Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford in Morning Glory. (Handout)

NEW YORK -- Diane Keaton, Harrison Ford and Canadian Rachel McAdams have promoted their films hundreds of times on morning talk shows like Good Morning America, Today and The Early Show.

So it's with a newfound respect that the three stars hit the couches to sell Morning Glory, a comedy about a struggling morning show that's weighed down by bickering co-hosts.

The Roger Mitchell film, which opened nationally Wednesday, provides a behind-the-scenes look at that American sunrise stalwart. Morning hosts have to quickly segue from climate change to prostate exams to an interview with an exotic animal handler, smiling or frowning with interest as the occasion demands.

"We had to go to boot camp to learn how to do this," a laughing Keaton told a news conference in New York City. "I learned that it's not easy. You have to know the pace and know when to turn your head at the right time, and in case there is breaking news know how to put a sentence together and understand the situation simultaneously."

Ford says morning hosts have to make viewers and guests comfortable.

"They know how to make the best of the seven minutes you will be there," he said. "They know why you're there, to promote your movie and they admit to the process."

Morning Glory follows young workaholic Becky Fuller (McAdams), who leaves her small New Jersey television station for a big executive producer job at the struggling New York show Daybreak. It's the lowest-rated outfit in town and to save it, Becky recruits legendary newsman Mike Pomerow (Ford) out of retirement.

Pomerow is not happy about the assignment and hates fluff like weather and gossip. But Pomerow's biggest gripe is having to work with co-host and former beauty queen Colleen Peck (Keaton). Becky's life soon becomes a living hell.

Ford says he sympathizes with his character's hatred for light news.

"It's not really news anymore but a lot of features," says Ford. "But we still as citizens should get quality information about what's going on in the world. I myself depend more on the radio than I do on TV."

The 68-year-old veteran of 43 films says he didn't study television hosts to prepare for his role. Keaton, on the other hand, took a look at a well-known American television personality.

"My concern, like my character, was how I looked and that's why Diane Sawyer was my inspiration," said Keaton.

mj.parent@sunmedia.ca

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