1 of 4 | Jennifer Aniston (L) and Reese Witherspoon arrive on the red carpet at the Season 4 premiere of the Apple TV+ series “The Morning Show” at the Museum of Modern Art on Sept. 9 in New York City. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Jennifer Aniston says she is surprised and grateful that a brief on-screen team-up with Reese Witherspoon 25 years ago has led to one of the most productive and satisfying partnerships of her career.
“I would never think my baby sister on Friends would become my producing partner and starring partner in crime in one of the greatest shows that I personally feel has been made about this world,” Aniston told reporters in a recent virtual press conference, promoting Season 4 of The Morning Show.
“We’re now in a groove, obviously, because it’s been four seasons, but 900 years,” she joked. “Now, the show sort of beautifully runs itself. Our producing team is so fantastic. There are certain areas where I do not excel, where Reese or someone else does. There’s just a really beautiful collaboration and shorthand.”
The drama, which kicks off its fourth season on Apple TV+ Wednesday, follows the staff of a New York television network. The show co-stars Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Nestor Carbonell, Nicole Beharie and Jon Hamm.
Witherspoon called The Morning Show “always forward thinking.”
“It’s fun to be part of a show where you’re really talking about things that people are discussing at their dinner tables,” she said.
“And to also pull the curtain back on what goes on and the sort of inner conflicts that people are working through in order to maintain their journalistic integrity and also keep their jobs,” Aniston laughed. “And not get fired. There’s a lot of crazy corporate static.”
Their characters — TV news anchor characters Alex (Aniston) and Bradley (Witherspoon) — aren’t as close as they were at the start of Season 4.
“We’re kind of at odds with each other,” Witherspoon said.
“I don’t know why, but you have a reason you’re not sure about [trusting] my character,” she told Aniston.
“I do have a reason,” Aniston agreed. “Because I don’t think you understand the full picture of why I’m hesitant to have you back in my apartment.”
“You’re in a new leadership role and I’m a wild card,” Witherspoon admitted.
“Exactly. So, I’ve taken over this leadership role and I’m trying to see the bigger picture — Is this going to be a good thing for the network or a bad thing for the network?” Aniston said.
“We always come back,” she added about Alex and Bradley. “We really love each other. It’s a friendship. It’s a love story between friends, ultimately.”
Cue the return.
The season premiere of #TheMorningShow is now streaming. pic.twitter.com/APP3xVyTrT— Apple TV (@AppleTV) September 17, 2025
At the end of Season 3, Alex becomes an executive after she is instrumental in her network UBA’s merger with another, NBN, which is led by Celine (Marion Cotillard).
“This season really shows women in leadership roles behind the scenes — in the boardroom, having ownership over the network and the sort of dynamics that happen between female power players. So, that’s something you don’t see a lot because it doesn’t happen a lot,” Witherspoon said.
“They’re imagining a whole world. One character, Marion Cotillard’s family, owns the network. And, obviously, Alex Levy has been there for years as an employee and a really important part of the on-camera talent. But now she’s in a position of having to be in charge of the budgets,” she added. “It’s really well-played because it’s not a natural relationship between the two of you. There’s a lot of friction.”
Aniston pointed out that the women deal with each other differently than their male counterparts would.
“Women are a little more in tune with their emotions and aren’t as cutthroat,” Aniston said. “So, the hard decisions that have to be made are really hard and there are a lot of them.”
In addition to Cotillard, Jeremy Irons also joins the cast this season as Alex’s father, Martin.
“I was so nervous to meet him and, boy, was he so disarming and lovely — a big kid, playful, like an actor’s actor,” Aniston recalled.
“He finished a take and was like: ‘How was that? Was that good? Should we do it again?’ He’s just divine.”
Aniston said she was excited to see how Alex responds to having father be a part of her life again this season.
“We could sort of peel back and understand what made Alex, ‘Alex.’ Why are her relationships not working? Why is she such a workaholic? Why is she so lonely,” Aniston said.
Witherspoon added: “It informed your character, but it’s also very funny. Anybody out there with a parent who’s aging [might find this relatable]. It’s very funny. There’s some great scenes.”
Bradley is no longer at the network after she covered up for her brother, who was arrested during the protests at the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021.
Witherspoon described her as quiet and vulnerable at the top of Season 4 and Aniston said Bradley doesn’t have the “spitfiery, ‘Let’s go get them’ stuff” she exhibited during the previous seasons.
“She’s been stepped on,” Witherspoon said.
That doesn’t mean she won’t have fascinating story lines this season, though.
“My character goes to a very bizarre place this season. I can’t say where. But it is completely unexpected and out of nowhere and I think people will be shocked,” Witherspoon added. “Stay tuned. It’s very surprising.”
The series has already been renewed for Season 5.
Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon attend ‘Morning Show’ premiere
Jennifer Aniston (L) and Reese Witherspoon arrive at the Season 4 premiere of Apple TV+’s “The Morning Show” at The Museum of Modern Art on September 9, 2025 in New York City. Aniston stars as Alex Ivy and Witherspoon as Bradley Jackson. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
