
The episode featuring President Barack Obama was timed with a campaign to encourage Americans to sign up for health insurance at Healthcare.gov. Funnyordie.com was at one point the top referrer to the government site. The episode won Outstanding Short-format Live-Action Entertainment Program at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards.
On the episode, Obama cracked several jokes, including telling Galifianakis that running for president a third time would be like making a third "Hangover" movie -- which Galifianakis did in 2013. Obama quipped: "Didn't really work out very well, did it?"
Of his health care program, dubbed "Obamacare", the president said "I think it's fair to say that I wouldn't be with you here today if I didn't have something to plug." But Galifianakis asked Obama about other topics, including building his presidential library "in your home country of Kenya" and what it would be like when no one would let him win at basketball anymore.
Appearing on the episode was yet another innovative move in the President's unique communications strategy. He has appeared on several talk shows and hosted Google Hangouts that appeared across entertainment networks. "Between Two Ferns" was a gutsy move because Galifanakis, the show's host, has gained a reputation for off-color humor on the show, even spanking singer Justin Bieber in one episode. Dan Pfeiffer, Obama's senior adviser, said “We have to find ways to break through. This is essentially an extension of the code we have been trying to crack for seven years now.”
As might be expected, Obama's move drew criticism from Republicans and from Fox News. Texas Republican Congressman Randy tweeted "The President shouldn't be wasting time on a parody interview. He should be focusing on the current state of affairs across the globe." One Fox News commentator called it offensive to the dignity of the office. But as journalist Jason Linkins points out, this kind of parody by a president is not unusual. He points out:
Richard Nixon, famously, did "Laugh-In." Bill Clinton sat in with Arsenio Hall's band. Jay Leno and "Saturday Night Live" have been the stomping grounds of all manner of political figures. Sarah Palin's bits on "SNL," in fact, were great! President George H.W. Bush famously had his "SNL" double, Dana Carvey, over to the White House -- a fine example of the sort of thick skin and good humor that today's Republican scolds sorely lack. (The elder Bush was a real live war hero, if you recall, so perhaps he was simply made of sterner stuff.)"
If you haven't seen the episode yet, or want to see it again, here it is: