The First Lady (American TV series)

Last updated

The First Lady
The First Lady (American TV series) title card.png
Genre
Created byAaron Cooley
Directed by Susanne Bier
Starring
Music by Geoff Zanelli
Opening theme"This Land Is Your Land" by Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producers
Cinematography Amir Mokri
Editors
  • Sam Williams
  • Matthew Cannings
  • Lindsey Woodward
  • Nicolas Chaudeurge
Running time55–57 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network Showtime
ReleaseApril 17 (2022-04-17) –
June 19, 2022 (2022-06-19)

The First Lady [1] is an American anthology drama television series created by Aaron Cooley which premiered on Showtime on April 17, 2022. [2] 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 the performances, as well as the costuming, set design, and themes, but criticism for its pacing and plot. [3] [4] In August 2022, the series was canceled after one season. [5] The show premiered on some PBS stations, syndicated by American Public Television on October 1, 2024. [6]

Contents

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

Episodes

No.TitleDirected by  [8] Written byOriginal release date  [9] U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"That White House" Susanne Bier Teleplay by : Aaron Cooley and Ellen Fairey & Jennifer Westfeldt & Hunt Baldwin and Abby Ajayi & Zora Bikangaga
Story by : Aaron Cooley		April 17, 2022 (2022-04-17)0.263 [10]
In 2008, Barack Obama won the 2008 presidential election making him as the first African American president. After the election, the Obama family moved from Chicago to Washington D.C. and they are later being welcomed to the White House by the Bush family. In 1973, Spiro Agnew resigns as vice president and Richard Nixon sworn Michigan Republican Congressman Gerald Ford as the new vice president and his wife Betty Ford also becomes the new second lady. In 1921, Franklin D. Roosevelt was paralyzed by a paralytic illness on his legs and diagnosed with polio. In 1928, FDR is well but cannot walk. In 1974, Alberta Williams King, mother of Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed. Betty and her daughter Susan attended her funeral. In 2007, in Chicago, Michelle Obama receives a phone call from her daughter Sasha about secret people outside their house as her husband is one of the Democratic nomination for the 2008 election. In 1981, young Michelle tells her family that she got into Princeton University. In 1933, FDR becomes president after winning the 1933 election and Eleanor Roosevelt is now the first lady. Also in 1974, Gerald tells his wife Betty that Nixon resigns as president due to the Watergate scandal and Ford has to serve as president.
2"Voices Carry"Susanne BierAaron Cooley & Cathy Schulman and Ellen Fairey and Abby AjayiApril 24, 2022 (2022-04-24)0.224 [11]
In 1974, Betty watches Nixon's speech of resigning as president on television. Gerald is sworn as president. In 2007, Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign has rise up with popular votes. Barack asks his wife Michelle to help him to get more votes for the Democratic nominee for the 2008 election. She made couple speeches for her husband's presidential campaign for the 2008 election. But in the media, people made racist tweets about her as she accidently said "I never loved my country" and called her as a "angry Black woman First Lady". She then tells the news media that she is proud of her husband's presidential campaign. During the Great Depression, Eleanor meets an unemployed busted man who was lining up outside a soup kitchen and begins her decorating process at the White House. FDR make a speech on his inauguration. In 2009, Michelle becomes first lady and she tries on her inauguration grown. She replaced Susan Sher as her chief of staff after Gwen. In 1974, the Fords moved to the White House and Betty starts her first day as first lady. She was planning the upcoming Ford's first State Dinner at the White House with King Hussein of Jordan and his wife Alia Toukan, but was canceled by her secretary. Nancy Howe told her to not canceled it and Ford told her secretary to not canceled the State Dinner. The Fords had their first State Dinner at the White House.
3"Please Allow Me"Susanne BierTeleplay by : Jennifer Westfeldt & Hunt Baldwin and Aaron Cooley and Yolonda E. Lawrence
Story by : Jennifer Westfeldt & Hunt Baldwin and Yolonda E. Lawrence and Zora Bikangagan		May 1, 2022 (2022-05-01)0.202 [12]
In 1947, young Betty Bloomer Warren works as a part-time dancer teacher for little girls while looking after her abusive coma husband, Bill Warren, at work she meets a young aspiring lawyer Gerald Ford. At a restaurant meeting, Gerald tells Betty to file a divorce from Bill for being abusive to her. In 1987, young Michelle Robinson visits her parents from Harvard Law School and she noticed her father's medical bills. In 1989, she works at Sidley Austin Law firm in Chicago where she meets a young biracial man Barack Obama. They later started dating. In 1900, young Eleanor Roosevelt was sent to Allenswood School for Girls in London. Betty later worked at a fashion store and ask Bill to sign their divorce file. She now moves to her own apartment and tried to ask Gerald to hung out, but was swamped with his law work. This made her disappointed on him for ignoring her. He later apologized to her and they started to date. In 1991, Michelle takes her dad Fraser Robinson III to the hospital but due to long waiting, it makes her worried and Barack cheered her up. In 1902, Eleanor meets her uncle Theodore Roosevelt at the White House for her debut where she meets her fifth cousin young Franklin Roosevelt who asked her to dance with him, but she refused. In 1991, Michelle invites Barack to her family's Thanksgiving and he asks her mom Marian Robinson to marry her daughter. A montage of Eleanor, Betty, and Michelle marrying their husbands Franklin, Gerald, and Barack.
4"Cracked Pot"Susanne BierTeleplay by : Jennifer Westfeldt & Hunt Baldwin and Ellen Fairey and Cathy Schulman & Aaron Cooley
Story by : Cathy Schulman & Aaron Cooley and Zora Bikangaga		May 8, 2022 (2022-05-08)0.185 [13]
In 1918, at the Roosevelt's house in New York City, Eleanor finds secret letters from her husband of having an affair by her secretary Lucy Mercer. This upsets Eleanor and offers a divorce, but Sara Roosevelt decides Franklin and Eleanor to stay married and he agrees to not contact with Lucy. In 2001, at the Obama's house in Chicago, they discovers their 3 month old daughter Sasha has bacterial meningitis. In January 1919 during World War I, the Roosevelts are greeted with their children and Sara from their trip from France and were fine despite WWI in France. In 1964, at the Ford's house in Alexandria, Virginia, Betty suffers pain on her left shoulder and her doctor provides her with medication but due her congressional events with alcohol, it affected her. Ford revealed that she wanted to be a dancer, attended a dance studio in New York when she was young and Martha Graham was her teacher. In 2001, Sasha was recovered and Michelle got a job from the hospital for helping the South Side. In 1929 when women can vote and run for office, Eleanor attends a women's meeting in Greenwich Village as she was a member of the League of Woman Voters and she meets Lorena Hickok at the meeting. They later formed a friendship. In 1964, Betty receives sleeping pills from her doctor, she took them and drinks alcohol. She began drinking as a teenager which affected her dancing ability. The sleeping pills and alcohol affected her relationship with her children and almost took Susan away from them. Gerald came to help her and tells him a sorry to their children. She felt ashamed from it and she remembered her disappointed of being out from Graham.
5"See Saw"Susanne BierTeleplay by : Ellen Fairey and Azia Squire and Zora Bikangaga
Story by : Azia Squire		May 15, 2022 (2022-05-15)0.226 [14]
In 1974, Gerald began saying his statement of the pardon of Richard Nixon. As Betty and Susan watches it on television, Betty dislike the angry reaction on the pardon Nixon but it was to get over Nixon and Watergate. In 1948, young Betty was shocked to find out that Gerald is running for Congress. He apologized to her for not telling her and promised no more secrets. In 2010, Barack signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 to fight childhood obesity and hunger together and is part of Michelle's initiative Let's Move!. She visits a school where she meets a girl named Sylvie, who took one extra healthy food tray in her backpack and explains it's for her mom. Obama agrees with it and gave another extra one to her. The Obamas faced criticism from Republicans for children eating healthy food and Obamacare and conservatism is rising up in the 2010 mid-term election. In 1933, Eleanor receives positive articles about her from Hick but on Louis Howe, she receives negative articles about her and cartoonists made cruel drawings of her. On the radio, Roosevelt speaks on her response on the negative articles. She later have a meeting with Steve Early for her idea of her female-only press conference and promote employment of women. In 1974, at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland, Nancy bring Betty as her moral support for her mammogram and suggest Betty for a mammogram too. As Ford does her mammogram, it was revealed that she has breast cancer, and needs to undergoing a mastectomy. In 2010, Democrats are losing the mid-term election which impacts the Obamas. In 1974, Betty successful recovered her mastectomy, greeted with her family, and hospital staff and American women show their love and support on her. In 2010, the bill has been passed, the Obama celebrate, and Susan reveals she's leave at the end of year. In 1933, Roosevelt held her all-female press conference and have a afterparty. In 1974, the Fords reads all the letters that American women wrote to Betty about her breast cancer and after reading them, Betty sees her scars. Gerald comes to comfort her and tells her that she is beautiful.
6"Shout Out"Susanne Bier Nikole Beckwith and Alyson Feltes and Abby AjayiMay 22, 2022 (2022-05-22)0.185 [15]
In 1933, at the Mayflower Hotel, Eleanor and Hick slept together and Eleanor leaves Hick for work. Before she left, they kiss goodbye. In 2012, during the 2012 election, Michelle was asked from LGBTQ+ Americans that her husband can pass the marriage law for LGBTQ+ families and she responded to them that he will protect the rights of LGBTQ+ families. At the Obama's dinner time, their daughters tell their parents of the protection on gay families and the Defense of Marriage Act stinks. Barack tells them that there would be no politics talking at dinner and understand their frustration. After dinner, Michelle tells Barack of their plan to legalize LGBTQ+ marriage and if he loses the 2012 election. In 1933, Roosevelt tries to hides Hick's robes but was found by a housekeeper. Her daughter Anna began working with her and Sara asks Eleanor of their plan with the White House. Eleanor later goes camping with Hick and began a romantic relationship together. In 1974, Betty is credited as a brave woman during her mastectomy by American women and TIME named her the Person of the Year in 1975. She and her team work on ERA and women's rights which made Gerald's chief of staff Dick Cheney and secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld disapprove. News outbreak that Patty Hearst was kidnapped and indoctrinated by the Symbionese Liberation Army and Susan was shopping for her prom dress without her agents Austin and Keiser which worried Gerald. They told her that she would be take out of school due to Hearst's kidnapping for safety. This angers Susan due to her senior prom. Betty talks to her for this decision and Susan suggests to have her senior prom in the East Room of the White House. In 2012, the Obamas watches vice president Joe Biden of his views in same-sex marriage on TV. In 1974, Rumsfeld and Cheney tells Ford that they do not like Betty's ERA and women's rights campaign. He tells them that he supports his wife and her campaign. Betty later tells him to have Susan's prom at the White House. In 1933, FDR offers his daughter Anna to work with him. He receives photographs from J. Edgar Hoover about Eleanor and Hick having a romantic relationship. Howe told Eleanor that Hick had resigned from being the White House Correspondent. Howe passed away from collapsing from his office. In 1974, the Fords agrees Susan to have her prom at the White House. Betty tells her ERA team to end their work. In 2012, North Carolina banned same-sex marriage. In 1933, the Roosevelt talked out about Hick's resigned, Eleanor suggests she can come back to write about the New Deal programs, and FDR shows her Hoover's photographs. Eleanor tells that she loves her husband and not Hick in romantic and he agrees to hire her again. In 2012, Barack was interviewed with Robin Roberts from ABC's Good Morning America of his views on same-sex marriage and he reveals that he supports them and will legalized same-sex marriage. It was legalized in 2015.
7"Nadir"Susanne BierTeleplay by : Nicole Jefferson Asher and Ellen Fairey and Zora Bikangaga
Story by : Nicole Jefferson Asher		May 29, 2022 (2022-05-29)0.202 [16]
In 1975, during Christmas Eve, Cheney and Rumsfeld calls Gerald for some campaign matters with him and Betty. On Christmas, Cheney and Rumsfeld shows the Fords that SNL made a skit of Chevy Chase as Ford which warned them that Ronald Reagan might win the Republican nominee for the 1976 election and needs Betty to courage women to vote Republican. Nancy calls the Fords that her husband committed suicide. In 2012, the Obamas take their daughters early from school after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. This heartbreak Obama as the shooting was at an elementary school and were younger than Sasha. Obama gives his emotional statement of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and after that, the Obamas hugged their daughters. In 1975, Betty and Susan attends Nancy's husband's funeral and Nancy later quits her job. In 1934, young Betty was told by her mother that her father killed himself. Now present-day 1976 Betty watches Nancy Reagan on TV and disapproves on her views. the Fords attends the Republican National Convention and Ford won. In 1939, Eleanor held her press conference of civil rights and racial segregation. She calls Hick about the discrimination in the U.S. and tells her that they are best friends. Eleanor has been called as a national hero for her support of the civil rights movement. She held a event of singer Marian Anderson to perform at the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 2012, Barack won the 2012 election and was re-elected for his second term. Obama's daughters and grandma watch Anderson's 1939 DAR perform on YouTube and Marian tells them about Eleanor Roosevelt. In 2013, his second inauguration was held and the Obamas meets the Chicago South Side girls who perform at the inauguration as they geeked out when they met Michelle. One week later, Tina Tchen tells Michelle that Hadiya Pendleton, who was one of the girls who performed at the inauguration was shot and killed. This devastates Michelle and her mom Marian. Michelle attends Pendleton's funeral and after the funeral, she talks with Chicago Mayor of gun control. Back in the White House, Michelle tells Barack about the funeral and gun control. In 1939, on the radio, Roosevelt recorded her responds on civil rights and visits Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. FDR tries everything to end segregation but he will lose Southern Democrats. In 1976, Betty speak at the Buffalo City Hall to vote for her husband, but before speaking, she took pills which affected her as she speaks and does not feel well.
8"Punch Perfect"Susanne BierNikole Beckwith and Ellen Fairey and Abby AjayiJune 5, 2022 (2022-06-05)0.287 [17]
In 2015, the Obamas held the DNC fundraiser at Washington D.C. In 1976, it was election night, the Fords and their staff watches the polls on TV. Jimmy Carter won the election. Gerald make a statement of losing the election and congrats Carter on his victory. Betty asks his photographer to last pictures of the White House and take pictures of her dancing and sitting on top of the table in the Cabinet Room. In 1940, during World War II, Jewish refugees fleeing Hitler's regime and asked FDR to help them, but he cannot due to the Europe conflict. On the radio, Eleanor records about Jewish refugees escaping. In 2015, Malia Obama tells her mom Michelle for gun control change after the murders on African Americans like Trayvon, Killing of Tamir, and others being killed by guns. In 1940, Eleanor and Hick talked about the Jewish refugees on SS Quanza. At the dinner meeting, Eleanor tells the guests about the Jewish refugees and needs to help them. Anna dislikes of her father not helping the Jewish refugees. The Roosevelts receives news that Sara is in Hyde Park, New York as she is dying needs to say their last goodbyes until she took her last breath. Sara says her final messages to Eleanor and Anna, she took her last breath and dies. Michelle receives a message from Tuskegee to give a commencement speech to the Class of 2015. In 1982, young Michelle talks to her high school guidance counselor of her test scores, extracurricular activities and community services to get into Princeton, but her counselor provided flyers for other schools to not get disappointed. This also disappointed Michelle as she just only wants to Princeton, but her mom tells do not listen to the counselor and do what she do. Now present-day 2015 Michelle gives a powerful speech about being black in America and pursue to their dreams to the Tuskegee Class of 2015 and her speech was live on TV. In 1978, the Fords moved to Palm Springs, California after leaving office to retire. Betty attends her neighbors party and got hangover and fall on the floor of her bedroom.
9"Rift"Susanne BierTeleplay by : Jennifer Westfeldt and Aaron Cooley & Cathy Schulman and Abby Ajayi
Story by : Jennifer Westfeldt and Cathy Schulman & Aaron Cooley		June 12, 2022 (2022-06-12)0.292 [18]
Susan finds Betty who falling on the floor and Susan discovers her mom has a lot of pills in her room. She tells her dad Gerald that Betty is drinking a lot of alcohol and taking pills all the time but says it's not true. In 1941, Japanese bombed and attacked Pearl Harbor and on the radio, Eleanor recorded about her responded on Pearl Harbor and her plan to help them. FDR tells her on his plan of U.S. in WWII. In 2016, Hillary Clinton runs for president against Donald Trump in the 2016 election. Obamas daughters get excited if Hillary becomes the first U.S. female president and Michelle was asked to speak on Hillary's campaign to vote for her not Trump. In 1978, Susan calls Dr. Crue to help Betty with her addiction with alcohol and drugs. She disapproves and asks him and her daughter Susan to get out. Gerald asks what's happen and notices of her substance abuse. He now understands that his daughter Susan was right all long about Betty's addiction. In 1941, Hick hears Eleanor and other women of helping Pearl Harbor and having a blast with the women and thinks she better without her which upsets her. She was leaving but Eleanor noticed her and she told her that she heard what she said to the women and left her. In 2016, women protests outside the Hillary Clinton's campaign in Manchester, New Hampshire to support her but some Trump supporters called out lies about her. Hillary apologizes to Michelle and regrets what she said about Barack back in 2008. She asks Michelle for help and they formed a friendship. Michelle speaks a inspiring speech of being a woman in America and to vote for Hillary. In 1978, the Fords have a meeting with their children and their old nanny Clara about her substance use disorder and wants her to go to a rehabilitation center for drug and alcohol addiction to recover. She refuses to go in the first place as she is a former first lady of the United States but she then decides to go. She begins to recovery. In 2016, at the election night, the Obamas watches the election polls on TV. Donald Trump won the election which devastates their daughters on Trump's plan to repeal healthcare.
10"Victory Dance"Susanne BierTeleplay by : Nikole Beckwith and Ellen Fairey and Abby Ajayi
Story by : Aaron Cooley		June 19, 2022 (2022-06-19)0.220 [19]
In 2017, on Obama's final week as president, the Obama starts to pack up their stuff from the White House. In 1945, after FDR won his fourth election, FDR speak his statement after the election and Eleanor notices he is weak to be president and Anna revealed that his heart is failing from a naval cardiologist. This worried Eleanor of her husband's health and asks Anna to help them. In 1978, in Betty's rehabilitation center in Long Beach, California, she gets pain attacks from her addition memories and thinks that she will never get out of here. With the support from her roommates and others, she recovered. In 1945, as WWII nearly comes to end, FDR returns to the U.S. and settles in Warm Springs, Georgia. He passed away and Eleanor and Anna say their goodbyes and how they are going to miss him. In 2017, Sasha is tried of her older sister Malia watching Trump on the news. White House worker Allen showed the Obamas that Malia made a Facebook account and commented real truths about Trump in the last 24 hours. Barack asked it to be shut down. Michelle tells Malia to punch a pillow to control her anger of Trump's victory and they both agree that Trump is a misogynist, racist pig as president. Malia apologizes to her mom for creating a Facebook account. Michelle later reads Betty Ford's letter of being the first lady of the United States and wishes her good luck. In 1978, Betty is finally reunited with her family after 6 months of being in the rehabilitation center and is now sober. In 1981, Betty plans to build The Betty Ford Center to help Americans from substance use. In 2017, on the last day of Barack being president, the Obama family say their goodbyes and services to the White House staff for the last 8 years of living in the White House and service in the United States. In 2019, Michelle reviewed her memoir Becoming at a event in Chicago. As she was autographing the books from her fans, she re-meet her old Princeton almost roommate Cindy Boudreux from New Orleans and she remembered her. they were supposed to be roommates but Boudrux's mother was surprised that her daughter's roommate is black so she asks the college counselor to change her to a different room. Michelle forgives Cindy for not being roommates and nice to see each other again. Michelle then a 13-year-old girl Zoe who is a fan of her and asks for a autograph. In 1945, after FDR funeral, Eleanor moved to Val-Kill Cottage, New York and her secretary Malvina Thompson asks to stay with her. In 1981, the Betty Ford Center starts to be contracted. Anna asks her mom to come with her as she is lonely, but tells her to be independent and is proud of her. They agreed to always spent together. Harry S. Truman is sworn as president and the United Nations is formed. Truman asks Eleanor to be the American delegate to the United Nations General Assembly. She agrees. In 1948, she speaks at the United Nation in Paris. In 1991, Betty was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George H. W. Bush. In 2019, Michelle was a guest speaker at a public high school and answered students' questions. A montage of Eleanor, Betty, and Michelle speeches in their post–White House life and reflecting their legacy.

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. [20] 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. [1] [21] That same month, Pamela Adlon and Rhys Wakefield joined the cast. [22]

On February 16, 2021, Aaron Eckhart joined the cast as President Gerald Ford. [23] That same month, Judy Greer replaced Adlon due to scheduling conflicts. [24] On February 22, 2021, it was announced that Gillian Anderson would portray Eleanor Roosevelt. [25] Three days later, on February 25, 2021, it was announced that O. T. Fagbenle would portray President Barack Obama. [26] Dakota Fanning was announced to have joined the cast as Susan Ford on March 2, 2021. [27] On March 9, 2021, Lexi Underwood joined the cast as Malia Obama in a recurring role. [28]

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. [29] [30]

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. [31] 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. [32] [33] [34]

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. [35] [36] [37] [38] In August 2021, Jackie Earle Haley, Maria Dizzia, and Jeremy Bobb were cast in recurring capacities. [39] The series premiered on April 17, 2022, on Showtime and Paramount+ Internationally in 2022. [2] [40] On August 1, 2022, Showtime canceled the series after one season. [5]

Filming

On February 25, 2021, it was announced that filming had begun in Covington, Georgia. [41]

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." [42] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 50 out of 100 based on 22 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [43]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
2022 Black Reel Television Awards Outstanding Actress, TV Movie or Limited Series Viola Davis Nominated [44]
Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Limited or Anthology Series Michelle Pfeiffer Nominated [45]
Best Writing in a Broadcast Network or Cable Limited or Anthology SeriesAaron Cooley, Cathy Schulman, Ellen Fairey, and Abby Ajayi (for "Voices Carry")Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Period Costumes Signe Sejlund, Felicia Jarvis, Matthew Hemesath, Paula Truman, Stephen Oh, and Jessica Trejos (for "Cracked Pot")Nominated [46]
Outstanding Period and/or Character Hairstyling Colleen LaBaff, Louisa Anthony, Lawrence Davis, Julie Kendrick, Robert Wilson, Jamika Wilson, Evelyn Roach, and Jaime Leigh McIntosh (for "See Saw")Nominated
Outstanding Period and/or Character Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) Carol Rasheed, Sergio López-Rivera, Valli O'Reilly, Chauntelle Langston, and Milene Melendez (for "Cracked Pot")Nominated
2023 Critics' Choice Awards Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Michelle PfeifferNominated [47]
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Viola DavisNominated [48]

Ratings

Viewership and ratings per episode of The First Lady
No.TitleAir date Rating
(18–49)		Viewers
(millions)
1"That White House"April 17, 20220.010.263 [10]
2"Voices Carry"April 24, 20220.020.224 [11]
3"Please Allow Me"May 1, 20220.030.202 [12]
4"Cracked Pot"May 8, 20220.020.185 [13]
5"See Saw"May 15, 20220.040.226 [14]
6"Shout Out"May 22, 20220.020.185 [15]
7"Nadir"May 29, 20220.010.202 [16]
8"Punch Perfect"June 5, 20220.040.287 [17]
9"Rift"June 12, 20220.030.292 [18]
10"Victory Dance"June 19, 20220.010.220 [19]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Andreeva, Nellie (January 21, 2021). "Michelle Pfeiffer To Star As Betty Ford In 'The First Lady', Susanne Bier To Direct Showtime Anthology Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Romano, Nick (February 17, 2022). "'The First Lady' trailer transforms Viola Davis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Gillian Anderson". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Review: Showtime's 'The First Lady' wants to be as cool as Michelle Obama, but it's just confused". USA Today . Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Viola Davis responds to critics of her Michelle Obama portrayal". BBC News. April 25, 2022. Archived from the original on September 13, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  5. 1 2 Andreeva, Nellie (August 1, 2022). "'The First Lady' Canceled: There Will Be No Second Installment Of Showtime Anthology Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 2, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  6. ↑ "THE FIRST LADY". American Public Television. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  7. ↑ "First Ladies: New Original Series - Official Site". Showtime. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  8. ↑ Rice, Lynette (November 8, 2021). "Get a first look at Viola Davis as Michelle Obama in Showtime's The First Lady". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 9, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Shows A-Z - first lady, the on showtime". The Futon Critic . Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  10. 1 2 Metcalf, Mitch (April 19, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 4.17.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily . Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
  11. 1 2 Metcalf, Mitch (April 26, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 4.24.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  12. 1 2 Metcalf, Mitch (May 3, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.1.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  13. 1 2 Metcalf, Mitch (May 10, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.8.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on July 15, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  14. 1 2 Salem, Mitch (May 17, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.15.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  15. 1 2 Metcalf, Mitch (May 24, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.22.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily . Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  16. 1 2 Salem, Mitch (June 1, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.29.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  17. 1 2 Salem, Mitch (June 7, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 6.5.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  18. 1 2 Metcalf, Mitch (June 14, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 6.12.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on June 14, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  19. 1 2 Salem, Mitch (June 21, 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 6.19.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  20. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (February 5, 2020). "'First Ladies' Drama Starring Viola Davis As Michelle Obama Gets Series Order At Showtime". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  21. ↑ Otterson, Joe (January 26, 2021). "'The First Lady' at Showtime Adds Kristine Froseth, Jayme Lawson (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  22. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (January 27, 2021). "'The First Lady': Pamela Adlon & Rhys Wakefield Join Showtime Anthology Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
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