Former first lady Michelle Obama recently said that her current TV preferences lean heavily toward shows that offer levity and escape. Speaking candidly on a recent podcast appearance, she shared a list of shows that help her unwind, ranging from dramas to reality television and home improvement series.
Why It Matters
The former first lady remains popular years after leaving the White House and Americans continue to be interested in her personal life. Her comments reflect a broader trend about the public’s appetite for programming that provides escape and emotional relief. The most recent Nielsen data available shows that of the top five streamed shows, only two were high drama, Reacher and Beauty in Black. The other three shows were Running Point and Family Guy, two comedy shows, and Love is Blind.
Michelle also shared how she and former President Barack Obama differ on choosing shows, saying that he prefers heavy dramas and she prefers more light-hearted content, which a lot of couples can probably relate to.
What To Know
During Wednesday’s episode of actor Sophia Bush’s Work in Progress podcast, Michelle said she wants to “turn off” when she’s watching television. She said she watches White Lotus and is also really into The Real Housewives, although she didn’t elaborate on which locales she watches. Michelle also told Bush that she “loves the dating shows,” but noted that she doesn’t agree with them all.
When it comes to Love Island, she said it’s something that she watches with her daughters, both the British and American versions. However, it’s not something she would watch alone; she’ll only watch it if she’s watching it with her kids.
“I’m as amused by their feedback and commentary as I am with what’s going on,” Michelle said.
Michelle Obama speaks onstage during a recording of the “IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson” podcast during the 2025 SXSW Conference And Festival at Austin Convention Center on March 13, 2025, in Austin, Texas. Michelle Obama speaks onstage during a recording of the “IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson” podcast during the 2025 SXSW Conference And Festival at Austin Convention Center on March 13, 2025, in Austin, Texas. Julia Beverly/WireImage
Along with reality TV, Michelle said she enjoyed Netflix’s Running Point, which was created by Mindy Kaling, and Nobody Wants This, with actors Adam Brody and Kristen Bell. She also praised Shrinking and Ted Lasso on AppleTV+.
While Michelle gravitates towards lighthearted content, she said Barack likes shows where “everybody’s sad and then they die.”
Bush noted that she can relate because she wants to watch a romantic comedy at the end of the day to unwind, while her partner, Ashlyn Harris, wants a murder show like Dateline or documentaries about murder.
“I want to have a cocktail and laugh while we watch TV,” Bush said.
What People Are Saying
Michelle Obama on A Work in Progress: “I’m also a big HGTV fan. That’s like my golf … Home reno, I love all of them.”
Gale King on Watch What Happens Live: “You know that she does watch [Real Housewives]. She thought it was very funny [When Kandi Buruss said ‘I’m not Michelle Obama, when they go low I go low too.’]”
What’s Next
While Michelle watches a lot of television, she and Barack are also producers on shows of their own, including The Later Daters, a docuseries that follows six singles in their 50s, 60s and 70s. She said she hopes that Netflix renews the series for a second season and encouraged fans of the show to tell Netflix they’re interested in another season.
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