Billy Crudup Was Born To Play ‘The Morning Show’s Cory Ellison

Since Apple TV+‘s hit series The Morning Show premiered in 2019 it’s undergone the delightfully entertaining transition from potential prestige drama to spectacular, star-studded train wreck you never want to stop watching.

In Season 3 alone, we’ve seen guest star Jon Hamm take Reese Witherspoon’s character Bradley Jackson to space. We’ve watched a “nuclear” hack hit the UBA newsroom, got major Succession vibes from a gut-wrenching restaurant scene, and witnessed an elaborate recreation of the January 6 insurrection (featuring Bradley Jackson at the core of U.S. Capitol chaos). With beautifully baffling dialogue, exhausting flashbacks to the hellfires of 2020, and endlessly unhinged storylines, the series repeatedly asks viewers to suspend disbelief and hop aboard the Alex Levy Train. If you can’t? Then just stay at the station. There’s no denying The Morning Show frequently crosses the border from believable to bonkers, but even in its most ridiculous stages the show finds perpetual power in actor Billy Crudup.

As president of a majorly messy news network, Crudup’s versatility is on full display as the smooth, sprightly, scene-stealing suit Cory Ellison. Tasked with navigating the many challenges of UBA’s talent, scandals, finances, and future, the wordsmith spends his days crafting convincing, impassioned arguments and delivering eccentric dialogue with the quick wit, comebacks, and speed of an Amy Sherman-Palladino character. (Memorable Season 3 one-liners include “Alex Levy is Lazarus, and that makes me Jesus,” “It’s back to GO! And believe me, we will not collect $200,” and “Don’t toy with me, I’m not a fidget spinner.”) Crudup oozes undeniable charisma as Cory, peppering the show’s darkest moments with personality and using his expressive face, subtle jaw clenching, and purposeful exhales to clearly convey emotion throughout the series. But he takes his performance to another level in Season 3, Episode 9, “Update Your Priors.”

Season 3’s penultimate episode, which premiered on Apple TV+ Wednesday, November 1, finds the king of crisis management — always one step ahead in his world — losing control after learning that Paul Marks (Hamm) plans to strip the network for parts with help from UBA’s ousted president Fred Micklen (Tom Irwin). Driven by desperation, Cory huffs and puffs through the building making phone calls, searching for allies, and processing the colossal betrayal headed his way. He waits for the elevator, impatiently smashing the button, punching the wall until his knuckles bleed, and screaming “FUCK!” in the hallway before calmly stepping inside. He bursts into Alex’s (Jennifer Aniston) office and breaks into another “self-righteous monologue,” nearly talking himself breathless to drag her and her boyfriend to hell before screaming the scathing trailer line, “It is time to smash and shatter! Let’s burn it all down! Who gives a fuck?!”

When Cory leaves Alex’s office, Crudup raises the bar even higher, going through the motions of a raging madman, carrying out a seamless string of phone calls, questions, and reactions. He barks orders while icing his hand. He thanks his assistant Kyle while shaking from rage. He finds out Bradley quit live on air and spirals even harder. Then, when Kyle dares ask what to tell the inquiring press, Cory snaps. “You could tell them I don’t know what the fuck is going on with Bradley, I’m having a series of moderate to severe panic attacks, and that Alex Levy and the billionaire she’s boning are about to sell our company for parts before our own very fucking eyes,” he says. “Tell them nothing!”

Just when you think Cory’s hit rock bottom, he reads the hatchet job Paul fed to tabloids, only to be interrupted by Kyle again. “NOW WHAT,” Cory shrieks. Security’s on their way up to escort him from the building! With a fresh look of defeat, the episode fades to black, and fans are left to process another Emmy-worthy performance.

The persuasive schmoozer has had an especially rough season, so it’s unsurprising he hit his breaking point. But when the end credits roll, you’ll marvel over Crudup’s ability to steadily build up and peel back new layers of Cory Ellison after all this time. In Episode 4’s Upfronts scenes, Crudup gave an acting masterclass by turning Cory’s excitement on and off in the precious seconds between greeting people at the event, coldly practicing his speech in the mirror, and forcing his signature smile. He offered glimpses of emotional instability and internal angst, and though we know his character can be a shark, scenes with Bradley remind us he’s not without his soft spots. Crudup accesses heartbreak, loneliness, and longing whenever he shares the screen with Witherspoon. And this season, he showed Cory squirm and process emotion in ways we’ve never seen before while visiting his mom Martha (Lindsay Duncan). In case you forgot just how talented Crudup is, Cory also performed a moving rendition of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” Swoon!

Three seasons deep, it’s hard to tell what’s genuine and what’s an act with Cory, and that’s what makes his character so compelling. He’s sharp, sexy, and makes people feel like anything is possible. But he also contains multitudes and lets the contagious pep in his step lie dormant when others aren’t watching. With each passing episode, we’re reminded The Morning Show boss is an essential part of the series. And Billy Crudup is an essential part of Cory Ellison.

The Morning Show is now streaming on Apple TV+. The finale of Season 3 premieres Wednesday, November 8.