Access Hollywood: "We're Going To Treat The Obamas Like A Hollywood Family"

The Obama family has helped sell magazines and newspapers, as well as deliver record ratings to politically-themed program this election season. Now, entertainment TV shows look to capitalize on their celebrity by following their every move.

TV Week's Andrew Krukowski reports that "Access Hollywood" and "Entertainment Tonight" will continue to cover the Obama family in detail:

Barack Obama's election as president is fueling ratings among syndicated television newsmagazine shows--and they are returning the favor.

It's a symbiosis in which shows such as "Access Hollywood" and "Entertainment Tonight" cover the Obama family like royalty, bringing back a Camelot mythology to the White House. In return, they are enjoying a ratings bump with unexpected staying power.

"We're going to treat the Obamas like a Hollywood family," said Rob Silverstein, executive producer of NBC Universal Television Distribution's "Access Hollywood."...

The rough economy and financial belt-tightening also are driving an increased interest in politics, which is being reflected on "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider," said the shows' executive producer, Linda Bell Blue.

Both "ET" and "The Insider," syndicated by CBS Television Distribution, are following election-related topics that interest women, Ms. Bell Blue said. That means covering Michelle Obama's fashion choices and celebrities who are going to attend the inauguration in January.

Read the full TV Week article here or watch the Obama family's "Access Hollywood" appearance from July below (and be sure to vote in the poll below the video):

Quick Poll

Should The Obamas Be Covered Like A Hollywood Family?

Absolutely -- they're in the public eye, and Americans have a right to know everything about them.

Sort of -- there should be limits, but they are celebrities and should be treated as such.

Not completely -- Michelle and Barack are in bounds, but the girls should be off limits.

Absolutely not -- we should go back to a time when we let our politicians have private lives.

Previously:
Obama Kids Tease Mom And Dad On Access Hollywood
The Obamas Discuss Dressing On A Budget
Obama: My Kids Won't Be Doing Any More Interviews

Comments

[Canadiannie]

02:19 PM on 11/30/2008

You know, it’s somehow sad ( but unavoidable, I guess) to see this family become “celebritized” . I felt dismayed when flipping channels to come across them on Entertainment Tonight. That says it all right there – they are already celebrities. Like it or not, (and I don’t), we are living in the era of 15 minutes of fame, and the appetite for Infotainment fodder seems insatiable. They are an attractive and history making family. I just hope the little girls get through it relatively unscathed

[NoSandwiches]

12:31 PM on 11/30/2008

They are an interesting family and a breath of fresh air after W.
They set a good example.

When was the last time that schoolchildren were wild about a president elect?

They will be covered because people want to know more about them and that is what sells. Stupid negative stuff will sell as well to those who don't like them. If they were uninteresting, then there would be little point in covering Michelle's fashions and the hunt for a puppy, etc.

[Big0725]

01:58 PM on 11/30/2008

When has a school child ever KNOWN who the president-elect was?

[raker]

11:20 AM on 11/29/2008

Last week Brian Williams jumped on the Fox bandwagon and mocked Obama's popularity because a group of school children cheered when Obama appeared at their school. Shame on me for breaking my own rule and watching TV news. Whenever I slip and turn it on for a few minutes there are enough outrages to drive me away again for another year. If Brian Williams spews sh*t in the woods and nobody's watching, does it still stink?

[sklfcats]

05:10 PM on 11/28/2008

Give me a break
Just cause their black?

[rcwblessed]

04:28 PM on 11/29/2008

Clearly, you cannot grasp the deep historical significance of Obama being elected POTUS. I'm sure some white people can sympathize with the plight of black people, for centuries, in this country. However, they can't empathize with our plight. Over the years, I've heard horrendous stories about the mistreatment of blacks as told by my 90 year-old parents (raised in the God-awful south). I empathize with the plight of my ancestors, because I can feel their pain and suffering.

This is not to say the Obamas should be treated as celebrities, but they DESERVE a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for their accomplishments in a country that still has serious racial issues.

[Badbone]

11:34 PM on 11/29/2008

And just think, we may even someday elect a president based on the content of his character, not the color of his skin.

[TrippyWeekender]

01:12 AM on 11/26/2008

Everyone is a celebrity if the cable networks want you and need you to be one. They have a lot of programming to fill and a limited budget to make it happen.

[mypov123]

10:55 PM on 11/25/2008

Well...on one hand, I can see why AH would want to report on the Obamas as if they were a "hollywood family", because they are, in my opinion, the first kind of "cool" or "modern" First Family that we've had in the White House. And no, I'm not saying that because they're Black (well, maybe that's part of it lol), but because they're young, and Barack and Michelle seem to be a pretty laid-black and down-to-earth kind of couple, they don't seem uptight at all. And of course we can't forget about Malia and Sasha and they're cuteness lol. HOWEVER, as other people have stated here "Hollywood" reporting can get out of hand, and I'm sure that the likes of CNN and Fox News (gotta love Fox!) will be doing enough "reporting" and scrutinizing of the Obamas, they don't need the Hollywood gossip shows invading their lives as well lol.

[mypov123]

10:58 PM on 11/25/2008

oops, there's a typo I meant 'laid-back" not "laid-black" lol.

[KillBillV2]

12:34 AM on 11/27/2008

LMAO!!!!!! I don''t know why I spit out my coke when I read that, probably because in the sentence before it you said "And no, I'm not saying that because they're Black"

tehe

[weatherwaxx]

09:05 PM on 11/25/2008

What a disgusting notion.

And how lovely that while celebrities' bodyguards have to stay within the law, the Secret Service can treat any suspicious activity near the First Family like the potentially deadly threat it is.

My money's on the Secret Service, every time.

[jobecky20]

07:32 PM on 11/25/2008

Please leave them the hell alone! Let them have some peace whenever they can get it. I am so tired of our stupid celebrity culture and I'd hate to see the Obama's lives ruined by paparazzi.

[zenwhenicanbe2]

10:20 AM on 11/26/2008

agreed!

[ThinkForYourself2]

06:22 PM on 11/25/2008

This survey implies that it's OK to treat celebrities like animals just because they're celebrities. That really ticks me off.

How's this for an idea instead... Let's treat everyone like they deserve a private life, and it doesn't matter if they are a politician, celebrity and even the everyday person. How about we stop the media exploitation of celebrities, politicians and victims of crimes. Does anyone really believe the families of many of these kids who have been kidnapped really want to be exploited to the degree you see on television? No they don't. Many of these media people act like parasites. The media and the public has NO RIGHT to know anything about anyone's personal life. If someone wants to let you in on a small part of their life than it has to be under their consent and not yours. These are violations of human and civil rights. No one should be treated like a hunted animal.

[DaisyDooks]

09:32 AM on 11/27/2008

Very good. Agreed!

[Seven7s]

06:10 PM on 11/25/2008

B. Obama never claimed to be a celeb. That was just the attack line the GOP and media made up to describe his popularity.

[DaisyDooks]

09:34 AM on 11/27/2008

Yes, and the psychology backfired on them. The subliminal message was "don't take this guy seriously, he's no different than Britney Spears or Paris Hilton". It was the ultimate insult to Obama's character and caliber.

[harriettubman]

05:44 PM on 11/25/2008

Why? Barack wanted to be president, not a rock star. His goal is to get this country back on track or should I say the right track. His children and wife didn't run for office. Hollywood and the insatiable appetite for celebs is far beyond out of control.

[YellowDogInRedCounty]

09:50 PM on 11/26/2008

I mostly agree, but I also think that if he is able to get this country back on the right track then he would be a bigger star than anything Hollywood could come up with.

[C White Mom]

04:33 PM on 11/25/2008

OH PLEASE !!!! This nation needs to worry more about how our young people are going to find jobs and whether the majority of taxpayers will be able to put food on their tables rather than which "celebs" are in or coming out of the White House. Those of us who cautiously voted for change in the form of our Pres. elect didn't vote for his celebrity status or how cute their family portraits are. We voted to return our country to a more prosperous footing. The previous potus didn't do the job correctly and so we voted change. If the next potus screws up his "celeb" status won't save him from getting fired by the voters. It's time we treated the presidency as a job where you have performance reviews by the people and fired when your job performance is bad. It's a serios job...NOT a reality show.

[DaisyDooks]

09:35 AM on 11/27/2008

I co-sign with you, mom.

[Clare53]

03:29 PM on 11/25/2008

Rob Silverstein & Co. are everything that is wrong with Hollywood.

[weatherwaxx]

09:08 PM on 11/25/2008

Let's treat Silverstein like a 'celebrity.' Set off camera flashes in his face, dog his footsteps, tear his clothes off and mob him if he's seen in public. Oh, and use long-distance telephoto lenses to get embarrassing pics of him at the beach or in his own backyard. Hell, how about Landsat photos?

I don't think anybody should be treated the way people treat 'celebrities.' Wasn't one Princess Di enough for these greedy jerks?

[DaisyDooks]

09:36 AM on 11/27/2008

...and their law firm 'Duey, Cheatham & Howe".

[glorialovelace]

05:38 PM on 11/30/2008

Dewey, not "Duey". And that law firm is a "Car Talk" ripoff. Nothing to do with Rob Silverstein or "Access Hollywood."

[yvonne61]

03:05 PM on 11/25/2008

THE OBAMA'S WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT ON THE B. WALTERS SPECAIL ON ABC AT 9;00

[DaisyDooks]

09:37 AM on 11/27/2008

I saw it. Loved it.

[nephilim978]

02:01 PM on 11/25/2008

I can't wait for the day some pathetic waste of flesh paparazi gets his face smashed into the cement by the secret service. That will truely be a great day for America.

He's the president. Show some respect.

[Clare53]

03:28 PM on 11/25/2008

Second.

[Mekarri]

05:19 PM on 11/25/2008

Ditto!!!!