Who Wears Wigs in The Morning Show？

Since its premiere in 2019, The Morning Show has become one of Apple TV+’s defining dramas. With the powerhouse pairing of Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, it explores issues of power, identity, ethics, and what happens behind the polished facade of live TV.

Below, you’ll get the full rundown: what the show is based on, who wears wigs (and why), the latest on trailers, how closely it's tied to real events like those involving Matt Lauer, a recap of Season 3, and when Season 4 kicks off.

1.What The Morning Show Is Based On

Source:Apple

The Morning Show is inspired by the non-fiction book Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV by journalist Brian Stelter. The show uses that as a foundation to explore the cutthroat competition among morning news programs, as well as how issues like sexism, ageism, and power dynamics play out behind the scenes. It also draws heavily on real-world controversies, particularly the #MeToo movement and scandals involving prominent morning show anchors accused of sexual misconduct.

While it’s not a documentary, it uses fictional characters and networks to dramatize what real people in similar positions might experience. One question many ask is: Is Alex Levy or Bradley Jackson based on a specific real person? The creators have said no—there’s no direct one-to-one mapping, even though parts of their stories echo real events and real stars.

2.Who Wears Wigs in The Morning Show

Source:Glamour

One memorable detail: Reese Witherspoon’s character, Bradley Jackson, wears a brown wig in early episodes. Witherspoon is naturally blonde; the wig is used to give Bradley a more “pragmatic,” less polished on-air reporter look. The wig helps distinguish her from the more polished veteran anchors, and underscores Bradley’s grittier, down-to-earth personality.

Later, as her character evolves—especially when she starts to take on more responsibilities in the network—Bradley’s hair returns to her natural blonde. According to interviews, part of this change had to do with character growth. Another part was practical: the complications of maintaining the wig during production, especially amid COVID-19 constraints.

3.Is The Morning Show About Matt Lauer?

Source:OKmagazine

The show isn’t about Matt Lauer specifically, but certainly takes inspiration from public scandals like his. The structure of the first season—co-anchor Mitch Kessler being fired for sexual misconduct—bears strong resemblance to the fallout surrounding Matt Lauer and other real anchors.

But it’s deliberately fictionalized: different names, different networks, composite characters. The show uses real events as launch-points or context, but its stories diverge, expand, or imagine what might happen under similar pressures or situations. It’s more of a meditation on the systems and culture than a retelling of any one person’s life.

4.A Quick Season 3 Recap: Where Did We Leave Off?

Source:Youtube

Season 3 plunged UBA into chaos on multiple fronts:

Corporate Takeover: The network faced a hostile takeover bid by tech billionaire Paul Marks (Jon Hamm), threatening to dismantle its core news values.

Hack Attack: A devastating cyberattack leaked confidential UBA emails, exposing everyone’s secrets. Bradley’ Secret: The leak revealed that Bradley had covered up her brother Hal’s involvement in the January 6th Capitol riot, a career-ending lie.

Shifting Alliances: Alex (Aniston) initially allied with Paul Marks for power and stability before realizing the threat he posed. In a stunning move, she turned the tables, ousted CEO Cory Ellison, and saved UBA by proposing a merger with a rival network.

The season ended with Bradley confessing her secret to her girlfriend, Laura Peterson (Julianna Margulies), and deciding to turn herself and her brother in to the FBI, setting up a major legal dilemma for Season 4.

5.What’s Next? ‘The Morning Show’ Season 4 Release and Preview

Source:Youtube

Season 4 of The Morning Show is set to premiere on Apple TV+ on September 17, 2025. New episodes will be released weekly every Wednesday. The official trailer promises more high-stakes drama, hinting at a two-year time jump. Alex Levy is now in charge, attempting to steer the new UBA with a moral compass, but as the tagline suggests, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Meanwhile, Bradley Jackson is back but facing the severe consequences of her actions, creating a new rift between the two powerful women. The internal drama, as Cory Ellison famously says, remains better than the news they report.

6.Conclusion

The Morning Show draws you in through high stakes, layered characters, and its ability to reflect real issues in modern media. It’s not just a drama about getting the news on air—it’s about who shapes the narrative, who gets silenced, and what happens when the public’s need for truth collides with corporate, political, and personal agendas.

7.FAQs About The Morning Show

How to watch The Morning Show without Apple TV+？

The Morning Show is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video (through Apple TV+’s channel or via Amazon Prime Video with Ads) in addition to Apple TV+. Sometimes there are promotional offers. For example, Amazon has offered Season 1 of The Morning Show free for Prime members without needing an Apple TV+ subscription.

Where The Morning Show is filmed？

Though it’s set in New York City, much of the filming is done in Los Angeles, California. Exteriors / street scenes are often shot in New York when needed; interiors (like UBA offices etc.) are largely done in L.A. 

Is The Morning Show based on a true story?

Not exactly. It’s fictional, but it draws from real-life inspirations. For instance, it's loosely based on Brian Stelter’s non-fiction book Top of the Morning, and incorporates elements of the #MeToo movement and real media scandals (e.g. anchor dismissals, workplace culture issues).

Did Hoda leave The Morning Show?

To clarify: Hoda Kotb is a host on Today (NBC), not part of The Morning Show Apple TV+ series. So she didn’t leave The Morning Show. But she did announce she will be leaving Today (“the morning show” in the NBC news/talk sense) in early 2025, to spend more time with her daughters.

What is The Morning Show theme song?

The main title / opening theme is a track called “Nemesis” by Benjamin Clementine.