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The Morning Show first premiered in 2019, right when Apple TV+ was starting out.
One of the launch shows, almost like a statement. Big names on screen, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, glossy sets, that kind of thing. And it never really left the platform. Always there, season after season.
What stands out isn’t just the size of the production. It’s the strange split it caused. Critics looking at one version of the show, and audiences reacting to another. Numbers showing that gap in a way you can’t ignore. That feeling stuck, like the series has been living with the same divide from the beginning.
Rotten Tomatoes provides a clear picture of this contrast. The series currently holds a 34 percent Audience Score, while the Tomatometer from critics is listed at 67 percent. This difference between what professional reviewers say and how viewers respond has become part of the show’s reputation.
According to ScreenRant, The Morning Show is now Apple TV+’s lowest-scoring series still airing when measured by the audience side of Rotten Tomatoes.
The Morning Show and its unexpected record
Holding such a position is unusual in the Apple TV+ catalog. Many shows that struggled to find their audience were not given extended runs. Yet The Morning Show continues, and this persistence is what gives the series its unique record. Rather than ending abruptly, it stands out as an example of a title that stays alive despite negative audience metrics.
ScreenRant emphasizes that this distinction belongs to the Audience Score specifically, not to the critics’ consensus. Critics have been more supportive, and that difference explains much of the debate around the series. It is not the kind of record most productions want to hold, but it is a record all the same.
High costs and Apple’s commitment
Reports from Variety and Business Insider noted that episodes of The Morning Show were budgeted at more than 15 million dollars each in the early seasons. That placed the series among the most expensive on television. Although later executives disputed the exact totals, the figure has been consistently cited in coverage of the show’s scale. Maintaining a production of that magnitude is a significant decision, and Apple has chosen to continue.
Ahead of the premiere of season 4, Apple confirmed a renewal for season 5. That announcement alone signals the level of commitment involved. The series is not treated as an experiment that can be dropped but as a flagship that must remain, even when the numbers from the audience are not favorable.
Narrative choices and reception
The narrative of The Morning Show is built on a busy newsroom backdrop, constant crises, and a willingness to step into political and social debates. That combination has generated consistent division. Reviews tend to praise the cast, which includes actors with long-established reputations, but often criticize the pacing and the number of conflicts packed into each season. Rotten Tomatoes’ season 4 page shows a Fresh rating, but the Audience Score remains well below that.
These narrative choices explain why the show has remained controversial. Exploring political issues on screen rarely brings a unified response, and the polarized reception of The Morning Show reflects that tension.
Between debate and renewal
ScreenRant points out that some viewers attribute the low audience score to possible review bombing, given the political tone of the series. That claim cannot be confirmed with certainty, but the article notes the ongoing discussion about it. What is not in doubt is that Apple continues to invest in production. The renewal for a fifth season came before the fourth even aired, underscoring that the series still carries strategic value for the platform.
Instead of focusing solely on approval ratings, Apple seems to weigh the attention the show generates. Every new season puts the series back into conversations, whether those conversations are supportive or critical.
Season 4 and what comes next
Season 4 was released on September 17, 2025. New episodes drop on Wednesdays, week by week, with the last one releasing on November 19. The first wave of reviews leaned positive, enough to keep that Fresh badge on Rotten Tomatoes. But the real question lingers. Will the viewers fall into the same pattern as before, split and hard to please, or will something shift this time?
Conclusion
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The Morning Show has become an unusual case in the streaming landscape. With the lowest Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score among Apple TV+ series still on the air, it nevertheless receives consistent funding, high budgets, and renewals in advance. Reports place its production among the most expensive in television history, and the contrast between audience and critics only strengthens its reputation as a divisive title.
What stands today is a drama that continues to shape Apple TV+ despite numbers that would have ended other shows. The record it holds is not flattering, but it has turned into part of the identity of the series. As long as Apple sees value in the attention it draws, The Morning Show will remain one of the platform’s most visible projects, carried forward by its cast, its cost, and the debates it creates.
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