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Veteran actor Richard Gere, 75, caused a stir when he delivered an impromptu gesture during his live interview with host Savannah Guthrie. The incident occurred while promoting his debut television series, "The Agency," a Paramount+/Showtime espionage thriller.
The moment unfolded when Gere, attempting to complete a scene from his upcoming series that had been partially shown in a preview clip, extended his middle finger on live television. "You just did an obscene gesture on this family morning show!" exclaimed Guthrie, 52, who quickly attempted to shield the gesture from viewers with papers.
The incident marked the second consecutive day of unexpected behavior on the morning show. Just 24 hours earlier, music icon Cher, 78, had created her own controversy by dropping an expletive while recounting advice from Lucille Ball regarding her divorce from Sonny Bono. "You said I could!" Cher had defended when host Hoda Kotb, 60, attempted damage control.
"The Agency," marking Gere's first-ever television series role, features an ensemble cast including Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, and Katherine Waterston. The series, adapted from the French show "The Bureau," follows a covert CIA agent navigating the complexities of abandoning his undercover life. Gere revealed his connection to the project stemmed from watching the original French version with his wife, Alejandra Silva.
The 10-episode series, shot with cinematic production values, represents a significant shift in Gere's career trajectory. "It's very well-written... we shot it like a movie. Movie directors, movie actors, the schedule is like a movie schedule," Gere explained during the interview, emphasizing the production's high standards.
The morning show incident, while controversial, highlighted the unpredictable nature of live television and the evolving landscape of streaming content, where established film actors increasingly transition to prestige television projects. "The Agency" is scheduled to premiere on Paramount+/Showtime on November 29, 2024.
As morning television continues to balance entertainment with family-friendly content, this week's back-to-back incidents with Cher and Gere have sparked discussions about the challenges of live broadcasting in an era where streaming platforms operate with fewer content restrictions.
