Day 1 in the writers' room
Looking back at my first day on "The Morning Show," and sharing what it's like walking into a new writers' room.
I had just moved across the country for the third time in five years, and like the other two times, I did it for a job. But this one felt different. I had gotten hired to write for people I’d admired my whole life in what was then called The Untitled Reese Witherspoon/Jennifer Aniston Series, soon to be “Untitled Morning Show,” and finally, simply, The Morning Show.
I was equally thrilled and terrified. I’d only been inside the writer’s room of a Late Night show, which is structured differently from scripted writers’ rooms (that’s for another post!) I had no idea what happened in a drama room. I listened to endless episodes of podcasts like Script Notes and The Writers’ Panel to try to prepare myself, but ultimately knew nothing could.
I walked in early and a lovely assistant showed me to my office that I would share with another writer. I even had my very own nameplate. I was very cool about it and didn’t photograph it immediately, jk.
Then, I was escorted into the actual writers’ room where some writers were already mingling and drinking various flavored seltzers. I immediately noticed I was overdressed. Even on day one, writers do not do business casual, my friends. THEY DON’T TELL YOU THAT ON THE PODCASTS!