The Morning Show Recap: Breaking News

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I completely agree with Cory Ellison that the off-screen conflicts at UBN are far more interesting than anything happening on the show – and honestly, that’s exactly what I enjoy about *The Morning Show*. However, it was refreshing to see the entire *TMS* team pull together and handle a major breaking news event, working incredibly hard and demonstrating the chemistry between Alex and Bradley that the show always highlights. While the behind-the-scenes drama will likely be what we remember from “Love the Questions” – it’s truly captivating – this temporary shift in focus was a welcome change of pace.

As soon as Mia Jordan left, Stella was either in the control room during the *TMS* broadcast or had Ben, the Sports Guy, supervising things until the team – currently led by Layla, who really wants this but isn’t prepared for what’s coming – adjusted to being without Mia. And that’s exactly what happened. Stella was away at an AI conference – she’s very focused on that – and Ben was likely busy with another big project, like reinventing the Olympics. It was okay to leave Layla in charge of the scheduled *TMS* segment – a rather awkward on-air proposal from Yanko to his girlfriend, Ariana – but when breaking news hit about a plane making an emergency landing at JFK after a mechanical explosion, things quickly became stressful.

Alex was the real hero of the day. She kept everyone calm while they revised the script, guided Coach Bradley and Yanko on what to say, and found experts for interviews. She and Bradley worked seamlessly together, constantly communicating and making a great team. Despite a few hiccups, they managed to broadcast the landing live, and the plane landed safely! Ironically, a near-real plane crash actually prevented what was likely going to be a professional disaster for Yanko. Everyone was supportive, but it was hard not to be a little skeptical of the whole production when Yanko tried to express his affection by Rickrolling his partner, and the doves they planned to release refused to fly.

Although Alex and Bradley are working well together, it wasn’t a sure thing. It’s complicated by Alex’s resentment towards Bradley and her past legal issues. Things get even more tense when Alex discovers Bradley talking to Chip in her dressing room. After firing the person she’s closest to, Alex feels she should know where Chip is at all times. They’ve been separated for two years, and Alex still seems very attached to him. It’s a bit much, but she’s understandably upset to see them getting friendly. She demands to know what’s going on, and Chip and Bradley fill her in on the latest developments in the Wolf River story.

Our investigators followed up on the depositions Bethanne Hines mentioned and discovered they’ve been completely removed from the UBN server – they’re gone. Chip began researching the environmental lawyer who had access to them, Kenneth Stockton, and found he was recently the target of a damaging smear campaign, primarily through articles on Eagle News. Shortly after, Stockton tragically died by suicide. If Bradley and Chip had any doubts about Claire’s account, this new information has completely changed their minds.

Bradley calls Ashley Andrews, the cable news anchor at Eagle News (played brilliantly by June Diane Raphael), to find out who leaked information about the Kenneth Stockton stories. Ashley always wants something in return, so she proposes a trade. Alex is still annoyed that Bradley and Chip have been secretly friends, but she agrees to help once Bradley explains how important the story is and points out that Claire will reveal the truth about Wolf River regardless. Alex isn’t motivated by kindness, but by self-interest. She offers a story she’d been holding – one connecting Extinction Revolt to the oil rig explosion, originally intended to improve her standing with Zeke Pemberton. Thanks to Paul Marks, she no longer needs the story and gives it to Eagle News. “I hope it’s worth it,” she tells Bradley, knowing it probably won’t be, but that’s part of what makes the show so compelling.

Right after Ashley shared the information on the lawyer, Bradley spotted a familiar company name throughout the documents – the one Earl, Cory’s go-to guy for handling problems, worked for. It’s strange that someone who usually operates discreetly would be using official letterhead, but that wasn’t the biggest issue. Bradley and Chip realized Fred Micklen had forced Bethanne out and replaced her with Cory as Head of News, and that Cory, with Earl’s assistance, had shut down the Wolf River story. Cory was at the heart of the entire cover-up, which was a major discovery.

It’s particularly upsetting for Bradley to learn Cory is involved in the Wolf River situation, especially since she recently became intimate with him. When she confronts him after discovering the truth, she clearly regrets her choices – almost wishing she’d just enjoyed her bombolone instead of kissing him. The takeaway? Always eat the bombolone, but also, have some morals. Cory seems oblivious to the fact that his girlfriend might be investigating his past, likely because he’s too focused on his own plans and activities.

Cory is at UBN, hoping to wrap up a deal with the business affairs team. It’s strange that Stella isn’t there. Instead, he meets Celine, who seems just as cunning as he is. She spends a while talking to him, and Cory eventually realizes she has an ulterior motive. She’s trying to find out what Cory knows about Stella – what kind of leverage he has over her. It turns out Celine, who is already President of the Board, wants to become CEO of UBN. She offers Cory a massive deal if he helps her push Stella out: not just a development deal, but an entire film studio and $200 million. All he has to do is reveal the information he’s using to pressure Stella. For a moment, it looks like Cory might do the right thing. He could get everything he wants by telling Celine about Stella’s affair with her husband, but he stops himself. It seems Cory chooses not to reveal the affair because he doesn’t want to hurt his friend. Even when Celine tries to trick him with a suggestive joke, he remains firm. Is Cory actually changing for the better?

No, he isn’t. Shortly after, Cory bumps into Chip, and they have a casual conversation about the film industry. Chip then reveals that everything in his life depended on getting his movie finished. He says it lightheartedly, but it really hits Cory hard. Cory immediately goes to see Celine and quickly tells her that Miles and Stella are having an affair. Celine is shocked, but she manages to compose herself and promises Cory she’ll hold up her end of their agreement. What she plans to do to Stella and Miles is unclear, but knowing these sophisticated French women, it won’t be pretty.

In Other News

Yanko can be a bit silly, but you can’t help but feel sorry for him in this situation. He’s clearly falling for Ariana, but hearing Bradley and Alex talk about Claire returning throws him completely off track. Even though his producer, Isabella, gives him the go-ahead for a project proposal next week, he cancels it, claiming he wants to keep things more personal. We all know that’s not the real reason, though.

I couldn’t help but laugh when, during a scary near-crash, Yanko jokingly asked his co-anchor Bradley if it was a bad omen for a proposal. Bradley’s response – simply “sorry” – was shockingly cold! You’d expect a little sympathy or encouragement, but it was just… harsh.

Martin Levy angrily confronts Alex, accusing her of being responsible for a student journalist, Justice, writing a story about his past plagiarism. Justice then tries to use Alex’s help with the story as a way to get a job. Alex initially appears willing to compromise to protect Martin, but she changes her mind, seemingly triggered by a memory of her father siding with her ex-husband during their divorce. That’s enough to make her stand her ground.

• “Coming up after your local news and weather, why your mattress might be spying on you.”

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2025-10-08 11:55