Icon: enlarge
Michelle Obama in "Waffle and Mochi": Perfect celebrity entertainment even for children
Photo: ADAM ROSE / NETFLIX / Adam Rose
"Have you ever worked in a supermarket?" The friendly woman with the warm voice asks the plush doll with the waffle ears and his friend, a pink rice cake that squeaks with fun.
No, they do not have.
"Have you ever had a job?" The woman asks.
No, they do not have.
Never mind.
They may be underqualified, but they both get the job anyway.
It's no wonder, after all, the nice shop owner is called Michelle Obama, and her declared goal is to educate children about food with her program "Waffel und Mochi" and to bring them closer to the joy of healthy eating.
So the doll friends reveal the secrets of tomatoes, potatoes and salt in ten episodes.
The show looks like a boldly spiced variant of "Sesame Street", everything is a little hectic and over the top.
Waffles and mochi try their way through various national kitchens, wearing out quite a few well-known celebrity chefs, and in between, pop star Sia sings a song about life as a tomato.
Icon: enlarge
Actor Zach Galifianakis also stops by "Waffel und Mochi"
Photo: Adam Rose / Netflix
The restless knowledge parade only comes to rest on the roof garden of the supermarket when the friendly and thoroughly relaxed Mrs. Obama in her cozy apron lets herself be told about the latest adventures of the food explorers.
The cross-promotion runs like clockwork
At the start of the series, the former first lady, who was committed to healthy eating for children during her time at the White House, said, “I wish there had been a show like this when my children were little.
You can watch them together wonderfully as a family, and the children learn something in the process. "
»Waffel und Mochi« does not seem overly educational.
The only question is what gets stuck in the end.
And whether your own children no longer learn about food when you take them into your own kitchen and cook with them.
What is rather unpleasant is how perfect the broadcast in the Netflix universe with its stylish cooking shows such as "Chef's Table", "Ugly Delicious" and "Salt".
Fat.
Acid.
Heat. «Fits.
Which is no wonder, because behind all of them is the same producer team, and Samin Nosrat from »Salt.
Fat.
Acid.
Heat. «Completes one of the numerous guest appearances.
Just like Tan France from the makeover show »Queer Eye«.
The cross-promotion is already going like clockwork with the target group of the youngest, mum and dad should finally continue to watch Netflix later.
Ambassador to the Bahamas
At the entertainment company's gastro shows, eating becomes a lifestyle affair for »foodies«, people who have the necessary holiday budget to define themselves through travel, exquisite ingredients and rare specialties.
And who are even able to shell out the monthly Netflix subscription fees.
How this perfectly lit and eye-catching designed world should fit together with Obama's plan to show poor families in particular alternatives to junk food remains a mystery.
On the other hand, it is no coincidence that the Obamas are closely tied to Netflix.
In 2018 it was announced that their production company Higher Ground would exclusively produce content for the world's most successful streaming service.
The deal was preceded by personal relationships: During Barack Obama's presidency, the wife of Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, Nicole Avant, served as ambassador to the Bahamas, the two couples have known each other well for years.
Icon: enlarge
Samin Nosrat explains the secrets of the tomato to Waffel
Photo: Adam Rose / Netflix
But also in terms of content, Netflix programs and the Obama agenda go well together.
The streaming company is explicitly left-wing by American standards, programmed numerous critical documentaries during the years of the Trump presidency, and advocates diversity and equal opportunities.
At the same time, due to its rapid rise in recent years, a very American belief in progress is part of the Netflix DNA.
Barack Obama, on the other hand, charged the earlier right-wing fighting term of "American exceptionalism" with a new meaning and emphasized it as a mandate to all citizens: change does not happen by itself, it is driven by the individual.
Obama's emphasis on willpower, advancement, achievement, and success has always been correspondingly strong.
"Yes, we can" always meant above all: "Yes, you can."
The dark side of the Obama cult
This belief in the permeability and effectiveness of a liberal capitalist system is complemented by a celebrity culture perfected by Netflix, which
sees
itself as progressive, tolerant and
woke
.
That not only wants to entertain, but also to promote social change.
Barack and Michelle Obama thrive in this world that targets the center of society, not its fringes.
That's why they do programs for Netflix and not for the non-commercial state broadcaster PBS.
Her production company Higher Ground has repeatedly shown the right nose: As her first production, she bought the long-term observation "American Factory", which had already been completed and which promptly won the award for the best documentary at the 2020 Academy Awards.
This year there could even be a double: This time the documentary »Crip Camp« about a holiday camp for physically handicapped people has been nominated for the Docu-Oscar.
In the past few weeks, Higher Ground has announced quite a few new productions, including young indigenous people, refugees and science education for preschoolers.
In other words, edifying materials, educational policy with the means of entertainment.
The dark side of the Obama cult could also be seen on Netflix.
For example, David Letterman's interview with Barack Obama for his Netflix talk show, which culminated in Letterman's declaration of love: "Without a doubt, you are the first president I totally respect." And the image film "Becoming" celebrated it The hype surrounding Michelle Obama's biography was once again filmed, and there was no dry eye and no room for distance.
In "Waffel and Mochie" Michelle Obama now hands out a badge at the end of each episode for every food that the cuddly main characters have met.
There has to be a dash of exceptionalism in a children's program too.
Icon: The mirror
