He is a morning person.
Mark Duplass said working with Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon on “The Morning Show” has been amazing because “they both are so normal and friendly,” he told The Post while promoting his new Netflix series “Penelope” (out Sept. 24).
“Aniston and Witherspoon are a joy to be around and they're kind and nice people,” he said. “They're both international megastars – there's no reason for them to be so open and sweet.”
The Emmy Award-winning Apple drama, which has been renewed for Season 4, is set in the world of a fictional morning news program. Witherspoon and Aniston play on-air anchors Bradley Jackson (Witherspoon) and Alex Levy (Aniston), while Duplass plays their executive producer, Charlie “Chip” Black.
All three actors were nominated for drama acting Emmys this year, though none of them received a trophy in 2024 (but co-star Billy Crudup did).
“Awards are a funny thing. I'm always in two minds,” Duplass said.
“First of all, I think it's stupid to have any kind of competition in the creative field. So, I don't believe in them too much. But then, as soon as I get nominated, I get very excited and throw it all away,” he said, laughing.
The former “Togetherness” star said all the accolades and awards recognition are “really good for the show.”
“I'm especially happy for the supporting female cast we have,” she added. “They're doing an incredible job on the show, and Reese and Jen … it's great to have such a big show in Hollywood run by women, and it's great to see them getting recognition.”
Both Aniston and Witherspoon are executive producers of “The Morning Show” as well as its stars.
“I've been really impressed with his leadership as a producer. I think having come of age in Hollywood in the '90s, he may not have always had the best bosses,” Duplass said.
“I think he's made a concerted effort to be a great boss. I get that feeling from him.”
Duplass is a writer, director and producer on his other works, such as “Penelope,” his HBO horror anthology “Room 104” and the hit Netflix documentary “Wild Wild Country.”
But on “The Morning Show,” he just acts — and he loves it.
“The main difference between being an actor and a director is that I combine it with parenting,” said Duplass, whose wife and actress Katie Aselton is the mother of two daughters.
“Directing is like having kids; it's your child,” he said.
“It's exhausting, all-consuming and rewarding. Acting is like the drunk uncle who brings Oreos to parties and then leaves when the director has to take over.”
He likes “The Morning Show’s” tendency to feature current events, such as the MeToo movement or the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
But Duplass said it will be difficult for him to decide what stories he wants to see headline next season.
“It's hard for them to pick the right things because when you're trying to do a show that's based on current events, timing is very important and difficult,” he said.
“In the first season, they wanted to incorporate the MeToo movement, which was happening right when they were supposed to be filming, so they rewrote the whole thing. In Season 2, they incorporated the pandemic. In Season 3, there were a lot of issues related to women's rights.”
He said he likes that the writers' room always tries to incorporate current events and “make it work.”
But, he said, the fun part about simply acting on the show is that, “I don't have to worry about it. I just do what they tell me to do, and go where they tell me to go.”
