Jimmy Fallon has been pulling out all the stops in his first week as Tonight Show host, and on Thursday that included welcoming first lady Michelle Obama for a sit-down interview and special comedy sketch.
Comedy superstar Will Ferrell also made a special cameo in the skit as he and Fallon, both dressed in drag, portrayed adolescent girls hosting the Wayne’s World-style basement TV show called Ew. While the comedy a-listers brought in the big laughs, Obama held her own with a handful of sharp one-liners, dance moves and, of course, healthy eating tips.
In her post-sketch interview with Fallon, the first lady said she tries to keep her own adolescent daughters away from similar television fare. And though their father is one of the most influential men in the world, he’s still a source of embarrassment for the 15-year-old Malia and 12-year-old Sasha.
“They want nothing to do with us. I am so serious,” the first lady told Fallon.
The first family is already getting prepared for life beyond the White House, and for Malia, who’s turning 16 years old, that means driving lessons are coming soon to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
“When we’re out of here in a few years, they’ve got to be able to function as normal people so driving is a part of that,” Michelle Obama explained, before joking, “Ladies and gentleman of D.C. watch out! Malia Obama on the road.”
The first lady also used her appearance on the Tonight Show to discuss the latest Let’s Move initiative she’s launching. Whether “mom-dancing” or engaging in a physical challenge, the first lady’s tete-a-tetes with Fallon on his Late Night show always drew a huge social media response, and now she wants to flip the tables to find out how every day Americans get their exercise on.
“I want to see how people around the country are moving and changing the standards of health for our kids,” she said. calling on people across the country to share how they get active with the hashtag, #LetsMove.
To incentivize people to participate, she said she might just convince her husband and Vice President Joe Biden to join in the fun too. “If we get enough of a response, we’ll have a little surprise. The president and maybe the vice president will show us how they move,” she said.
An inside look at the workout schedule of the leader of the free world might seem like a tall order, but as Obama pointed out, she thinks she can pull it off by asking “Yo babe, hook me up.”
Morgan Whitaker