Former Democratic operative turned Good Morning America co-host George Stephanopoulos good barely restrain himself on Tuesday as he gushed over a new movie about the first date between Barack and Michelle Obama. Talking to the stars of Southside With You, he hyped the film as focusing “on one day in the summer of 1989 when Barack and Michelle Obama went out for the first time.”
Stephanopoulos pressed actors Tika Sumpter and Parker Sawyers (who stars as Obama), wondering, “I guess you guys have to be a little bit nervous thinking, 'Are they going the watch the movie?'” Zeroing in on Sawyers, the ABC co-host offered an Access Hollywood-style softball: “You say it was Barack Obama who actually inspired you to get into acting?”
To the pregnant Sumpter, Stephanopoulos highlighted the role as the future First Lady: “You say this film was a gift to your daughter.”
Journalists have been excited about this promotional film for months. During a special Super Bowl interview in February with Barack and Michelle Obama, CBS's Gayle King previewed the movie and marveled, “When I think about the Obamas, even your dates make national news.”
Conservatives and Republicans shouldn’t hold their breath waiting for the Ronald and Nancy Reagan first date movie or seeing the cute way George and Laura Bush met.
A transcript of the segment is below:
GMA
8/23/16
8:36am ETGEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: And now we're going the move on to the film about the first date of America's first couple. Southside With You zeros in on one day in the summer of 1989 when Barack and Michelle Obama went out for the first time. Let’s take a look.
“MICHELLE OBAMA”: Barack, you seem like a really sweet guy. But how many times do I have tell you, we’re not going out together?
“BARACK OBAMA” Well, Michelle, thank you for saying that. You seem like a really sweet girl. We are, in fact, out and we are, in fact, together.
“MICHELLE OBAMA”: But not on a date. This is not a date.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And we're joined by Tika Sumpter, who plays Michelle, Parker Sawyers, the young Barack Obama. Kind of uncanny. Right? Congratulations. You're about to have a little girl.
TIKA SUMPTER: I am. I am. I’m excited.
STEPHANOPOULOS: You say this film was a gift to your daughter.
SUMPTER: Yeah, because I got to play such a strong, independent, complex woman, who was actually the prize in the movie. And a lot of times in these movies, women are chasing after men. Barack had to win me over.
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PARKER SAWYERS: And I did.
SUMPTER: He did. He did.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And your Barack Obama is kind of uncanny. But I was so interested to read that the director wanted you to bring more of yourself and a little less of Barack to the role.
SAWYER: Yeah. I started off with a full-on impersonation. You know? “There's no blue America. There's no red America. And he's like, no, no, no. This is years before. So just a 28-year-old who is just trying to get a girl.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And so interesting. You come from a family background in politics. But you say it was Barack Obama who actually inspired you to get into acting?
SAWYERS: Right. Yeah. Just what they've accomplished, I guess, together and what he’s done with his life. I thought, you know what, I’ll just try it. That was five years ago. And here I am.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Here you are today. I guess you guys have to be a little bit nervous thinking, 'Are they going the watch the movie?'
SUMPTER: I think we're more excited than anything. We're super proud of the work we did. We really prepared. We worked really hard. It's a love story. It’s a date movie. I think they'll enjoy it. I hope they'll enjoy it.
SAWYERS: I think they'll enjoy it.
SUMPTER: I think they will.
STEPHANOPOULOS: You think he might call you up with notes?
SUMPTER: Michelle might.
SAWYERS: I want to know what Michelle — Yeah. I want to know what Michelle thinks. Really.
STEPHANOPOULOS: You care more about that?
SAWYERS: About my depiction.
SUMPTER: Yeah and I think vice versa. I think the same.
STEPHANOPOULOS: John Legend also had a big role in the movie. Helped produce it. Helped get it started and has the song Start.
SUMPTER: Yea. He saw — He actually came in later on. But he was inspired to write an original song. We're like, “Come on, come op over. Get on the production team.” We were excited to have him. It's called "Let's Start." It’s a gorgeous song. There were a loft sniffles when it played at the end. It's great.
STEPHANOPOULOS: What do you hope people get out of this movie?
SAWYERS: I hope — It's something refreshing. It's sweet. I have seen a lot of people leave after screen wgs a smile on their face. It's beautiful.
SUMPTER: There are so many themes throughout. It's about forgiveness. It’s about change. It’s about seeing yourself through somebody else's eyes. But ultimately, it's a good date movie. Men can take notes. I think they'll enjoy it.
STEPHANOPOULOS: I can't wait to go see it with my wife. Thank you all.
SUMPTER: Oh, awesome. Southside with You opens nationwide on Friday.
