If you were hungry for more Michelle Obama dance-athons with the babies (or just more Michelle in general), youโre in luck: The Obamas are reportedly in advanced negotiations with Netflix to produce a series of high-profile shows, the New York Times reports. The paper notes that the original programming would โprovide [the former president] a global platform after his departure from the White House.โ
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The proposed deal is not yet final, and itโs unclear at this point how much the Obamas would be paid or what format the shows could take. The Times reports that the deal involves both Barack and Michelle and would compensate them for the exclusive content (yโall better not be paying more for David Letterman, I swear tuh God).
The Times also reports that the Obamas donโt want to use their platform to challenge Trump or clap back at conservatives. Rather, they had talked to the streaming service, which currently has about 118 million subscribers, about producing shows that highlight inspirational stories.
As the Washington Post reports, there are several theories circulating about the shape an Obama series could take, and why they would get into such a venture in the first place.
The first is that Barack is looking to control the narrative on his legacy, particularly at a time when so many of his accomplishments, like the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and the Affordable Care Act, have come under attack from Donald Trump and the GOP. A show where Barack focuses on his pet issuesโlike a program in which he moderates discussions on voting rights, immigration, health care and climate changeโcould help shape not only the current public discourse but also perceptions of his tenure as president.
The Post also speculates that Barack may just be fulfilling a โlong-standing fascinationโ with the media industry and its issues by signing on to this Netflix deal.
Another possible format would see Michelle hosting a show on topics she championed as first lady, like nutrition and health initiatives. The Post suggests that such a show could keep her in the public eye should she ever choose to run for public officeโwhich she has stressed time and time again that sheโs not interested in.
I would personally opt for a show where the Obamas just dispel love and romantic advice, because who else would I trust with those matters but the couple that shares the gushiest, lovey-dovey-est, โdawwwwโ-inducing-est social media posts on Al Goreโs internet?
Or a show where Barack just tells dad jokes to the family as they collectively sigh and roll their eyes.
Or, honestly, just this video of the Obamasโ Christmas outtakes, on repeat, forever.
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