The Obamas first announced the formation of their own production company, Higher Ground Productions, in May 2018, and subsequently signed a multi-year deal with Netflix to produce documentaries and feature films. Since its launch, Higher Ground has produced three documentaries for the platform: American Factory, Crip Camp and Becoming , based in part on Michelle Obama's memoir of the same name. On February 9, the former first lady announced her next project, a cooking show called Waffles & Mochi , which will launch on March 16, 2021 with a 10-episode first season.
"I'm so excited to share that on March 16th I'll be launching a new show on Netflix called Waffles + Mochi," she wrote on Twitter, along with a promotional photo. In the photo, she smiles alongside three puppets: a bespectacled bumblebee, a smiling mochi ball and a furry blue character with a waffle on his head. If the furry characters haven't already made it clear, this series is primarily aimed at children. But this is Michelle Obama we're talking about, so everyone wants to tune in. "I'm excited for families and kids from around the world to join us on our adventure as we discover, cook and taste delicious foods from around the world," she said.
Obama went on to post a follow-up tweet, writing: "I'm also excited to partner with the Partnership for a Healthier America to help kids develop healthy habits and help families in need cook meals together at home with fresh ingredients. I hope you Come and watch if you can join us on March 16th! ”
Here's everything we know about the new children's series, including whether former President Barack Obama will make a cameo.
What is Netflix's Waffles and Mochi about?
Netflix debuted the series via its Strong Black Lead platform, calling it "Higher Ground's first original preschool series." According to a thread on Twitter, the show follows two characters, Waffles and Mochi, who "go on culinary adventures around the world" with the author of "Becoming the Future ." The two plush protagonists come from the "Land of Frozen Food" and embark on a "global food mission" with Obama, who plays a supermarket owner. "Whether picking potatoes in the Peruvian Andes, tasting spices in Italy, or making miso in Japan, these curious explorers discover the wonders of food and discover that every meal is an opportunity to make new friends," Netflix writes.
Waffles & Mochi is being joined by showrunners Erica Tomalon and Jeremy Conner (brother of Girls co-showrunner Jenny Conner), presumably from Higher Ground A remake of the series "Listen to your vegetables and eat your parents" .
Of course, this isn't her first foray into the topic of child nutrition. During her husband's first term as president, she launched "Let's Move!" in 2010 , an initiative to combat childhood obesity and encourage healthy lifestyles that include exercise and a focus on fruits and vegetables. nutritious diets and improving access to such foods. The program has helped more than 5,000 schools improve nutrition and fitness standards, helped children across the country build and renovate more than 6,000 tennis courts and even received a Beyoncé-penned theme song, "Move Your Body."
Who's in the cast? Will Barack Obama show up?
Joining the colorful world of waffles and mochi is a group of renowned chefs and A-list celebrities, including Zach Galifianakis, Stranger Things' Gaten Matarazzo, Jack Black, Rashida Jones, Common, Tan France, Sia, Mandy Moore, Samin Nosrat, Ho Se Andres and Massimo Bottura. There's no word yet on whether former President Barack Obama will appear on the show. But considering he's also involved in the couple's Netflix deal, a cameo isn't out of the question.
What about the puppets?
A variety of puppet companions will appear in the first 10 episodes of Waffles & Mochi. But the stars of the show are undoubtedly the waffles (a cross between a snowman and a frozen waffle) and the mochi (a strawberry ice cream-shaped puppet with its own unique dialect). In some ways, the puppets represent the show's way of marrying comfort food with cultural fare.
The Waffles & Mochi Puppeteers cast includes Michelle Zamora (Waffles), Russ Walko (Mochi and Intercommy), Jonathan Kidder (Busy), Diona Elise Burnett (voice of Steve the Mop and Magicart), Taleia Gilliam (Shelfie), Andy Hayward (Waffles & Mochi, puppet swing) , Piotr Michael (voiced by Mochi), George Konner (voiced by Intercommy).
Is Waffles and Mochi Season 2 Coming?
A second season of "Waffles and Mochi" has yet to be confirmed. But she appears willing to accept larger installments, according to Obama. "First of all, I'm not an actress, so Waffles + Mochi is an easier promotion for me because I'm being myself," she said in a recent issue of People magazine. "It gets me back into that space with my kids, eating healthy, and introducing them to vegetables... we talked about it in the White House for eight years. And Bridgerton , the love scenes — I don't know. I'll pass," she joked Said, referring to this steamy period drama from Netflix.
