--- title: Michelle Obama Rejected The Simpsons With Amazing Note description: Michelle Obama may be willing to appear on "Carpool Karaoke" and Parks and Rec, but apparently she draws the line at animated TV shows. canonical: https://time.com/4488094/michelle-obama-rejected-the-simpsons/ author: Megan McCluskey article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-09-12T20:29:05.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:47:39.994Z og:title: Michelle Obama Rejected a Role on The Simpsons Flawlessly og:description: With a two-word note og:url: https://time.com/4488094/michelle-obama-rejected-the-simpsons/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc3c852efe15b2d8d/6988a598524fc0656adf971d/michelle-obama-simpsons.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 594 og:image:height: 334 og:image:alt: First Lady Michelle Obama Hosts National Student Poets Program With Hip Hop Artist Q-Tip og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Michelle Obama Rejected a Role on The Simpsons Flawlessly twitter:description: With a two-word note twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc3c852efe15b2d8d/6988a598524fc0656adf971d/michelle-obama-simpsons.jpg?branch=production&width=594&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Michelle Obama Turned Down a Role on _The Simpsons_ With a Truly Hilarious Note > Sponsored content. 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Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=0d75ff7e-00ac-4437-9449-c2d656cd8a7c&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Watch Michelle Obama’s Emotional Speech at the Democratic Convention [Watch (HLS stream): Watch Michelle Obama’s Emotional Speech at the Democratic Convention](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/FK5NXdd9.m3u8) (2:06)  _Published 2016-07-26. First Lady Michelle Obama gave an emotional speech at the Democratic national convention Monday night, arguing for the importance of black and female role models in the White House._  by [Megan McCluskey](https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/)  ## Megan McCluskey Staff Writer Sep 12, 2016 8:29 PM UTC  In the State Dining Room at the White House, September 8, 2016 in Washington, DC, First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed the fifth annual class of the National Student Poets Program. In the State Dining Room at the White House, September 8, 2016 in Washington, DC, First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed the fifth annual class of the National Student Poets Program. Cheriss May/NurPhoto via Getty Images  by [Megan McCluskey](https://time.com/author/megan-mccluskey/)  ## Megan McCluskey Staff Writer Sep 12, 2016 8:29 PM UTC [Michelle Obama](http://time.com/4421538/democratic-convention-michelle-obama-transcript/) may be willing to appear on “[Carpool Karaoke](http://time.com/4415791/michelle-obama-carpool-karaoke-james-corden-late-late-show/)” and [_Parks and Recreation_](http://newsfeed.time.com/2014/02/27/michelle-obama-is-going-to-be-on-parks-and-recreation/), but apparently she draws the line at animated television shows. During a recent interview with [_Variety_](http://newsfeed.time.com/2014/02/27/michelle-obama-is-going-to-be-on-parks-and-recreation/), _The Simpsons_ co-creator James L. Brooks revealed that the long-running comedy series once tried to get the First Lady to play herself in an episode — to disappointing results. After finding out that FLOTUS said _The Mary Tyler Moore Show_ — another of Brooks’ co-creations — is one of her favorite programs, the Emmy winner explained how she turned down a chance to make her Springfield debut. “We tried to get her on _The Simpsons_ and we couldn’t,” he said. “We finally got a note that said ‘good try,’ because we were so aggressive.” _The Simpsons_ version of Mrs. Obama (voiced by Angela Bassett) did show up in the fifteenth episode of the twenty-first season — an installment in which she teaches Lisa that there’s nothing wrong with being an overachiever. Read more at [Variety.com](http://variety.com/2016/film/markets-festivals/james-l-brooks-edge-of-seventeen-michelle-obama-1201857649/). ## Transcript In every election is about who will have the power to shape our children for the four or eight years of their lives. In this election there is only one person who I trust with that responsibility, only one person who I believe is truly qualified to be President of the United States And that is our friend Hillary Clinton. There were plenty of moments when Hillary could have decided that this work was too hard. But here's the thing. What I admire most about Hillary is that she never buckles under pressure. And when I think about the kind of president that I want for my girls And all our children, that's what I want someone who understand that the issues president faces are not black and white. It cannot be boiled down the 140 characters. Leaders like Hillary Clinton who has the guts and the grace To keep coming back and putting those cracks in the highest and hardest glass sealing and so she finally breaks through. Lifting all of us along with her. That is the story of this country. The story that has brought me to this stage tonight The story of generations of people who felt the lash of bondage, the shame of servitude, the sting of segregation, but who kept on striving and hoping and doing what needed to be done so that today I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves. [ APPLAUSE ] And because of Hillary Clinton, my daughters and all our sons and daughters now take for granted that a woman can be President of the United States. Don't let anyone ever tell you that this country isn't great, that somehow we need to make it great again Because this right now, is the greatest country on Earth. Thank you all and God bless. 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