Coming to Netflix: The Obamas Sign Deal to Produce Shows and Films

[demmiblue]

Source: NYT

WASHINGTON — Former President Barack Obama formally announced on Monday a multiyear production deal with Netflix in which he and the former first lady, Michelle Obama, will produce television shows and films for the streaming service.

The deal will give Mr. Obama an international television platform during his post-presidency, allowing him to reach millions of people in the United States and internationally. The couple has created “Higher Ground Productions,” a company to produce content for Netflix, the streaming service announced.

The former president has told associates that he does not intend to use the new platform to wage a public campaign against his successor in the Oval Office, or to fight against conservative media outlets like Fox News.

Instead, a release from Netflix said the Obamas will produce “scripted series, unscripted series, docu-series, documentaries and features” that highlight issues and themes the president pursued during his eight years in office.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/21/us/politics/barack-obama-netflix-show.html

[rainin]

1. Why are our greatest leaders so careful to not go up against Fox news?

[brewens]

27. It's not so good an idea to attack FOX "News". So many of their viewers are evangelical

Christians and they love to be persecuted! Even in this country, they find a way to claim persecution.

Best to let them have their alternate facts and our side to put out actual facts. You'd think reality would win out in the end.

[Zoonart]

2. Teaching progressive values through the vehicle of entertainment...

sounds like a pretty brilliant idea to me.
Let Fox have the resurrection of Tim Allen's "Last Man Standing", as a hill to die on. Same for "Roseann".
NETFLIX and the broader entertainment platforms are the future of political influence.

[mopinko]

3. my dream come true!!!

i have been saying for a long time now that i want him to be on the teevee machine.
i wanted him to be the next david letterman, but hey, i'll be happy to take this.

[mainstreetonce]

6. I had dreamed of a talk show

For Michelle and Joe


I'll take this.

[Nitram]

8. Much better than a talk show that has to be done day in and day out until it becomes stale.

They will pick and choose their topics and have complete creative control over the final product.

[Bleacher Creature]

4. There are rumors that Trump never wanted to be President and only ran to create a media platform.

It looks like Obama beat him to it!!

(And yes, I realize that we're talking about two different ends of the political spectrum, but the irony is still great.)

[7962]

19. I still believe that he never thought he'd win & was just waiting for the media payoff. nt

[Maxheader]

5. Cheetox

gonna have a fit if these documentary's show stuff
dementia boy got rid of...

[bluedigger]

7. Net neutrality will take care of failing Netflix.

[LisaM]

9. I so don't want to subscribe to a streaming service.

Wish they'd go on the airwaves.

[grantcart]

11. I get mine free through T mobile. Don't bother with cable anymore

[LisaM]

12. I do cable because of sports. I like to watch live.

I'll occasionally watch a game over if my team won, but in general, taped sports do zilch for me, and I watch sports a lot.

[DeminPennswoods]

10. Kind of disappointed

in the post-Obama presidency. I'm glad he and Holder teamed up on helping reverse gerrymanding, but otherwise... Maybe it's because he understands that in today's political environment, he'd be a more devisive figure than ever and so it's better to keep his head down and fly under the radar.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. "he'd be a more devisive figure than ever"

All you have to do is look at how Hillary has been pilloried, non-stop, since the election.

Instead of being able to get any "message" out, there would merely be mass media insistence that the Obamas "respond" to the ridicule, conspiracy theories, and hatred that would certainly ensue (and probably not just from the right as we have seen right here on DU). His mere historical election and Presidency caused tens of millions to lose their minds, and we are feeling the impact of that mass insanity today.

[SFnomad]

29. Re: All you have to do is look at how Hillary has been pilloried, non-stop, since the election.

And that's just by people that are supposed in her own party.

[DeminPennswoods]

32. Sad, but true

nt

[Scurrilous]

14. K&R

[LiberalLovinLug]

15. I would imagine a concerted effort to boycott any show the Obamas produce

[7962]

20. Leading to MORE people watching from THIS side!

[edbermac]

16. Saw that on Yahoo.

Last edited Mon May 21, 2018, 05:53 PM - Edit history (1)

Of course the Russian trolls and trumpmonkeys are losing their minds, canceling netflix subscriptions they don’t even have.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/barack-michelle-obama-sign-production-165937286.html?bcmt=1

[7962]

21. They dont even know how to spell "Hulu"

[DFW]

17. If Obama's productions contain truth and decency

They will, by definition, "wage a public campaign against his successor in the Oval Office" and " fight against conservative media outlets like Fox News" whether it is his intention or not.

[Cha]

30. Brilliant point.

Mahalo, DFW

[DFW]

31. 'a 'ole pilikia ! n/t

[hibbing]

18. I haven't watched the Letterman interview yet..still too soon

I have it on my list to watch, I just think it would be too emotional for me seeing him and what has happened to this country I love since. It will be interesting to watch what the Obamas produce.


Peace

[trueblue2007]

22. they can teach ..... LOVE IS THE ANSWER

[djacq]

24. I predict the Obamas receiving an Emmy

The Orange Clown will feel the burn

[HenryWallace]

25. Wow, talk about a rollercoaster!

"... international television platform during his post-presidency, allowing him to reach millions of people in the United States and internationally. The couple has created “Higher Ground Productions,” a company to produce content for Netflix, the streaming service announced.

The former president has told associates that he does not intend to use the new platform to wage a public campaign against his successor in the Oval Office, or to fight against conservative media.."

OMG, yes! Fan-flipping-tastic! Stake out bold, issues based positions and fight for them because they are worth fighting for (not just because your opponent is against it)...

"..the Obamas will produce “scripted series, unscripted series, docu-series, documentaries and features” that highlight issues and themes the president pursued during his eight years in office."

Augh... another legacy polishing exercise.

The one unknown in all this, and the potential for it being unique, Michelle on policy.

[underthematrix]

26. All I care about is that their products promote POC excellence,

leadership, and innovation - the three great equalizers

[Yavin4]

28. Obama should do his own The Apprentice show

where he treats the contestants with respect.

[Judi Lynn]

33. OUTRAGED CONSERVATIVES THREATEN NETFLIX BOYCOTT OVER BARACK & MICHELLE'S MULTIYEAR DEAL

NY MAGEE MAY 22, 2018 AT 2:15 PM

Former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama have signed a deal with Netflix to produce original TV shows and movies, but many conservatives are raging mad about it.

The multiyear deal could include “scripted series, unscripted series, docu-series, documentaries, and features,” the streaming service said in a tweet.

Sources close to the negotiations told CNN that the payout was a “high 8-figure deal.”

While Barack has reportedly told associates “that he does not intend to use the new platform to wage a public campaign against his successor in the Oval Office, or to fight against conservative media outlets like Fox News,”…. the conservative backlash has already started.

More:
https://www.eurweb.com/2018/05/outraged-conservatives-threaten-netflix-boycott-over-barack-michelles-multiyear-deal/