made Pope. Hysterical!
LEDER That was written before he became the president!
