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Obama 'Between Two Ferns' show up for an Emmy. Deserved?

The Obama episode of 'Between Two Ferns' is not the show's best work, some fans say. But it has been viewed online 22 million times and now is an Emmy nominee. If it wins, it wouldn't be a White House first.

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Funny Or Die/AP
This image from video released by Funny Or Die shows President Obama with actor-comedian Zach Galifianakis during an appearance on 'Between Two Ferns,' the digital short with a laser focus on reaching people aged 18 to 34.

It鈥檚 true 鈥 President Obama鈥檚 appearance on 鈥Between Two Ferns鈥 has been nominated for an Emmy in the category of short-format live-action entertainment programs.

Remember that show? It first aired in early March. Mr. Obama sat for a faux interview on the satirical talk show, which stars actor Zach Galifianakis and is posted on the 鈥淔unny or Die鈥 website. The president promoted the virtues of the Affordable Care Act for eligible enrollees. Galifianakis played his typical 鈥淭wo Ferns鈥 role, that of an uninvolved, apparently unmotivated, outrageous interviewer.

鈥淪orry I had to cancel a few times last week,鈥 Galifianakis said at one point. 鈥淢y mouse pad broke. I had to get my great aunt some diabetes shoes.鈥

鈥淣o problem,鈥 replied Obama. 鈥淲hen I heard that people actually watch this show, I was pretty surprised.鈥

Sitting on a cheesy set between, yes, two potted ferns, the pair bantered for a few minutes. Then Galifianakis sighed, and asked Obama what his plug was, as if the president was pitching a new cable access show.

America鈥檚 chief executive then switched to the points on Obamacare the White House has tried to emphasize for young people: that it costs less than their cellphone (for most), and that when it comes to health issues, they are not invincible.

鈥淒id you say 鈥榠nvisible?鈥 鈥 asked Galifianakis.

Then the set collapses, which shows they are filming in the White House Diplomatic Room. The host informs the president that鈥檚 where they鈥檝e always taped.

鈥淲ho gave you permission to do that?鈥 asked Obama.

鈥淏ush,鈥 says the 鈥淗angover鈥 movie star.

Is this Emmy-worthy? Well, it has seemed funny, or at least watchable, to lots of folks. It鈥檚 had some 22 million views since March, making it the most-watched 鈥淭wo Ferns鈥 yet. The White House claims it boosted traffic to the then-troubled HealthCare.gov website by 40 percent on the day it debuted.

But not everybody sees it as the show鈥檚 best work.

鈥淎n Emmy nod? The Obama 鈥楤etween Two Ferns鈥 wasn鈥檛 even one of the best BTFs. It鈥檚 like Nobel all over again,鈥 Washington Post "The Fix" blogger.

He鈥檚 referring to the controversy over whether Obama had done enough to deserve the Nobel Peace Prize he won in 2009, in case that鈥檚 escaped your memory.

Meanwhile, some conservatives were furious, seeing this as just another episode in what they see as the longest-running aspect of US filmed entertainment: its liberal tilt.

The right-leaning "Ace of Spades HQ" blog opined (satirically) that it might be time to rewrite the laws so Obama could bestow the Presidential Medal of Freedom on himself.

鈥淭hat would be the Ultimate Obama Moment,鈥

Look, the Obama BTF has not actually won, remember. It鈥檚 just a nominee. It鈥檚 up against some stiff competition 鈥 programs such as 鈥淧arks and Recreation鈥 鈥 and some, uh, less-distinguished nominees, such as the Super Bowl halftime show.

And it鈥檚 not as if White House residents have not won Emmys before. In 1962, first lady Jackie Kennedy won a special Emmy award for her filmed tour of the newly renovated White House, which was hosted by CBS newsman Charles Collingswood but eventually broadcast on all the big US networks, to staggering ratings.

Mrs. Kennedy later said the show was a turning point for her, because everything about her personality that had previously been a negative 鈥 her penchant for speaking French, her reticence, her soft voice 鈥 suddenly became on asset on TV. The JFK Library has in its holdings today.

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