28 June, 2023 Siobhan Marie Day 0 Comments 3 categories

Russell Crowe, Sienna Miller, Seth MacFarlane and Naomi Watts join Savannah Guthrie and TODAY to talk about “The Loudest Voice,” the Showtime series that sheds light on the late Roger Ailes, the founder of Fox News and political consultant who faced allegations of sexual harassment. Photo Credit: TODAY/NBC Universal

This is “The Loudest Voice”…

In this TODAY Show interview that occurred on June 24, 2019, Russell Crowe, Sienna Miller, Seth MacFarlane and Naomi Watts join Savannah Guthrie and TODAY to talk about The Loudest Voice, the Showtime series that sheds light on the late Roger Ailes, the founder of Fox News and political consultant who faced allegations of sexual harassment.

Genre: Drama, Based on "The Loudest Voice in the Room: How the Brilliant, Bombastic Roger Ailes Built Fox News – and Divided a Country' by Gabriel Sherman, Developed by Tom McCarthy, and Alex Metcalf, Starring: Russell Crowe, Seth MacFarlane, Sienna Miller, Simon McBurney, Annabelle Wallis, Aleksa Palladino, Naomi Watts, Composer: Marcelo Zarvos, Country of origin: United States, Original language: English, No. of episodes: 7, Executive Producers: Tom McCarthy, Gabriel Sherman, Jason Blum, Alex Metcalf, Padraic McKinley, Marci Wiseman, Jeremy Gold, Liza Chasin, Russell Crowe, with Cinematography by Eigil Bryld, and William Rexer, Production companies: 3dot Productions, Slow Pony, Blumhouse Television, Original network: Showtime (2019)

In this handout photo provided by FOX News, FOX News Channel Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes is photographed November 13, 2015 at the networks Manhattan headquarters New York City. Photo Credit: Wesley Mann/FOX News via Getty Images

The Fox News Channel (FNC), commonly known as Fox News, is an American multinational conservative news and political commentary television channel and website based in New York City. It is owned by Fox News Media, which itself is owned by the Fox Corporation. It is the most-watched cable network in the U.S., and as of 2023 generates approximately 70% of its parent company's pre-tax profit. The channel broadcasts primarily from studios at 1211 Avenue of the Americas in Midtown Manhattan. Fox News provides a service to 86 countries and territories, with international broadcasts featuring Fox Extra segments during advertising breaks. The channel was created by Australian-American media mogul Rupert Murdoch in 1996 to appeal to a conservative audience, hiring former Republican media consultant and CNBC executive Roger Ailes as its founding CEO. It launched on October 7, 1996, to 17 million cable subscribers. Fox News grew during the late 1990s and 2000s to become the dominant United States cable news subscription network. By September 2018, 87 million U.S. households (91 percent of television subscribers) could receive Fox News. In 2019, it was the top-rated cable network, averaging 2.5 million viewers in prime time. Murdoch, the executive chairman since 2016, said in 2023 that he would step down and hand responsibilities to his son, Lachlan. Suzanne Scott has been the CEO since 2018. Fox News controversies have included biased reporting in favor of the Republican Party, its politicians, and conservative causes, while portraying the Democratic Party in a negative light. Critics have argued that the channel is damaging to the integrity of news overall. In 2009, Fox News denied bias in its news reporting. The channel's official position was that its reporting operates independently of its opinion journalism. After Dominion Voting Systems initiated a defamation lawsuit against Fox regarding their reporting on the 2020 U.S. election, Fox's internal communications were released, showing that its presenters and senior executives privately doubted claims of a stolen election, while Fox continued to broadcast such claims. Other communications showed Fox CEO Suzanne Scott stating that fact-checking such claims would alienate Fox viewers. Fox settled the lawsuit in 2023 by agreeing to pay Dominion $787.5 million and acknowledging the court ruling that Fox spread falsehoods about Dominion. According to Pew Research Center, in 2019, 65 percent of Republicans and people who lean Republican trusted Fox News. Photo Credit: Google Images

A scene from the CNN coverage of the sexual harassment allegations leveled against Roger Ailes by employee Grethchen Carlson in a lawsuit she filed against him. Photo Credit: CNN/The Lead with Jake Tapper

Ten days later, New York magazine reported that an internal review into Carlson's claims had expanded into a broader review of Ailes's stewardship. It also claimed Rupert Murdoch and his sons, Lachlan and James, had seen enough information in the preliminary review to conclude that Ailes had to go. They disagreed on the timing, however; James wanted Ailes out immediately, while Rupert and Lachlan wanted to wait until after the Republican National Convention. On July 19, New York reported that Megyn Kelly told investigators Ailes made "unwanted sexual advances toward her" at the start of her career. The magazine also reported that the Murdochs had given Ailes an ultimatum—resign by August 1 or be fired. On July 21, 2016, Ailes resigned from Fox News, receiving $65 million (~$72.8 million in 2021)[1] from 21st Century Fox (the then-parent company of 20th Century Fox and Fox News) in an exit agreement. Rupert Murdoch succeeded him as chairman, and as interim CEO until the naming of a permanent replacement. In a letter to Murdoch, Ailes wrote: "I will not allow my presence to become a distraction from the work that must be done every day to ensure that Fox News and Fox Business continue to lead our industry." Ailes was thanked for his work, without mention of the allegations. He continued to advise Murdoch and 21st Century Fox through 2017 until his death. Photo Credit: Google Images

Introduction and Context…

The interview on the TODAY Show started with an introduction of Crowe, MacFarlane, Miller, and Watts by Savannah Guthrie, who is the host, and then TODAY presented the Official Trailer for the Showtime series, The Loudest Voice while Guthrie can be heard describing the basis of the series and the real life roles the cast play in the 2019 miniseries. The introduction set the stage for the discussion, highlighting the relevance and significance of the series, which sheds light on the late Roger Ailes, the controversial founder of Fox News.

(M) Russell Crowe as Roger Ailes, (L to R) Annabelle Wallis as Laura Luhn, Seth MacFarlane as Brian Lewis, Simon McBurney as Rupert Murdoch, Aleksa Palladino as Judy Laterza, (Front) Sienna Miller as Beth Tilson Ailes, and Naomi Watts as Gretchen Carlson in Showtime's 'The Loudest Voice" (2019) Photo Credit: Time Magazine

Discussion with Russell Crowe and Sienna Miller…

Russell Crowe, who portrayed Roger Ailes in the series, discusses the complete transformation he made to play Ailes, which included gaining weight and wearing prosthetics. Savannah Guthrie asks Crowe and Miller, who played Ailes’ wife, Beth Ailes, about their preparation for the role and talks about how unrecognizable the actors look in the series. Crowe and Miller might discussed thier transformation into the character, emphasizing the importance of bringing Ailes’ persona to life on screen and what it was like to look into the mirror while filming and not see themselves, but see Roger and Beth Ailes.

Russell Crowe as Roger Ailes in the Showtime miniseries, "The Loudest Voice" (2019) Photo Credit: Showtime

Russell Crowe as Roger Ailes in Hollywood Reporter for the Showtime miniseries, "The Loudest Voice" (2019) Photo Credit: Miller Mobley/ The Hollywood Reporter

Sienna Miller as Beth Tilson Ailes in the Showtime miniseries, "The Loudest Voice" (2019) Photo Credit: Showtime

Sienna Miller as Beth Tilson Ailes in Hollywood Reporter for the Showtime miniseries, "The Loudest Voice" (2019) Photo Credit: Miller Mobley/ The Hollywood Reporter

Guthrie then asked Crowe about the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by an actor when portraying a character like Ailes, who faced serious allegations of sexual harassment. Crowe discussed the responsibility of accurately depicting Ailes while also addressing the controversy surrounding him but portraying the Ailes that fundamentally changed how America watch the news.

(L-R): Annabelle Wallis as Laura Luhn and Russell Crowe as Roger Ailes in "The Loudest Voice" (2019) Photo Credit: JoJo Whilden/Showtime.

(L to R) Russell Crowe as Roger Ailes, and Naomi Watts as Gretchen Carlson in the Showtime miniseries, "The Loudest Voice" (2019) Photo Credit: Showtime

Then-Fox News CEO Roger Ailes poses at the network's New York City studios in 2006. Ailes served as CEO from Fox News' first day in 1996 until his resignation in July. Photo Credit: Jim Cooper/ AP

Naomi Watts’ Perspective…

Discussing the controversies playing Ailes with Crowe, Guthrie then asked Naomi Watts, who portrayed Gretchen Carlson, a prominent Fox News anchor, who sued Roger Ailes for sexual harassment with a lawsuit that ultimately led to his career end at Fox News, about her role in The Loudest Voice. Savannah Guthrie asked Watts about her approach to playing a character who played a pivotal role in the network and Ailes fall from grace. Watts discussed the challenges of embodying a Carlson and how the series portrays her sexual harassment and conflicts with Ailes leading up to the lawsuit. Watts shared her insights into the significance of such themes in the context of the Ailes story.

Naomi Watts as Gretchen Carlson in the Showtime miniseries, "The Loudest Voice" (2019) Photo Credit: Showtime

Naomi Watts as Gretchen Carlson in Hollywood Reporter for the Showtime miniseries, "The Loudest Voice" (2019) Photo Credit: Miller Mobley/ The Hollywood Reporter

Gretchen Carlson attends the 2022 Time 100 Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on June 08, 2022 in New York City. Photo Credit: Taylor Hill/WireImage

FOX News Anchor Gretchen Carlson Interviews Miss America 2015 Kira Kazantsev at FOX Studios on September 16, 2014 in New York City. Photo Credit: Rob Kim/Getty Images

Page 1 of the Sexual Harassment Complaint filed by Gretchen Carlson against Roger Ailes at Fox News on July 6, 2016. Photo Credit: Google Images

(L-R): Naomi Watts as Gretchen Carlson and Russell Crowe as Roger Ailes in "The Loudest Voice" (2019) Photo Credit: JoJo Whilden/Showtime.

(L to R) Naomi Watts, and Russell Crowe in a scene from the Showtime miniseries, "The Loudest Voice" (2019) Photo Credit: Showtime

Insights from Seth MacFarlane…

Seth MacFarlane, who played Ailes right hand man, Brian Lewis, in the series, was asked about his experience in portraying a character so different from his usual comedy roles most notably as the creator and a voice actor of the animated sitcom, Family Guy. MacFarlane added his perspective on the media landscape as result and how he researched the real life character to play someone so close to Ailes’ influence.

Seth MacFarlane as Brian Lewis in the Showtime miniseries, "The Loudest Voice" (2019) Photo Credit: Showtime

Seth MacFarlane as Brian Lewis in Hollywood Reporter for the Showtime miniseries, "The Loudest Voice" (2019) Photo Credit: Miller Mobley/ The Hollywood Reporter

(L) Seth MacFarlane is the creator and voices various character on his animated sitcom (R) "Family Guy" Photo Credit: The Daily Mail

(L-R): Seth MacFarlane as Brian Lewis and Russell Crowe as Roger Ailes in "The Loudest Voice" (2019) Photo Credit: JoJo Whilden/Showtime.

The interview on the TODAY Show concluded with mention of the miniseries premiere of The Loudest Voice on Showtime and Guthrie thanked Crowe, MacFarlane, Miller, and Watts for joining her in the interview.