On Tuesday, CNN repeatedly cheered Michelle Obama’s cameo appearance on the Nickeodeon teen comedy “iCarly,” offering an obsequious basket of compliments, hailing a possible “second career” in acting and honoring her dancing as “very, very cute.”
CNN entertainment correspondent Nischelle Turner wasn’t quite correct in suggesting Mrs. Obama “signed up” for “iCarly.” The cameo was her idea (as was the First Lady’s appearance on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”). The White House obviously plans on Michelle being honored for her poise and social conscience just for showing up on the set.
As Caitlin McDevitt reported for Politico:
Many of the first lady's TV gigs have been the East Wing's idea. "They actually pitched us," said Marva Smalls, a Nickelodeon executive who worked with Obama's staff to organize the "iCarly" appearance. The White House also approached ABC about a cameo, according to George Verschoor, executive producer of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."
Nischelle Turner was most obsequious on CNN’s Newsroom on Tuesday morning with anchor Kyra Phillips in the 10 am hour:
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well Kyra, you know iCarly is one of Nickelodeon's biggest hits. And apparently it's one of Sasha and Malia's favorite shows. Plus, the show's main character's father is in the Air Force, which fits right in to the First Lady's efforts to support military families. So she signed up to make a guest appearance. The show's stars says the First Lady was a great guest star and that she has actually got really good comic timing. Plus, you know, during the show, she had some pretty good dance moves, which is very important for iCarly guest stars since every single episode features this bit random dancing, where all of the stars get up and they started, just kind of going crazy for a little bit with their dance moods. And I've seen that and she actually was very, very cute.
It was slightly less goopy in the 9 am hour:
TURNER: You know what? She's got pretty good timing there. And she got good reviews. The show stars say the First Lady was a great guest star. She's got really good comic timing, Kyra.
KYRA PHILLIPS: I'll tell you what? You've got the president celebrating Betty White's birthday with this little skit. Now, you've got Michelle Obama on Nickelodeon. I'll tell you what? You know, they're really moving into the mainstream here of pop culture.
TURNER: Watch out, Hollywood.
PHILLIPS: Yes, I'm telling you.
On Tuesday night's John King USA, they were a little less enthusiastic, but the vibe was still You Go Girl:
KATE BOLDUAN: I think she had pretty good timing. I mean, that can't be easy if you've never -- well, she is on camera quite a bit, but I think she did a pretty good job.
JOHN KING: You know, I'm sure she's having a little fun there. And actually, those kids can't vote, I don't think. But maybe some of them can. I don't know. We'll watch to see if Michelle Obama has a second career.
CNN even honored Mrs. Obama on Saturday morning:
DEBORAH FEYERICK, anchor: And watch out, "Dancing with the Stars" – first lady Michelle Obama has got some moves. (VIDEO CLIP PLAYS) Obama showed off her random dancing moves in an appearance with the Nickelodeon "iCarly" cast at a Virginia school.
