As someone who has been following the world of television for the past few decades, I must say that the cameo of Michelle Obama on NCIS was indeed a remarkable event. Her appearance not only added a touch of realism to the show but also served as a powerful platform to promote her initiative, Joining Forces.
In contrast to many TV showrunners, the long-running success of NCIS is something they could merely aspire to. Amidst a TV landscape where cancellations outnumber renewals, this military police procedural series has kept audiences captivated for over 22 years. The show consistently delivers on its promise to entertain and intrigue us as it chronicles the exploits of a team of special agents working for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). Labeled the Major Case Response Team (MCRT), this unit investigates crimes involving the United States Navy, Marine Corps (USMC), and related government branches.
Throughout its broadcast, the series has been home to several unforgettable episodes. “Call of Silence” stands out, featuring an aging veteran confessing to a murder he committed six decades earlier, while “Devil’s Triangle” brings back Gibbs’ ex-wife, who enlists him and another FBI agent ex to help locate her missing husband. Notable guest appearances are common, with one of the most memorable occurring in Season 13’s “Homefront,” where former First Lady Michelle Obama made a brief yet crucial appearance.
The Episode “Homefront” Is a Home Invasion Story with a Twist
In a poignant turn, “Homefront” offers a heartfelt exploration of military family life, skillfully mirroring the daily routines and emotional struggles faced by such households. The characters and plotlines share similarities with home invasion films, but this episode, brimming with authenticity and charm, unexpectedly catches viewers off guard by deviating from conventional storytelling patterns. To begin with, we meet Marine Master Sgt. David Marshall who, despite learning of his imminent deployment to Iraq, remains unfazed. After all, he had chosen this career path.
Prior to his departure, David delivers the traditional speech to his 14-year-old son, Henry, emphasizing that he is now the head of the household, responsible for safeguarding their mother and sister in case of an emergency. Unfortunately, an unexpected incident occurs when a home intruder appears. Since Henry has been thoroughly trained, he reacts like Kevin McCallister, taking aggressive action against the intruder. However, it’s not clear if this is actually a burglar; instead, the intruder specifically targets Henry. The question remains: what secret is young Henry concealing?
A parallel storyline follows Anne, Henry’s mother, who anticipated a challenging and solitary life as an army wife. However, when her professional advancement halts, she encounters additional hardships. With 15 years of legal expertise under her belt, she has yet to practice law in West Virginia due to the state’s unique bar requirements compared to California. Agitated by this predicament, NCIS agent Eleanor Bishop proposes reaching out to Joining Forces, a genuine program that assists military veterans and their families.
As a devoted admirer, I must share that the innovative idea behind this organization is none other than Michelle Obama’s very own. And true to form, our beloved First Lady graced the event, adding an extra dash of charm that came close to outshining everything else. She extended invitations, not just to me, but to Anne and the esteemed NCIS team for a captivating roundtable discussion at the White House. The conversation flowed seamlessly, making for a successful and enjoyable gathering.
‘NCIS’ Was a Perfect Platform to Raise Awareness of Michelle Obama’s Initiative
Michelle Obama’s appearance on NCIS likely boosted the initiative significantly, as this popular military-themed show attracts a large audience that no other similar programs can match. The White House’s Joining Forces initiative concentrates on three primary aspects: Employment and Entrepreneurship, Military Child Education, and Health and Well-being. Given that the unemployment rate for military spouses is currently 13%, it was strategic to incorporate this issue into the storyline and leverage it to publicize the initiative.
Shows like NCIS usually include fictional political characters, but the writers of this series strive to make it as realistic as possible, even going so far as to base the series premiere, “Yankee White,” on a real-life assassination attempt on President George W. Bush (played by comedian and impersonator Steve Bridges). While the show hasn’t recently spotlighted any prominent political figures, prior events hint that Donald Trump, the then-president elect, and Kamala Harris, who later became vice president, may have been part of the storyline behind the scenes.
Why There Was So Much Backlash Against Michelle Obama’s Cameo
Unsurprisingly, Michelle Obama’s unexpected appearance caused confusion and uproar among viewers. At the time, her appearance was controversial because she was a well-known Democrat on a show that primarily attracted a Republican audience, which is mainly composed of conservatives in rural America, as reported by The Washington Post.
According to Executive Producer Mark Horowitz, who vividly remembers the uproar, he considers the cameo as a wise decision, as shared in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
The event turned out wonderfully and Michelle Obama was exceptional. Many people responded favorably to the show, while others weren’t fond of her appearance.
Despite some criticism, Michelle Obama’s appearance was trailblazing. Showrunner Gary Glasberg revealed to E! that they were granted a unique chance to shoot at the very core of the White House, free from supervision or editing restrictions.
It’s particularly noteworthy that our team was the first non-news group given permission to produce fictional content within the White House, a feat never before achieved by others.
“We were the first film production outside of a news organization to film in the White House.
The West Wing
filmed outside, other shows have filmed outside, but we actually went in and had an extraordinary day filming this scene. She was just wonderful and welcoming and I can’t thank her enough for what she did for our crew. And then we did a couple of scenes outside the White House as well.”
Critics believed that the idea originated from the First Lady or top Democrats within the party as a strategy to appeal to Republican voters prior to the 2016 elections; however, this wasn’t true. The production team thought the initiative required attention and made the decision to showcase it. They initially aimed to have her visit their set, but scheduling conflicts prevented that, so they traveled to the White House instead.
Hopefully, we’ll get more such cool cameos in the future.
NCIS
is available to stream in the US on Hulu, Netflix and Paramount+
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2024-11-23 18:32