How Michelle Obama’s ‘Later Daters’ Reinvented a Reality Staple: “We’re Telling Everyone’s Story”

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As a seasoned gamer of reality shows spanning from the golden era of Big Brother to the modern age of Love is Blind, I must admit that Later Daters has managed to captivate my attention like no other show in recent memory. Having navigated the treacherous waters of dating apps and swiping left or right for far too long, it’s refreshing to see a series that focuses on a demographic I can finally relate to – the over-50 crowd.

As an avid viewer of the recent reality show “Later Daters,” I couldn’t help but notice an intriguing name among the credits – none other than Michelle Obama herself, serving as executive producer! This eight-episode series, which soared to the Top 10 list on Netflix following its debut on November 29, focuses on six individuals aged between 56 and 71 from the Atlanta area, each embarking on their own unique journeys through the modern dating scene. The charming, humorous, and sometimes risqué show, produced by Higher Ground – the Obamas’ very own production company – truly embodies the passion of Barack and Michelle Obama for creating content that resonates with a broad audience, delving into topics far removed from the realm of potentially dry or politically charged subject matter.

Ethan Lewis, Higher Ground’s SVP of Nonfiction, points out that people might perceive content originating from the Obamas as something tailored and potentially not suitable for them due to its source. However, our approach is to tell stories that resonate with everyone, aiming to create a diverse range of content appealing to a vast audience.

This strategy encompasses pre-scripted projects such as the apocalyptic thriller “Leave the World Behind” starring Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali, which climbed to Netflix’s No. 5 most watched movie ever, racking up 121 million views within three weeks of its release in December last year, and the black comedy series “Bodkin” featuring Will Forte, another breakout hit on their global top 10 list for 2023. Additionally, Higher Ground has produced documentaries like the Academy Award-nominated “Crip Camp” and the Emmy Award-winning “Our Great National Parks”. In fact, they won the 2019 Academy Award for best documentary feature with their debut film, “American Factory”.

In June, Higher Ground expanded the multiyear agreement they have with Netflix regarding their film and television productions, and now, the company is also collaborating on projects outside of Netflix. This week, they announced their initial collaboration with another production studio, 20th Century, for a comedy titled “Merry Ex-Mas“. This lighthearted story, written by David Bernstein, revolves around Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus going through a divorce during the holiday season.

At Higher Ground, the unscripted segment seemed to offer potential for expansion, with Michelle Obama expressing her firm views as a spectator, according to Lewis. “We discussed the shows that Mrs. Obama enjoyed and was intrigued by,” Lewis explains. “A significant portion of these choices fell within the realm of love and relationships.” One program that stood out was Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum, which centers around individuals with autism navigating romantic connections. “It was about taking a familiar format, like a dating show, and changing the perspective to present love in an unexpected way, offering a fresh perspective that people hadn’t considered before.

In a nod to dating reality shows like ABC’s “The Golden Bachelor,” the series Later Daters caters to individuals who came of age before the prevalence of dating apps. Instead of the structured competition format, this show derives its drama from the everyday lives of its daters, under the gentle guidance of dating coach Logan Ury, a Harvard-trained behavioral scientist. Ury offers advice on improving one’s approach, such as focusing on being interested rather than being interesting. Uniquely, Later Daters enlists the Gen Z and Millennial children of the daters as confidants, offering empathetic insights and practical advice – like decoding the correct usage of the eggplant emoji – while also providing emotional reaction shots to enhance the viewing experience.

As a fan, I’d express this as: “Drawing from personal conversations with my mom and Jonathan Hausfater, an executive at Boardwalk Pictures, Lewis found inspiration for the intergenerational concept. We often find ourselves dishing out advice to our parents, which is filled with heart and humor. We thought it would be fantastic if we could collaborate on a show that mirrors our parents’ experiences, as they navigate dating again after being single.

Finding suitable candidates for the show turned out to be a challenge. The producers were not permitted to disclose to prospective participants that the program was being produced for the Obamas and Netflix, which made it difficult to attract responses through traditional social media casting methods. Instead, they resorted to visiting country clubs, community centers, and churches, sometimes discovering their cast among the children of the show’s potential daters.

Michelle played a significant role in every stage of the production process for the show, from initial idea to final editing. As Lewis puts it, “She’s extremely hands-on.” This meant she provided suggestions on edits and encouraged us to emphasize the humor and comedy. Her passion was evident as she was determined to emphasize the intergenerational aspect of the story.

As a gamer, I’ve been thrilled to see “Later Daters” hit the shelves, and it’s even more exciting to know that the former first lady has been involved in its promotion! I recently caught her on The Jennifer Hudson Show, where she shared her enthusiasm for creating something that inspires people like us. She mentioned many of my friends who have found themselves single after a divorce or loss, and we often discuss the challenges of dating at our age. She called it “How do you date?

As a gaming enthusiast, I’d say that “Later Daters” serves up intriguing discussion starters, delving into themes like attitudes towards sex, wealth, and interracial relationships. It’s quite astonishing to many viewers that Michelle Obama is an executive producer of this show, given its nature. But once you dive in, you discover it’s hilarious, daring, and on the edge, yet after watching, one can’t help but feel a tad more optimistic about the world.

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2024-12-20 02:25