On Wednesday, CBS This Morning provided some free publicity for the White House as its three co-hosts gushed over a new video featuring First Lady Michelle Obama promoting her healthy eating initiative with comedian Billy Eichner and Big Bird.
After playing a lengthy clip of Mrs. Obama running around a supermarket and dancing with Big Bird, co-host Charlie Rose proclaimed “I love her” and that her video was “just great.”
The fawning segment began with Norah O’Donnell explaining that “for a second time in a week the White House is using unusual video to reach out to young people.” The CBS co-host then played a clip of the First Lady answering questions about healthy food before she did her best to help promote the goal of the video:
You can see Michelle Obama plays along with Billy Eichner's unique brand of comedy for Funny or Die. You can see her dancing with Big Bird, pushing Eichner around in a grocery cart and it’s all part of her effort to try and get kids to eat more healthy foods. This latest viral video attempt comes just days after President Obama appeared with a selfie stick and other props on BuzzFeed.com.
O’Donnell did note that critics called Obama’s BuzzFeed video “undignified” but her fellow CBS host dismissed any criticism of Mrs. Obama as they eagerly praised the video. Gayle King beamed that the video was “all in good fun. It shows a great sense of humor and it’s good to encourage people to eat their vegetables…Done in the spirit of fun. It was great.”
See relevant transcript below.
CBS This Morning
February 18, 2015
NORAH O’DONNELL: Alright, for a second time in a week the White House is using unusual video to reach out to young people.
[Begin Clip]
BILLY EICHNER: Go. Which is better, Ariana Grande or eating a carrot? FLOTUS.
MICHELLE OBAMA: Eating a carrot.EICHNER: Yes correct. FLOTUS gets the point. Who's more deserving or a Kennedy Center award Martin Short or a box of frozen corn? FLOTUS.
OBAMA: The corn.EICHNER: No. Martin Short. He’s a genius. He played Ed Grimley. For a dollar, I’m going to put 10 seconds on the clock. Hide, go and hide anywhere. Really hide. Hide. Yes, go, go, go. Behind there there, behind there. Yes, yes. Hiding, hiding, she's hiding.
[End Clip]
O’DONNELL: Well, you can see Michelle Obama plays along with Billy Eichner's unique brand of comedy for Funny or Die. You can see her dancing with Big Bird, pushing Eichner around in a grocery cart and it’s all part of her effort to try and get kids to eat more healthy foods.
This latest viral video attempt comes just days after President Obama appeared with a selfie stick and other props on BuzzFeed.com. That video got millions of hits but critics called it undignified.
CHARLIE ROSE: But I agree. I love her. The one she just did.GAYLE KING: Me too. Me too.
ROSE: Just great.
KING: All in good fun. It shows a great sense of humor and it’s good to encourage people to eat their vegetables.
O’DONNELL: It is.
KING: Done in the spirit of fun. It was great.
