Jennifer Aniston, 55, was spotted on the set of “The Morning Show” Season 4 in Manhattan, filming an intense scene where she gets splashed with a sticky, tar-like substance. The “Friends” star looked visibly upset as her white shirt and slacks were ruined by the oily liquid.
Aniston’s character, Alex, appeared to be in the midst of a protest, surrounded by demonstrators who threw the oil at her. This dramatic moment is part of the ongoing storyline of “The Morning Show,” which has garnered critical acclaim, including several Emmy nominations. The show was nominated for “Outstanding Drama Series,” and both Aniston and her co-star Reese Witherspoon, 48, received nods for “Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series”, told Page Six.
“The Morning Show” delves into the behind-the-scenes world of a fictional morning news program, focusing on rival anchors Alex (Aniston) and Bradley (Witherspoon). The series often addresses contemporary issues such as the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, it has also gained a reputation for its unconventional and surprising plot twists. These include sending Bradley into space and having her capture footage of the January 6 Capitol riots on her cellphone, including scenes of her brother Hal (Joe Tippett) assaulting a police officer.
Discussing these eccentric plot lines, Aniston told Variety in 2023, “Wow. Going into space, huh? Personally, I was like, ‘I would never do that! You’ve got to be out of your freaking mind!’” Witherspoon, when asked if the show could be considered “camp,” responded, “Like ‘Dynasty’ campy? I don’t have a good perspective about that. I think we’re the wrong people to ask! I love ‘Dynasty.’ I love powerful women in great outfits having a verbal argument.”
Aniston also spoke about her long-standing working relationship with Witherspoon. “We’ve been in each other’s lives for 20-something years. It’s just in our DNA that we are collaborators. We’re partners. We’re friends. We’re girlfriends, we share all sorts of heartbreaks in life and love and everything,” she said.
Aniston previously revealed that she opted out of using an intimacy coordinator for a steamy scene with Jon Hamm. “I was like, ‘What does that mean?’ They said, ‘Where someone asks you if you’re OK,’ and I’m like, ‘Please, this is awkward enough! We’re seasoned — we can figure this one out,’” she recalled.
Director and executive producer Mimi Leder praised Aniston and Hamm’s performances in the episode. “It was a closed set, and two very grown-up actors who really understood the nature of the storytelling and were very much a part of it,” Leder told Variety. “We wanted it to be sensitive. We wanted it to be sexy. We wanted it to be adult. We wanted it to be emotional. They really let go. They’re great actors. And there you have it.”
“The Morning Show” has yet to announce a premiere date for Season 4, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the return of the hit series.