The First Lady (American TV series) explained

Genre:
Creator:Aaron Cooley
Director:Susanne Bier
Opentheme:"This Land Is Your Land" by Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
Music:Geoff Zanelli
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Seasons:1
Num Episodes:10
Executive Producer:
Cinematography:Amir Mokri
Runtime:55–57 minutes
Network:Showtime

The First Lady[1] is an American anthology drama television series created by Aaron Cooley which premiered on Showtime on April 17, 2022. It stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Viola Davis, and Gillian Anderson, among others, and portrays life and family events of three First Ladies of the United States: Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty Ford, and Michelle Obama. The series received mixed reviews, with praise for Pfeiffer's and Anderson's performances, as well as the costuming, set design, and themes, but criticism for its pacing, plot, and Davis's performance.[2] [3] In August 2022, the series was canceled after one season.

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

Production

Development

On February 5, 2020, it was announced that Showtime had given the production, then known as First Ladies, a series order. Executive producers were expected to include Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, Cathy Schulman, Jeff Gaspin, Brad Kaplan, and Aaron Cooley, who also created the series and will write. Davis would star as Michelle Obama.[5] In January 2021, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jayme Lawson, and Kristine Froseth joined the cast of the series as Betty Ford, young Obama, and young Ford, respectively, with Susanne Bier set to direct and executive produce.[6] That same month, Pamela Adlon and Rhys Wakefield joined the cast.[7]

On February 16, 2021, Aaron Eckhart joined the cast as President Gerald Ford.[8] That same month, Judy Greer replaced Adlon due to scheduling conflicts.[9] On February 22, 2021, it was announced that Gillian Anderson would portray Eleanor Roosevelt.[10] Three days later, on February 25, 2021, it was announced that O. T. Fagbenle would portray President Barack Obama.[11] Dakota Fanning was announced to have joined the cast as Susan Ford on March 2, 2021.[12] On March 9, 2021, Lexi Underwood joined the cast as Malia Obama in a recurring role.[13]

On March 10, 2021, nine more joined the cast, including Derek Cecil as Donald Rumsfeld, Aya Cash as Esther Liebowitz, Jake Picking as Gerald Ford (young), Cayden Boyd as Michael Ford, Marc Hills as Jack Ford, Ben Cook as Steven Ford, Leslie Kritzer as Martha Graham, Thomas E. Sullivan as Bill Warren, and Patrice Johnson Chevannes as Clara Powell.[14] [15]

On April 13, 2021, Regina Taylor joined the cast in a series regular role as Marian Shields Robinson, while Saniyya Sidney, Julian De Niro and Evan Parke joined the cast in recurring roles as Sasha Obama, young Barack Obama and SS Allen Taylor, respectively.[16] In June 2021, Gloria Reuben and Kate Mulgrew joined the cast as Valerie June Jarrett and Susan Sher, while Rosalind Chao, Michael Potts, Kathleen Garrett and Donna Lynne Champlin joined in recurring capacities.[17] [18] [19]

In July 2021, Kiefer Sutherland and Lily Rabe joined the main cast as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok, respectively, while Ellen Burstyn, Eliza Scanlen, Cailee Spaeny, Clea DuVall and Charlie Plummer joined the cast in recurring roles.[20] [21] [22] [23] In August 2021, Jackie Earle Haley, Maria Dizzia, and Jeremy Bobb were cast in recurring capacities.[24] The series premiered on April 17, 2022, on Showtime and Paramount+ Internationally in 2022.[25] [26] On August 1, 2022, Showtime canceled the series after one season.[27]

Filming

On February 25, 2021, it was announced that filming had begun in Covington, Georgia.[28]

Reception

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 41% approval rating with an average rating of 6.00/10, based on 44 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Despite formidable stars and a rich history to draw from, a lack of focus and shallow characterization make The First Lady second-rate television."[29] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 50 out of 100 based on 22 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[30]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)Result
2022Black Reel Television AwardsOutstanding Actress, TV Movie or Limited SeriesViola Davis[31]
Hollywood Critics Association TV AwardsBest Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Limited or Anthology SeriesMichelle Pfeiffer[32]
Best Writing in a Broadcast Network or Cable Limited or Anthology SeriesAaron Cooley, Cathy Schulman, Ellen Fairey, and Abby Ajayi
Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Period CostumesSigne Sejlund, Felicia Jarvis, Matthew Hemesath, Paula Truman, Stephen Oh, and Jessica Trejos [33]
Outstanding Period and/or Character HairstylingColleen LaBaff, Louisa Anthony, Lawrence Davis, Julie Kendrick, Robert Wilson, Jamika Wilson, Evelyn Roach, and Jaime Leigh McIntosh
Outstanding Period and/or Character Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)Carol Rasheed, Sergio López-Rivera, Valli O'Reilly, Chauntelle Langston, and Milene Melendez
2023Critics' Choice AwardsBest Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for TelevisionMichelle Pfeiffer[34]
NAACP Image AwardsOutstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic SpecialViola Davis[35]

Ratings

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Andreeva. Nellie. January 21, 2021. Michelle Pfeiffer To Star As Betty Ford In 'The First Lady', Susanne Bier To Direct Showtime Anthology Series. January 21, 2021. Deadline Hollywood. January 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210121210045/https://deadline.com/2021/01/michelle-pfeiffer-betty-ford-the-first-lady-showtime-anthology-series-susanne-bier-direct-1234677863/. live.
  2. Web site: Review: Showtime's 'The First Lady' wants to be as cool as Michelle Obama, but it's just confused. USA Today. June 25, 2022. June 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220625125551/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2022/04/14/the-first-lady-review-michelle-obama-betty-ford-eleanor-roosevelt/9511314002/. live.
  3. News: 2022-04-25 . Viola Davis responds to critics of her Michelle Obama portrayal . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-09-13 . September 13, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220913182427/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-61213761 . live .
  4. Web site: First Ladies: New Original Series - Official Site. 11 November 2020. Showtime. December 3, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201203105401/https://www.sho.com/first-ladies. live.
  5. Web site: Andreeva. Nellie. Petski. Denise. 2020-02-05. 'First Ladies' Drama Starring Viola Davis As Michelle Obama Gets Series Order At Showtime. 2020-08-27. Deadline Hollywood. November 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211110000310/https://deadline.com/2020/02/first-ladies-drama-viola-davis-michelle-obama-series-order-showtime-1202852028/. live.
  6. Web site: 'The First Lady' at Showtime Adds Kristine Froseth, Jayme Lawson (EXCLUSIVE). Variety. Joe. Otterson. January 26, 2021. January 26, 2021. February 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210203104745/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/the-first-lady-showtime-kristine-froseth-jayme-lawson-1234892671/amp/. live.
  7. Web site: 'The First Lady': Pamela Adlon & Rhys Wakefield Join Showtime Anthology Series. Deadline Hollywood. Nellie. Andreeva. January 27, 2021. January 27, 2021. January 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210127180307/https://deadline.com/2021/01/first-lady-pamela-adlon-rhys-wakefield-cast-showtime-anthology-series-nancy-howe-dick-cheney-1234681528/. live.
  8. Web site: 'First Lady': Aaron Eckhart To Play Gerald Ford In Showtime Anthology Series. Deadline Hollywood. Nellie. Andreeva. February 16, 2021. February 16, 2021. February 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210216170423/https://deadline.com/2021/02/first-lady-aaron-eckhart-cast-gerald-ford-showtime-anthology-series-1234694541/. live.
  9. Web site: White. Peter. 2021-02-19. Judy Greer To Replace Pamela Adlon In Showtime's 'The First Lady'. 2021-02-19. Deadline Hollywood. October 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211020084218/https://deadline.com/2021/02/judy-greer-replaces-pamela-adlon-showtime-the-first-lady-1234697200/. live.
  10. Web site: Gillian Anderson To Star As Eleanor Roosevelt In 'The First Lady' Showtime Limited Series. Deadline Hollywood. Nellie. Andreeva. February 22, 2021. February 22, 2021. February 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210222190028/https://deadline.com/2021/02/gillian-anderson-eleanor-roosevelt-the-first-lady-showtime-1234698357/. live.
  11. Web site: 'The First Lady': O-T Fagbenle To Play Barack Obama In Showtime Anthology Series. Deadline Hollywood. Nellie. Andreeva. February 25, 2021. February 25, 2021. July 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210711133345/https://deadline.com/2021/02/the-first-lady-o-t-fagbenle-barack-obama-showtime-1234701025/. live.
  12. Web site: 'The First Lady': Dakota Fanning To Play Susan Ford In Showtime Anthology Series. Deadline Hollywood. Nellie. Andreeva. March 2, 2021. March 2, 2021. March 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210302173121/https://deadline.com/2021/03/the-first-lady-dakota-fanning-cast-susan-ford-showtime-anthology-series-1234704455/. live.
  13. Web site: 'Little Fires Everywhere' Star Lexi Underwood to Play Malia Obama in 'The First Lady' at Showtime. Variety. Joe. Otterson. March 9, 2021. March 9, 2021. March 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210309230154/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/lexi-underwood-malia-obama-the-first-lady-showtime-1234926653/. live.
  14. Web site: Exclusive: 'House of Cards' Alum Derek Cecil to Play Donald Rumsfeld in 'The First Lady' on Showtime. Collider. Jeff. Sneider. March 10, 2021. March 10, 2021. March 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210310160616/https://collider.com/the-first-lady-cast-donald-rumsfeld-derek-cecil-showtime/. live.
  15. Web site: 'The First Lady': Aya Cash, Jake Picking, Ben Cook Among 8 Cast In Showtime Anthology Series. Deadline Hollywood. Denise. Petski. March 10, 2021. March 10, 2021. March 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210310210123/https://deadline.com/2021/03/the-first-lady-aya-cash-jake-picking-ben-cook-cast-showtime-anthology-series-1234711483/. live.
  16. Web site: 'The First Lady': Regina Taylor To Play Michelle Obama's Mother In Showtime Anthology Series; Saniyya Sidney, 2 More Cast. Deadline Hollywood. Denise. Petski. April 13, 2021. April 13, 2021. April 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210413200851/https://deadline.com/2021/04/the-first-lady-regina-taylor-michelle-obamas-mother-showtime-anthology-series-saniyya-sidney-evan-parke-julian-deniro-1234733489/. live.
  17. Web site: Gloria Reuben Joins Blumhouse's 'Firestarter' & Showtime Anthology Series 'The First Lady. Deadline Hollywood. Anthony. D'Alessandro. June 4, 2021. June 4, 2021. June 4, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210604163047/https://deadline.com/2021/06/firestarter-gloria-reuben-the-first-lady-1234769461/. live.
  18. Web site: 'The First Lady': Kate Mulgrew To Recur, Cathy Schulman Named Showrunner On Showtime Anthology Series. Deadline Hollywood. Denise. Petski. June 8, 2021. June 8, 2021. June 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210608173254/https://deadline.com/2021/06/the-first-lady-kate-mulgrew-recur-cathy-schulman-showrunner-showtime-anthology-series-1234771389/. live.
  19. Web site: 'The First Lady': Rosalind Chao, Michael Potts & Donna Lynne Champlin To Recur On Showtime Anthology Series. Deadline Hollywood. Denise. Petski. June 14, 2021. June 14, 2021. June 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210614220148/https://deadline.com/2021/06/the-first-lady-rosalind-chao-michael-potts-donna-lynn-champlin-recur-showtime-anthology-series-1234775082/. live.
  20. Web site: 'The First Lady': Kiefer Sutherland To Play Franklin D. Roosevelt On Showtime Anthology Series. Deadline Hollywood. Denise. Petski. July 8, 2021. July 8, 2021. July 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210708181049/https://deadline.com/2021/07/the-first-lady-kiefer-sutherland-franklin-d-roosevelt-1234788755/. live.
  21. Web site: 'The First Lady': Lily Rabe To Play Journalist Lorena Hickock In Showtime Anthology Series. Deadline Hollywood. Denise. Petski. July 27, 2021. July 27, 2021. July 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210727173737/https://deadline.com/2021/07/the-first-lady-lily-rabe-journalist-lorena-hickock-showtime-anthology-series-1234800626/. live.
  22. Web site: 'The First Lady': Ellen Burstyn, Eliza Scanlen, Cailee Spaeny To Recur On Showtime Anthology Series. Deadline Hollywood. Denise. Petski. July 23, 2021. July 23, 2021. July 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210723181550/https://deadline.com/2021/07/the-first-lady-ellen-burstyn-eliza-scanlen-cailee-spaeny-recur-showtime-anthology-series-1234798988/. live.
  23. Web site: 'The First Lady': Clea DuVall & Charlie Plummer Join Showtime Anthology Series As Recurring. Deadline Hollywood. Denise. Petski. July 30, 2021. July 30, 2021. July 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210730170214/https://deadline.com/2021/07/the-first-lady-clea-duvall-charlie-plummer-showtime-anthology-series-1234806588/. live.
  24. Web site: 'The First Lady': Jackie Earle Haley, Maria Dizzia & Jeremy Bobb To Recur On Showtime Anthology Series. Denise. Petski. August 9, 2021. August 9, 2021. August 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210809220141/https://deadline.com/2021/08/the-first-lady-jackie-earle-haley-maria-dizzia-jeremy-bobb-recur-showtime-anthology-series-1234811707/. live.
  25. 'The First Lady' trailer transforms Viola Davis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Gillian Anderson. Entertainment Weekly. Nick. Romano. February 17, 2022. February 17, 2022. February 17, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220217171751/https://ew.com/tv/the-first-lady-trailer-viola-davis-michelle-pfeiffer-gillian-anderson/. live.
  26. Web site: Showtime's Anthology Series 'The First Lady,' About Three Iconic White House Women, Will Premiere in 2022. Collider. Drew. Baumgartner. August 24, 2021. August 24, 2021. October 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211019103310/https://collider.com/the-first-lady-release-date-showtime/. live.
  27. Web site: 'The First Lady' Canceled: There Will Be No Second Installment Of Showtime Anthology Series. Deadline Hollywood. Nellie. Andreeva. August 1, 2022. August 1, 2022. August 2, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220802002142/https://deadline.com/2022/08/the-first-lady-canceled-no-season-2-showtime-anthology-series-viola-davis-1235082656/. live.
  28. Web site: 'First Lady' filming to close downtown Covington streets. Deadline Hollywood. Taylor. Beck. February 25, 2021. February 25, 2021. February 25, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210225165601/https://www.covnews.com/news/business/first-lady-filming-to-close-downtown-covington-streets/. live.
  29. the_first_lady. The First Lady. tv. 1. August 2, 2022.
  30. the-first-lady. The First Lady. tv. 1. August 2, 2022.
  31. Web site: Valerie . Complex . June 16, 2022 . 6th Annual Black Reel Television Awards Nominations Announced . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220621041754/https://deadline.com/2022/06/6th-annual-black-reel-television-awards-1235047279/ . June 21, 2022 . June 20, 2022 . Deadline.
  32. Web site: Petski . Denise . July 7, 2022 . 'This Is Us', 'Succession', 'Severance', 'Ted Lasso' Lead 2022 HCA TV Nominations . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220707213724/https://deadline.com/2022/07/this-is-us-succession-severance-ted-lasso-2022-hca-tv-nominations-full-list-1235059982/ . July 7, 2022 . July 8, 2022 . Deadline Hollywood.
  33. September 4, 2022 . 2022 Creative Arts Emmys: See full winners list . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20220905072515/https://ew.com/awards/emmys/2022-creative-arts-emmys-winners-list/ . September 5, 2022 . January 11, 2023.
  34. Web site: Nordyke . Kimberly . January 15, 2023 . Critics Choice Awards: Full List of Winners . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230116052049/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/critics-choice-awards-winners-list-full-2023-1235300137/ . January 16, 2023 . January 16, 2023 . The Hollywood Reporter.
  35. Web site: Vary . Adam B. . Flam . Charna . February 25, 2023 . Angela Bassett, 'Abbott Elementary' Win Top Honors at 2023 NAACP Image Awards . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230226090821/https://variety.com/2023/awards/news/naacp-image-awards-2023-winners-list-1235532462/ . February 26, 2023 . February 26, 2023 . Variety.