Michelle Obama Unwinds with Reality TV: A Peek into Her Love for Love Island with Daughters Malia and Sasha

When Michelle Obama needs to unwind, she often turns to reality TV.

On the April 8 episode of Sophia Bush’s Work in Progress podcast, the former First Lady, 61, shared details about her favorite TV shows and her appreciation for unscripted programming.

In terms of her television preferences, Obama confessed that she gravitates toward reality programs, explaining, “because when I go to TV, I just want to turn off.”

“I am a Real Housewives person. I love the dating shows, you know. I don’t agree with them all, but I love to watch,” she stated. She also mentioned that her daughters, Malia and Sasha, often get her to tune into Love Island. “I watched that only with them because I’m as amused by their feedback and commentary as I am by what’s happening on the show,” she remarked.

Among her other favorite programs are The White Lotus, Running Point, Nobody Wants This, and Shrinking.

“I love Shrinking. It’s my favorite with Harrison Ford. The entire cast is amazing. I also admire the showrunner, Bill Lawrence,” Obama expressed. “I’m a Ted Lasso fan too.”

The accomplished author pointed out that while she seeks light-hearted entertainment, her husband, former President Barack Obama, tends to prefer darker narratives. “Barack and I occasionally argue over what we can watch together because he likes death and darkness,” she revealed. “I told him, ‘You know, you like plots where everyone is sad and then they die.’

Obama has transformed her love for reality TV into meaningful work. In November 2024, she served as an executive producer and collaborated with Netflix to launch The Later Daters, a reality series that follows six baby boomers reentering the dating scene with guidance from their friends, family, and relationship expert Logan Ury.

According to an official synopsis, the six singles rely on Ury, a Harvard-trained behavioral scientist, as a dating coach while they navigate the modern dating world and its evolving rules, including understanding online etiquette, such as the true meaning of an eggplant emoji.

“Whether divorced, widowed, or longtime single, they end up forging deeper connections not only with their families and potential partners but also with themselves,” the description continues.

Eternal Pen online magazine publishes engaging content daily in the celebrity section of the entertainment category. Follow us for the latest news.