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“The Morning Show” brings a powerhouse lineup, starring “Friends” alum Jennifer Aniston and acclaimed film actress Reese Witherspoon, making it one of Apple TV’s flagship offerings. Both actresses reportedly command impressive salaries for their roles, initially earning over $1 million each in the first season. By Season 4, their earnings had significantly increased, contributing to a staggering $50 million spent solely on cast salaries. The overall production costs for the show’s first two seasons were estimated at $300 million.
Apple TV+
The substantial paychecks for Aniston and Witherspoon are likely bolstered by their roles as executive producers, with the possibility of having ownership stakes, although neither has publicly confirmed this. Witherspoon has been vocal about the media’s focus on their hefty earnings, expressing frustration over the perception that their compensation might be undeserved.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Witherspoon addressed the scrutiny over their salaries, stating, “There seemed to be a resentment, as if we weren’t worth it or it was bothersome, and I thought, ‘Why is that bothersome?'” She emphasized the network’s strategic decisions, noting, “These companies are real smart, and if they agree to pay us, they’re doing it for a reason. They probably had a lot of lawyers and business people decide on that number because they knew they would make more than that back. Does it bother people when Kobe Bryant or LeBron James make their contract?”
The investment in Aniston and Witherspoon has certainly paid off for Apple TV+. “The Morning Show” has garnered 27 Emmy nominations and secured four wins. Its popularity soared, eventually surpassing “Ted Lasso” as the most-watched series on the platform during its third season. Despite some mixed reviews—critics on Rotten Tomatoes rated it 75% fresh—the show has maintained a strong following. While some viewers felt the series faltered in its second season, Aniston and Witherspoon’s contributions remain invaluable to the streaming service.
Reese Witherspoon defended the size of her salary to the press
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Reese Witherspoon didn’t hold back when asked about her salary for “The Morning Show.” Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, she said, “There seemed to be a resentment, as if we weren’t worth it or it was bothersome, and I thought, ‘Why is that bothersome?’” She noted that everyone on the business end of the network know what they’re doing when they pay an actress this much cheddar. “I guarantee these companies are real smart, and if they agree to pay us, they’re doing it for a reason. They probably had a lot of lawyers and a lot of business people decide on that number because they knew that they were going to make more than that back. Does it bother people when Kobe Bryant or LeBron James make their contract?”
And it’s not as if the salaries Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston have earned didn’t pay off major dividends for Apple TV+. The show has been nominated for 27 Emmys and won four total. It also did well with viewers. It went from being the second most-watched show on Apple TV+, sitting behind “Ted Lasso,” to its most popular series during Season 3 (which we didn’t enjoy very much). However, other critics disagreed and put it at 75% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes‘ Tomatometer. While some fans think it jumped the shark in Season 2, it sounds like both women are definitely more than worth their weight in gold to the streamer.
