‘The Morning Show’: Season 2 Bradley Jackson Is a ‘Brat,’ According to Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon’s not a fan of her character on The Morning Show. Since 2019 the actor’s played Bradley Jackson, a small-time journalist tapped to co-anchor a top morning show. But, as Witherspoon recently admitted, her character’s behavior in season 2 of the AppleTV+ series has her calling Bradley a “brat.”
Bradley Jackson’s shaking things up in ‘The Morning Show’ Season 2
Gone are the days of Bradley just being happy to have her job. In The Morning Show Season 2, which premiered in September 2021, she’s pushing back. Against who exactly? Almost everyone.
At one point she faces off with UBA, the network that employs her, by calling in sick for a month. But more often than not Bradley’s going head-to-head with her boss, Cory Ellison (Billy Crudup), or co-anchor, Alex Levy (Jennifer Aniston). Just in case there’s any confusion she makes it clear to Alex she’s no longer the newbie on the job. Now they’re equals who are fighting for the best stories and airtime.
Bradley’s also shaking up her dating life. Before Laura Peterson (Julianna Margulies) steps in as her guest co-host sparks fly between the two during an interview. Soon they begin a secret romance, which naturally almost everyone knows about. Eventually, Laura pushes Bradley to confront her sexuality. Later, the world learns a lot more about Bradley’s personal life than she would’ve liked.
Reese Witherspoon says she’s nothing like Bradley Jackson at work
During a December 2021 cover interview for InStyle magazine, Witherspoon shared her feelings on season 2 Bradley. And while she doesn’t necessarily like Bradley, the 45-year-old actor admitted she’s had a good time playing her on TV.
“It was great to play this character who was so excited to be invited to the party,” Witherspoon told Gayle King. “Then by season 2 she’s entitled, she’s a brat, she’s advocating for herself but maybe not in the most professional manner.”
“It was fun to play somebody so different from myself. I’m a team player, but that is not Bradley,” she added. Asked if she’s the opposite of her character, the mother of three said, “professionally, yes.”
Witherspoon took inspiration for her ‘Morning Show’ character from Gayle King
Asked if there’s a broadcaster who inspired her portrayal of Bradley the Legally Blonde alum confessed it had been the very person interviewing her. King, who co-hosts CBS This Morning, explained that Bradley’s season 2 action wouldn’t fly for her in the workplace.
“Uh, let me tell you something: If I said to the boss at CBS, ‘F*** you, and I’m going to call in sick for the next month,’ I swear to you I’d be in Times Square looking for a cab. Taxi!’”
When pressed to name someone else as her inspiration, Witherspoon replied with, “People know their power.” And sometimes that’s meant deciding “not to go to work because they didn’t want to be treated poorly.”
The Morning Show fans know Bradley’s back co-hosting TMS but only time will tell if her so-called “brat” behavior continues through the rest of the season.
A new episode of The Morning Show Season 2 begins streaming every Friday on AppleTV+.
