Michelle Obama and Nick Offerman help America get healthy
An unlikely pairing of Michelle Obama and Nick Offerman finds the comic actor and the First Lady getting on the same page to push forward Obama’s “Let’s Move!” initiative through a hilarious “History of Exercise” video on Funny or Die.
Nick Offerman and Michelle Obama
The video, in honor of the 60th anniversary of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition, was put together by SS+K and features Offerman, sans mustache, re-creating the exercise trends of the ’50s through the present day to show that anyone can go from #0to60 to accelerate their healthy living goals.
The video starts with Offerman in a gray sweat suit being shaken and twisted back and forth in black and white on a menacing-looking device. As it morphs into the ’60s, Offerman changes into a gold turtleneck tee with knee-high dress socks and loafers, then is outfitted with electrodes from a contraption operated by a nurse (Offerman’s wife, Megan Mullally). As she dances off, we’re thrust into the ’70s with Offerman on a spring-powered rowing machine to the Bee Gees.
In the ’80s, he is in a cringe-worthy Jane Fonda-meets-Olivia Newton John spandex getup, flexing a Thighmaster, getting frustrated until his savior comes along – Michelle Obama, encouraging him to finish. She throws him a water bottle and he is energized to finish out the 2000s in baggy workout gear and makes it all the way to 2016 with calisthenics and a medicine ball. The tag says: “It doesn’t matter the activity. YOU can go from #0to60 everyday!” It also references the website, 0to60fitness.org, which was also launched by the Foundation to celebrate the President’s Council’s 60th Anniversary.
The video underscores the fact that while fitness routines may have changed over the years – with some thankfully not standing the test of time – the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle has remained the same.
“The habits that we've been emphasizing the past six years through the Let’s Move! Initiative – habits like eating healthy and staying active – are what the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, & Nutrition is all about,” said First Lady Michelle Obama in a press release. “And when it comes to exercising, the trick is to find an activity that you enjoy. If you can have a little fun with it, like Nick and I did in making this video, then you’ll incorporate physical activity into your life on a regular basis.”
The video, app and website release kicks off the fall activities of the #0to60 campaign, a national public health initiative to inspire every American to participate in regular physical activity and good nutrition.