["Nemesis" playing]
[music ends]
[white noise machine hissing]
[white noise machine stops]
[door closes]
[sighs]
[door opens]
- Morning, Mia. - Good morning, Rena.
Well, well, well, America,
it's been a wild two weeks for our friends at UBA.
Thousands of hacked emails. It's like Christmas everyday.
I don't know about you, but I live to search ubaleaks.com
for my daily drip-drop of their embarrassments.
This is one day's worth of our liabilities for the hack? It looks like War and Peace.
Page 85 of the unreleased emails.
Well, Earl. You spoil me.
Just call me Tolstoy. Let me know what you wanna do with that.
[line ringing]
[Paul] You're welcome, Cory.
[Cory] For what?
Boosting your stock price.
That tends to happen with companies I'm rumored to be acquiring.
[Cory] Well, I'd say it's more than a rumor.
Oh. That's news.
Well, here's more news.
Your original offer works for me. At the price you first pitched.
[Cory] Let's get this done.
- What about your board? - Leave that to me.
Pull the trigger.
- Guys, we gotta-- We gotta-- I'm sorry. - Oh! [sighs]
We gotta rethink these selfies.
Look at-- I don't care what app you're on. You're on Tinder,
420 Singles, Kingsnake After Dark. We can't be doing this.
- Angles, people. This, really? - Yes. Come on.
- No one's hot for your under chin. - And why do guys think this works?
- I don't understand why they-- - I have no idea.
Well, Chris how-- how did your husband break through?
Uh, not on an app, but you know, it's a long story.
Oh, please, highlights. Give us the highlights.
You got a minute.
Oh, okay. Um, for you.
- Yes. - 8:55 version.
I'm at my first Olympic trials, and there's a guy.
He's cute, and he has these eyes. And I'm like, "Don't look at me like that,
you're making me nervous."
Anyway. He reps my nemesis, who's competing with me for Nike.
[Yanko] Oh, wow.
And they only wanna sign one American in track and field.
So, eh-- I'm in my hotel room, and I get a surprise delivery.
Tiffany blue dunks in my size.
- Those are sneakers. - Gosh.
And there's a note with Marcus's number, and it just says, "You're it."
- Oh, wow. - [chuckles]
- What can I say, the man can close. - And--
- That's ex-- So impressive. - [Yanko] Yeah. Yeah. Or--
Or he's just looking to connect.
And now it's time to connect you to The Twist right after this break.
[Julia] And we're clear.
[crew member] Cut to commercial.
Great show, everybody.
Connect?
- Connect, connect. - I know you mean, like, as people.
- You know-- Exactly. Nice segue. - I do. That's very sweet.
- We did that. - [Julia] Moving to The Twist package.
- Oh, God. - [assistant] Here you go.
- Thank you, dear. - [Chip] You were right.
Those dating pics were tragic. [chuckles]
I know. [laughs]
Not everybody can find love in their boss's apartment.
I like that smile.
We just gained another 30,000 on YDA.
Shut up. Who knew getting hacked would put us back on top?
Hey, Layla. Post these numbers at the next segment meeting.
We could all use the morale boost.
- Layla, can you hear me? - Look at Eagle News.
...missteps of a top talent at UBA, when the real drama
- is from their hate speech. - Turn that up.
And the struggle for racial equality at UBA just took another step back.
We've just received a cache of emails and found a doozy.
Cybil Reynolds, legend of the industry and UBA board president,
referred to The Morning Show co-anchor, Christina Hunter,
as Aunt Jemima in an email about her hiring.
- Yeah, you heard that right. Aunt Jemima. - [sighs]
Kyle, get me legal.
Call Leonard and set up a dinner for us tomorrow night,
and then get me Chris.
[sighs, gasps]
[sighs]
[sniffs]
Ugh. [sighs]
[inhales deeply]
[sighs]
Hello?
[people chattering]
[Stella] I found the email.
Cybil's talking to the rest of the board about Q3 financials in 2020,
and she's pissed that UBA spent so much money on a two-year deal with Chris.
Somebody points out that Chris would still be making less than Bradley
when she was hired. "We got her at a steal.
After all, Chris is popular enough to be on cereal boxes."
- I don't see what's so bad. - It's in Cybil's reply. She wrote back,
- "Aunt Jemima was on cereal boxes too... - [sighs] Oh.
...and no one's buying her anymore."
- Mia-- [stammers, sighs] - Buying her? What is wrong with Cybil?
- Did Chris leave yet? - [Mia] Cory called her to his office.
[elevator dings]
You can go on in.
[sighs] Oh, Chris. Hi.
Never been up to this floor. It's classy.
[chuckles] Yeah. Right? The decor. Uh, top-notch.
- You want a painting? [chuckles] - What?
Oh. Uh-- Oh, God. Stupid joke.
- Sorry. How are you? - I'm still catching my breath.
Yeah. [sighs] Listen, I know you don't know Cybil,
but she has been a fixture here for a long time.
But in any house, fixtures need replacing.
I see.
You don't want me to sue.
Of course, we don't want it to get to that point.
My team's already working on how to make it right with you.
Favored nations with Bradley, of course.
A bonus in recognition of your terrific work.
But I would love to keep this in-house.
We should do the news, not be the news. Right?
[Chris sighs]
We'll get back to you by the end of the day.
Thank you for, uh, stopping by. I wanted you to know how valued you are.
And I think I'm learning how much.
[sighs]
[breathing shakily]
[elevator dings]
You're hiding.
Thanks for meeting me.
[inhales sharply] Yeah. We'll have to make this quick.
Gotta get back to my full-time job at the teacup.
Thank you for honoring your commitments.
Of course.
I'm wondering about how people are reacting around the building.
Mmm. You mean what Cory's doing?
Well, if I had to guess I assume
he's having his lawyers draw up a statement.
Yeah, I figured as much. So, just-- You haven't heard anything else?
[chuckles] I'm not-- I'm not a spy, Cybil.
I don't need a spy, Alex. I need an advocate.
I don't know what to tell you. It's all right there in black-and-white.
Yes, I know how it looks.
I asked you here so we could figure out the fastest way out of this.
Oh, I'm sorry. We?
Well, what if you interviewed me on Alex Unfiltered?
[inhales sharply] Wow. Um, why?
I would like to speak on my own behalf.
I just don't think that going on television right now is the thing to do.
Are you telling me I need media training
after 45 years at the network my grandfather founded?
I never said that. I'm just saying this is a lot trickier
- than talking about UBA's stock price. - [sighs]
- I was thrilled when we hired Chris. - Mmm.
Yes, she was inexperienced, but it was the right thing to do.
[stammers] This is-- This is-- This is ridiculous.
It's a complete misunderstanding.
Yeah, well, whether it's a misunderstanding or not,
I-I just I don-- I don't want any part of it. I just don't.
You? [scoffs] Of all people.
What is that supposed to mean?
You know they all wanted you gone.
Cory, Fred. All of them.
I had your back, because I know what it's like
when a bunch of men decide a woman's sell-by date.
I had your back, and now you need to have mine.
If I go down for this,
do you think whoever replaces me is going to care about you
or what you want?
Let's face it. It'll be Cory or one of his toadies.
And how has Cory looked out for you so far?
Oh, yes. I know, Cybil.
I have actually felt your support over the years. [inhales deeply]
It's funny how now all of a sudden it becomes about sisterhood
and solidarity, because now you need something.
Alex, this is how the world works.
- [Alex] Wow. - You know that.
I have no angle here.
I just want a chance to set the goddamn record straight.
I've given my life to this place.
I won't be canceled over this.
[sighs] It happens to the best of us.
Hmm.
[Chris breathing heavily]
[sighing]
[sighs] You only breathe like that... [grunts] ...when you're anxious.
[both exhale deeply]
Babe, it's gonna blow over, I promise.
But you gotta get your sleep.
3:30 is right around the corner.
[Marcus sighs]
[Chip] Look, it's Cybil's family's company.
You can understand why she'd try to, like, use us to bail her out.
Come on. UBA's been a publicly traded company for decades.
We don't belong to her.
Besides, everything on TV, it gets canceled sooner or later.
I don't know why Cybil should be any different.
She's not gonna stay quiet.
Well, let her get loud. That doesn't mean we have to
put a resident daughter of the confederacy on Alex Unfiltered.
Cory, trust me. I am not crazy about this idea at all,
but that tired statement from the suits, that just makes us look worse.
Cybil has an NDA. She's not gonna be able to tell her story to anyone,
and this has to be addressed and we're the only ones who can do it.
- Period. - Okay. How's Chris doing?
She seemed fine at the show today, but I can't imagine she is.
I mean, from what I could see, she was a total pro.
Yeah. She was great. She came in, she did her job.
She didn't wanna talk about it, which I completely understand,
- because it's our mess to clean up. - [sighs]
- It's not her mess. - Uh, the mess is already cleaned up.
We issued a statement. I'm not sure why you guys wanna chum the waters.
I'm not excusing what Cybil did, but I understand the ask.
Sounds like she wants a chance to defend her reputation.
What about UBA's reputation? Let her go on Eagle News.
I-- I don't care about the NDA. I'll waive it.
This is not gossip. This is newsworthy, and everybody is talking about it.
If we ignore it, how do we look?
- Also, Cory, isn't this, like, your thing? - [Alex sighs]
Like, the ratings, the whole circus?
I-- I don't like being leveraged by someone who I know
is gonna be playing shuffleboard in Boca in a week.
She is a dead man walking. Her own board won't even talk to her.
Sorry, Cory, but there is a solid argument here.
An interview on Alex Unfiltered would show that we're taking this seriously.
And given how UBA covered up Mitch Kessler's behavior,
not to mention the racial issues around that behavior,
our best move is to get ahead of this ourselves.
[Cory chuckles]
Fine, but I'd like to see first cut.
And, uh, if it's a circle jerk, we're not airing it.
Wha-- Circle jerk? Ex-- What?
Is it just me, or is he in a hurry to bury the body?
The fuck?
Rena, come here.
- What am I looking at? - Salaries from the hack website.
It's not just Chris being lowballed, it's all of us. Well, maybe not all of us.
Hmm. So, you're saying it's a pattern.
Wait, what? Seriously?
I've been digging through the data dump from the hack. It ain't pretty.
- [Rena] Oh, my God. - This is crazy.
All the junior staff have had racist shit said and done to us forever,
but now everybody cares because it's Chris?
[Joel] This is bullshit.
I swear to God, what's the point of even working here?
Layla, can we review copy for tomorrow in my office?
- Whoa. - I'm gonna...
[Layla sighs]
Here's a copy for tomorrow.
Forget the copy.
What's going on, Layla? Help me out.
First those god-awful performance reviews, and now this?
It took the leak of an email about a famous person,
a rich and famous person,
to make anyone care about the inequality that's baked into this place.
- And we're pissed. - How pissed?
You might not have a staff by tomorrow.
Okay. Thank you for your honesty.
- I-I appreciate it. - [sighs]
Hey, Stella, we need an all-hands.
All right, everybody. Thank you for coming.
We know that Cybil Reynolds' email, and some unfortunate pay inequities
have made a lot of you upset, and rightfully so.
[Stella] We've all been through a lot.
We just wanted to get everybody together and talk about it.
Talk about what The Morning Show can do to make things right. Anybody?
[staff muttering]
They're all looking at me, aren't they?
Hmm. Well, they're not not looking at you.
Yeah, so anyone, anyone can talk. Talk about how you feel. Um...
- You're free to say anything... - That's right.
...without fear of reprisal.
- Management will not retaliate, okay? - Right, this is a completely safe space.
All right, fuck it.
[inhales sharply] Of course, you can't fire us for speaking out.
But you know what you can do?
Ice us out of assignments, pass us over for promotions,
make it so unpleasant that we'll quit on our own. That way you stay clean.
Okay, Layla, I am not going to let that happen to you.
But where's Cory? Where's Cybil?
[staff murmurs]
[inhales sharply] They're not here because they don't have to be here.
Look, they're betting that we're either going to just shut the fuck up
and, you know, remain in our place.
All the talent that comes in here who's Black and vocal,
they either quiet down or they leave.
Julia... [stammers] ...remember our place?
Really? [stammers] You're amazing at what you do.
[stammers] Why would you play into the hands of people
who want you to see yourself as a victim?
I mean, you don't see how disempowering that is?
I don't think I was doing that, Yanko.
All right, look. Guys... [stammers] ...bottom line, race--
[stammers] First of all, it's a fiction, okay?
[stutters] And it's being weaponized, okay? We all know that.
Uh, do we? Do we all know that? I'm not sure, uh...
We're having the wrong conversation, okay?
- [Mia] Well, we're-- - Can I speak now?
- I mean... [stammers] ...is it safe? - Uh-- [stammers] Go ahead. Yeah.
All we're doing, Mia, right now is checking boxes.
We're checking boxes, we're scoring diversity points
on some spreadsheet, for what? So that we can all feel better?
I mean, the thing that we were railing against,
adjudicating on the basis of skin color--
I mean... [stammers] ...and if that thing alone isn't screwed up on so many levels,
then we're also being forced to choose one racial identity when we're all mutts.
Look at me. No, I mean, I pass for Sephardic Jew, I pass for Persian,
I pass for Armenian.
But because both my parents, they're from Cuba,
you're gonna tell me now that I'm just brown?
- Yanko, aren't you third-generation Cuban? - Yes, but you're missing the point.
- [staff laughs] - No-- Laugh all you want.
It's true. You're right, it's funny, but-- I'll get you a better example.
- Alex. - What?
No, let's say that, that you spit in a tube,
and you find out that your great-grandfather is Black.
Okay, would that all of a sudden make you Black?
He's got a point.
- [Yanko] Hmm? - Oh, my God.
- Hmm? - [stammering]
If you were to send your DNA to one of those places,
and you find out today that great-grandfather's Black,
all of a sudden, Alex Levy, she's Black? Is she Black?
Yanko, you're turning this into a stunt.
I'm pointing out the absurdity of this. You don't see that? Wh--
- Come on. You know it's not helping. - What? No.
- [Alex] At all. - It-- It's the wokeness.
- That's what's not helping, Alex. - [scoffs]
Would you do-- Take this over, and I'll be right back.
- [Stella] I'm worrying-- - [Mia] Yeah. Keep talking.
[Stella] We're, uh, getting ourselves derailed here.
We are all well-meaning and, um...
Chris, wait.
What was the point of that back there?
I thought it would help to talk it out in the open.
Before you put Cybil on Alex Unfiltered?
Show what a friend she is to brown people?
That decision's above my pay grade.
Mmm. Sounds like we both need higher pay grades then.
Yeah.
[stammers, sighs]
Don't let Cybil or this whole corporate machine
make you doubt your worth.
I never doubted my worth. I just didn't know other people did.
I'm not one of those people.
Then why haven't you found me a new anchor producer?
It's been hard to attract high-level producers.
I can't imagine why.
- What happened to the meeting? - I ended it. We weren't getting anywhere.
[sighs] How's Chris?
How would you be if you were her right now?
Yeah, we're gonna have a lot of shitty days until this goes away.
Will it, though? Go away?
Wringing our hands over one email from Cybil
is like trying to put a Band-Aid on cancer.
And, Stella, by the way, it was our fucking job to know
that Chris and a hundred other people were being lowballed
in the name of budget cuts.
And I'm the one who has to look at Julia and Layla and everybody else
who's overworked, underappreciated, underpaid on my watch.
But yeah. No, don't look over there, you know?
Keep the show lean and mean. Do more with less. Get creative.
Win the fucking ratings war.
Sleep in your office, if that's what it takes.
'Cause that is what it takes to keep the lights on during a pandemic.
To literally keep the lights on during a hack.
How fucked up is it, Stella,
that I'm supposed to be running the machine, and I am a goddamn cog?
Maybe UBA is a plantation, just with dental insurance.
- Yeah, you're right. - I know I'm right.
But what does that say about me, that I'm still here?
We're getting out of here. We're getting drunk tonight.
- Stella, no. I don't have time. - Do not make me pull rank.
That's an order.
We're getting out of here,
and we're drinking until we can't see straight.
And I'm expensing all of it, and we're inviting Chris.
- Now tell me, what color is it? - Red.
[gasps] Red. Good job, Naima.
Here, here. There you g-- Hey! What color is this?
- [Naima] Orange. - Orange! So amazing. Mmm.
Wh-- Oh, you know what's next, huh? [chuckles]
- [cell phone chimes] - You getting ahead of me, huh?
Oh, wow. Look at this. Green.
What's that? Hey! High-five, high-five.
Okay, you're being ridiculous. Get off the floor.
"How has your week been, honey?"
"Well, I had to read a racist email about me,
sent by someone I met exactly once.
Then our CEO offered me ho money
- to stay quiet. - [mouthing] Stop.
And some reporter asked me what I was gonna do about all of this.
And then my Black boss told me that I should keep calm and carry on."
- [inhales sharply] - So you wanna quit?
You know I don't quit anything.
I mean, you've put in enough time.
The Morning Show wasn't supposed to be forever.
Come here, come here. [groans]
You know, we were fine.
We had enough in endorsements to tide us over,
- and I let you talk me into this job. - Whoa, whoa, I didn't talk you into this.
I told you I felt like they were lowballing me,
- and you said we shouldn't push it. - No, no, no, no,
I'm not gonna let you blame me for this
because these white folks have lost their minds.
We should've taken them for every dime they had.
- And now we can. - No.
You sue once, you are forever the woman who sues.
Yeah?
[doorbell rings]
[groans]
I'm sorry.
- If that's a reporter-- - I'll handle it.
[sighs] It's Alex.
[Chris] Yeah, okay. [kisses] Mommy will be right back.
This better not take long. [sighs]
I'll take care of her, baby.
- Alex. - Hi.
I'm sorry to drop by unannounced.
I actually did try to announce,
but you weren't picking up your phone or answering your texts.
- It's fine. Come in. - [Alex] Oh, great.
Hey, Marcus.
Hey, Alex. Good to see you.
["Luck Be A Lady" playing]
[Cory] Mmm.
Veal marsala, amazing.
I do feel bad for the baby cows,
spending their all-too-short lives caged up,
never knowing the hellscape that awaits them.
It tugs at the heartstrings, really,
but here, the veal marsala... [chuckles] ...it tests the limits of my sympathy.
Let's cut the shit, Cory. Why am I so far uptown?
Leonard, you know there's a world beyond the Upper East Side.
Yes, which is why I live on the Upper East Side.
[Cory chuckles]
We needed a little privacy,
away from prying eyes and the hot takes of, uh, reporters.
So, what's the board thinking about, uh, Paul's offer,
now that Cybil's email has been leaked?
[scoffs] We're over the moon.
I mean, racial scandals. Great for business.
Point taken.
Let's dispense with pleasantries.
I opposed your appointment as CEO.
Since then, you've had some wins.
But you thrive on chaos, and I don't and neither does UBA.
With that said, of course, I would, uh,
support Mussolini if he brought me a deal from Paul Marks.
Never took you for a fascist, Leonard.
But you don't have the votes yet.
I can't publicly support you.
Do you really think Cybil is the best the board can do?
Well, that non-answer is all the answer I need.
And if Cybil is gone, someone will have to take over.
Nature abhors a vacuum.
I've sat on a lot of boards, Cory.
And if the headache you'd give me is half the aneurysm you've given Cybil,
then I'm not interested.
Did you know my father was a binman?
I'm sorry, a binman?
Oh, whatever you call them here.
[stammering] Sanitary worker, rubbish collector.
I watched him spend his entire adult existence waist-deep
in the putrid detritus of other people's lives,
and he did it without complaint so that I wouldn't have to be a binman.
I have never been a binman. I won't start now.
So, Cory, either you clean up your own mess,
or you get the fuck out of the way.
[dance music playing]
- [Mia] Another round? Yeah! - Hell yeah.
- [phone vibrating] - Uh, your chest is blowing up.
What?
- Your bra. Someone's calling your bra. - [laughing]
- I bet it's Chris. - Tell her to get her ass down here.
[sighs, groans] It's Bradley.
Oh, does she want her white guilt assuaged?
I know she means well, but after Yanko's genealogy lesson...
[stutters] ...I can't do another after-school special with the talent.
Sorry, Bradley Jackson.
Oh, Yanko.
- [sucks teeth] - [sighs]
Remember when he punched that guy in the street?
Yes, I do.
Okay, I know I'm not allowed to say it because of toxic masculinity,
but that was hot.
It was kinda hot.
Yanko can be problematic
- and also hot. [gasps] - And also hot.
- Did we say that out loud? - Oh, no.
Is my phone listening?
I'm getting more drinks.
Hi, can I-- Yeah, thanks. Uh--
Hey.
- [chuckles] - Wait, is that-- is that Kyle?
Oh, God, it is.
I'm gonna go talk to him and find out what Cory's up to.
- No! You can't-- - Yes.
- [gasps] Kyle? Oh, my God. - Stella? [chuckles]
- Come on. Bring it in. - Hi. Hi.
- Hi, uh-- - What's up?
- This is crazy. - Yeah.
Cory's meeting with the board right now.
He doesn't give a shit about reforming UBA.
He's at war with Cybil, and we-- [chuckles] We're just pawns.
- What? - I am a pawn. You're in the game.
What? What is that supposed to mean?
Cybil is your girl, right?
Or, I don't know...
Wait, what?
You think that I'm protecting her, that I'm-- that I'm complicit in this?
Stella, I'm confused, why are you taking her side?
It's like you're attaching yourself to power wherever it is.
That's not my style.
Cybil may have issues,
but at least she's not trying to sell us to Paul Marks like Cory is.
Well, Paul may be another overlord, but at least he's writing checks.
Aren't you tired of everybody in the C-suite crying poor?
What?
What aren't you saying?
Paul and I, we used to work together.
We have a history, and it's not a good one.
- Did he-- Did he do something-- - No, no...
[stammers] ...it's nothing like that. He's too smart.
If there's one thing about Paul...
he's ruthless.
- Did you tell Cory? - He doesn't care.
And who can you trust in that building?
The only way UBA can sell trust
is by putting it in all caps under Alex Levy's face on a billboard.
[Mia] Oh. You came.
Looks like I missed a fun night.
- Hey. - Hey, Chris, how are you holding up?
Yeah, I look like I'm in the witness protection program, so...
Do you want to duck into someplace quiet?
- I mean, there's a-- - I'm done with quiet.
I want to interview Cybil on TMS.
- Really? - Alex and I talked about it,
and it should be me.
[Mia] Okay.
- Only do this if you are sure. - [Stella] Yeah.
You don't have anything to prove here.
[Chris] I know.
And trust me, the last thing I wanna do is talk to Cybil, but I'm gonna do it.
Hey, imagine the ratings.
The ratings, yes.
Absolutely not. She's not doing it.
Alex Unfiltered is one thing, but nobody is tuning into
The Morning Show's version of Obama's "Beer Summit".
If he couldn't make it work, we sure as hell can't.
I love the Hail Mary, but no.
I love Hail Marys too. I especially love a Hail Mary
where a network's CEO leaks an embarrassing email
to knock out his board chair and, you know,
casually weaponizes 400 years of racism to close a deal with a billionaire.
[Cory sighs]
That's quite the accusation, Stella.
Before you tell me I'm wrong,
just know that your left eye twitches when you're lying.
You let this get away from you, Cory.
No, no, no. Nope, I can't do it. I cannot go on The Morning Show.
Cybil, you have to do this.
It's what Chris wants, and she deserves to have her say too.
It's time for you to stop behaving like some fragile white woman.
I'm fragile?
Could you have survived the '70s?
We are aware that you're formidable.
I keep running it back in my mind over and over and over.
I can't believe I wrote that.
Mm-hmm.
[Cybil stammers] I-- I would never undermine another woman at work.
- Why would I do that? - I don't know.
And I think you're just gonna have to answer that on TMS.
Why? They've-- They've decided who I am.
And you watch, after-after I'm gone,
they'll all pretend that... [stammers] ...solved the problem.
And they'll still just cross to the other side of the street
if they see a person of color.
I would-- [stammers] I would not say that part on air.
Oh, God.
[sighs] I made a joke.
A tasteless joke.
And now that joke is my legacy?
My family's legacy?
Eighty years of all that we built is just wiped out by a--
by a thoughtless email?
Cybil, it's so much more than one email.
You paid a Black woman less than a white woman for the exact same job.
And I understand that you don't think that this is reflective of who you are,
but this is your chance to own it, and you're gonna redefine it.
Still to come, we'll follow up with Marge and Kathy,
identical twins reunited after a chance run-in
at the Cider Days pie eating contest.
Can you imagine that? You're just sampling
a slice of strawberry rhubarb and then,
- wham, your twin. - [Alex] I know.
It's competitive eating, it's full of surprises.
[sighs] Up next,
a conversation about race in corporate America
with UBA Board Chair, Cybil Reynolds,
and our very own Chris Hunter. We'll be right back after this break.
[Julia] And we're clear.
- Oh, my God. Fucking tough pivot. - God.
- No shit. [sighs] - Holy-- Jesus Christ.
And Chris has-- Chris has got a lot of guts, taking this on.
Yeah, she does. She sure does.
[Linda] Okay. We're three minutes out.
You're gonna stay on point. Remember to breathe, right?
[Gerald] Remember, it's a four-minute segment,
- and they might go just a little longer. - [Linda] Mm-hmm.
Well, the great thing about a live broadcast they have to cut away
- to commercial at some point, so-- - Gotta pay those bills.
It'll be all right.
Just wanna do a touch-up before you head out there.
Those lights can be harsh.
I was thinking we'll do a quick contour right at the cheekbone.
- Mm-hmm. Thank you. - A little color. Don't wanna wash you out.
[Linda] And listen, you control the answers.
She does not control the answers.
- [breathing deeply] - [all speaking indistinctly]
[Chris] One... [inhales deeply]
two... [exhales sharply]
...three.
[sniffs, sighs]
- Hey. Hello, babe. - Mmm.
This is not a race.
You're gonna be great.
You were born great.
What if I embarrass myself?
What if I do this and all anyone sees
is an angry Black woman beating up on a defenseless little white lady...
- That's not gonna happen. - ...and--
You got Mia in your ear and me right offside.
Mmm. [chuckles]
- [kisses] - Mmm.
- [headphones beep] - [hip-hop song playing]
Come on, girl.
[hip-hop song stops playing]
[Cybil clears throat]
[staff chattering]
- Oh, dear, would you hold this? - [Gerald] Yep.
- Ms. Reynolds, come with me please. - Thank you.
- [staff] Okay, watch your step. - [Cybil] Thank you.
[whispers] God Almighty.
Let's make sure we don't have any audible delay.
[crew member 1] Copy that. No delay.
[crew member 2] Good to go for audio. No delay.
Check. Okay, everyone, let's keep this tight.
Jim, I want you to stay closer.
You got this, Chris.
And in five, four, three...
Welcome back.
A few days ago, a racially insensitive email surfaced
from UBA board president, Cybil Reynolds.
The email contained comments about me. I haven't spoken out in public until now.
And here to join me as I do so is the woman who wrote those comments.
UBA board president, Cybil Reynolds, thank you for being here.
Thank you for having me on.
Now I know there was some furor, well deserved,
over the statement that UBA issued some days ago.
Um, it was inadequate, to say the very least.
The mistake was mine and mine alone, and I'm here to apologize in person.
Chris, I'm-- I am deeply sorry for what I said.
Even in the heat of a contentious hiring decision,
nothing can excuse what I said.
You mean calling me Aunt Jemima?
I didn't exactly call you Aunt--
Um, I-I wanna set the record straight.
Uh, you know that Aunt Jemima was on boxes of pancake mix and not cereal, right?
I guess I know that now. [chuckles]
[Chris] But this is about more than just an offhand comment.
The irony of your joke is that the Pearl Milling Company
used the image and likeness of a Black woman to sell a brand,
I'm sure, with no profit participation.
My question is what brand am I helping UBA to sell, in your eyes?
Look, words matter. Actions matter more.
And UBA has been sorely inactive when it comes to equity and inclusion.
Now, the board isn't involved with day-to-day operations.
We leave that to the capable leadership of our CEO.
But when that leadership falters, I have a duty to step in.
Don't you fucking dare.
She firing shots at Cory?
Oh, he deserves them.
[Chris] I'm not sure you're answering my question.
[Cybil] Oh.
[Chris] But let's talk about stepping in.
What would that look like?
Do you even think it's possible to win back the trust of UBA's employees?
You know something? [sighs] I do.
I do think it's possible.
And it'll start with a dialogue between UBA employees and the board.
From now on... [stammers] ...you all will have a voice at every single board meeting.
Now is the time for transparency.
That's great to hear, truly.
In the interest of transparency,
was I hired for a permanent anchor position because I am Black?
[stammers]
Obviously not. No.
[Chris] But you see my confusion, right?
Because you used a clumsy racist comment... [chuckles]
...to complain about my hiring.
Did you think I wasn't qualified, was that it?
Well... [stammers] ...now in point of fact, at that time,
I did not believe you were qualified.
Uh... [stammers] ...let me rephrase.
[clears throat] You were untested.
[Chris] Well, that's not exactly true.
Were you aware that I was cue tested... [chuckles]
...more than any other person who has ever anchored this show?
That I had to have eight different approval meetings
in addition to the strategy discussions about my hair?
I was unaware.
And I still found time to, uh,
spend weekends with four former anchors, developing my on-air skills.
Well, now that-that is impressive. [stammers] That's very admirable.
That aside, I don't understand why you used
a racialized image when discussing me.
[sighs]
Is that how you see me?
Is that how you see us?
[sighs]
Would you want your entire career reduced to one unthinking,
bone-headed thing you said in an email?
Haven't you ever said anything... [stammers]
...that later you came to regret when speaking casually?
[Chris] You're in a leadership position at this network.
And on your watch,
you let employees of color be systematically devalued.
Is that something to be casual about?
Donny, tell the camera to push in on Cybil,
- and keep pushing until I see her pores. - We're supposed to break.
- You want me to cut-- - No. No.
Okay. Camera two, push in. Closer.
No.
I was careless, and there isn't any excuse.
But you-you have to understand.
We don't just give this opportunity to anyone.
Anyone who sits in that chair has to be grateful--
I sh--
There it is.
I should be grateful?
Well, that-that your job is so very hard to get.
I want to say, as for UBA as an institution,
going forward, I think we've--
We should move on from this climate where racial divisions are exploited.
But that's every climate though, wouldn't you say?
Um--
Shit.
But yes, we will move on from institutional racism
right after this break.
Keep it here.
And we're out. [mouthing] Wow.
Is that, um...
Right. Of course, of course.
[breathes shakily]
- Ready? - Thank you.
[groans] Oh, my God.
[sighs] Let's go.
That was a crash and burn.
Mia, it's Cory.
- What? Seriously? - I'll take it. It's fine.
What can I do for you, Cory?
Well, I just wanna say congrats on that great segment.
And by the way, we'll eat the cost of delaying that break.
I'll make it up to the advertisers at upfronts.
Yeah, I have no doubt.
[Cory] Just let me know when those ratings numbers come in.
- [scoffs] - Layla,
aren't you gonna congratulate Chris on a great segment?
Me? Why?
That's what anchor producers do. Now get going.
You're not serious.
It's long overdue.
Go.
- You got it. Congratulations. - [Layla exclaims, chuckling]
[Layla, engineer chuckle]
[chuckles] Folks,
there are train wrecks and then there's whatever that was on The Morning Show.
Cybil Reynolds didn't just step in it, she danced a foxtrot.
[Leonard] Uh, with that, I call our vote of no confidence to order.
All those in favor, please raise your hand.
Kyle, get me Paul Marks now.
And I don't care if he's back on that rocket,
and I don't care if that rocket has reached Jupiter.
You will charter me transport to Jupiter.
You'll get me... [stammers] ...an UberComet, whatever the hell that is.
My friends in the assistant mafia say he's in SoHo.
Oh, well, that's closer.
Yeah, I'll get the driver.
[Amanda] Hey, thank you so much for coming.
Well, enjoy your evening.
- Cory. - Amanda.
- You got some pep in your step. - [chuckles]
Recharged after sleeping in your coffin all day?
[chuckles] You and your power suit never disappoint.
Uh, this event is private.
While I'm intrigued by your new, um, bouncer cosplay, but Paul's expecting me.
If he were expecting you, I'd know about it.
I know that you're paid to be Paul's guard dog, but don't toy with me, Amanda.
I'm not a fidget spinner.
- [Paul] Cory. - Nice to see you, Paul.
[sighs] Do we have something on the books?
- No. - Cybil's out.
We got the votes. Path is clear.
- Hmm. - I'll take it from here.
Copy.
Uh, look, Cory, I appreciate you coming by,
but does this-this deal have to be this hard?
Oh.
Are you telling me you got to where you are by doing easy deals?
I wanted to buy a legacy media company.
Legacy media means brand safety. UBA is no longer safe. It's a shit show.
UBA is number one again, Paul.
Yeah, well, any car crash is gonna gather a lot of eyeballs.
But here's the thing about car crashes. They're fuck ups.
They're mistakes. They're accidents.
And I know you look at your fuck ups as opportunities,
but I got an idea for you.
Maybe you don't fuck up in the first place.
Where else are you gonna go?
NBN, is that who you're meeting with in there?
I have options. UBA, no longer one of them.
Thanks for coming by.