Obama explores Irish heritage in new Netflix caper "Bodkin"

RiriStan · 2024-05-12T06:09:55-0400

Bodkin: The first thing Barack Obama said when I met him was “You know I’m Irish right?"

Spirits were high at the Obama-backed, Union Hall-filmed Netflix premiere of Bodkin.

Irish actors Siobhán Cullen and Chris Walley, graced the red carpet, alongside former SNL comedian Will Forte at Dublin Lighthouse Cinema last night, for the launch of Netflix's latest series Bodkin.

Bodkin, made in conjunction with Netflix, is the first non-documentary made by the production company Higher Ground Productions, run by former US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Bodkin was shot in Ireland, which mattered to hte former President..
Showrunner Alex Metcalf explained: "The first thing he [Barack Obama] said when I met him was 'You know I’m Irish right?' So he had that investment in the show as well.

"They were absolutely supportive of the show," Alex added. "They kind of helped shepherd in Netflix".

Featuring the aforementioned stars – The Dry's Siobhán Cullen, The Young Offenders' Chris Walley and American Comedian Will Forte – Bodkin hopes to be Netflix's next binge-worthy 'dramady', promising plenty of twists and turns.

Lead actor Siobhán Cullen was emphatic on that point

"Bodkin is full of surprises," she said. "Every page is a surprise. It’s kind of what struck me the most when I first read it.

"I thought I had a handle on this story and then it turned into something totally different. It kind of always keeps the audience guessing - it pulls the rug out from under you."

Showrunner and Bodkin writer Jez Scharf echoed that sentiment.

"Leave your expectations at the door," he instructed. "Where Episode 1 begins is not where it ends up! Part of the point of the show is every time you think the show is going to go in a direction, we zigzag in a different direction."

There are many praiseworthy elements to the production, between acting, writing and the backing of the former US Presidents. But its location in West Cork has also been universally lauded.

"I had done 2 jobs here [Ireland] previously," former SNL Comedian Chris Forte said, "but none of them had brought me down to Cork. This is my first Cork experience. We fell in love with it".

<I>Bodkin</I>: The first thing Barack Obama said when I met him was “You know I’m Irish right?" | Hotpress

Spirits were high at the Obama-backed, Union Hall-filmed Netflix premiere of Bodkin.

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moonstreet · 2024-05-12T06:15:49-0400

I need to find out more about this, but part of me thinks , here we go again, another plastic paddy thing for the Americans to "connect" with their Oirish roots.

BigMikeHere · 2024-05-12T06:31:32-0400

O really gets choked up about his people.

RiriStan · 2024-05-12T06:47:05-0400

moonstreet said:
I need to find out more about this, but part of me thinks , here we go again, another plastic paddy thing for the Americans to "connect" with their Oirish roots.

It's doing well on Netflix but critic reviews are not good so far. Apparently there are too many Irish cliches.

moonstreet · 2024-05-12T07:02:59-0400

RiriStan said:
It's doing well on Netflix but critic reviews are not good so far. Apparently there are too many Irish cliches.

So I was right, another plastic paddy rainbows and pot of gold and top o the morning, wheres me shilagh, and aran jumper promo for Irish Tourism, perfectly timed just before the full planes arrive in Ireland for the summer season.

Bubblyflute · 2024-05-12T07:03:00-0400

moonstreet said:
I need to find out more about this, but part of me thinks , here we go again, another plastic paddy thing for the Americans to "connect" with their Oirish roots.

I don't know what it will take for white Americans and apparently half white Americans to stop doing this. So cringey.

Livingit88 · 2024-05-12T07:05:04-0400

I didn't know Obama had some Irish in him. Must be why he and Biden really got along.

moonstreet · 2024-05-12T07:16:55-0400

Livingit88 said:
I didn't know Obama had some Irish in him. Must be why he and Biden really got along.

Oh its a big thing here in Ireland. Someone in Ireland was doing genealogy research on family members who went to America and found a link with Obamas family. Its all been properly verified. When he was President they did a State visit to Ireland and went to the area his Irish ancestor lived in during the 1800's and met his closest living Irish relatives. Theres even a highway service station named Barak Obama Plaza. Its insane.

Lawlita · 2024-05-12T07:19:20-0400

This show is good. Obama is Obama. Like both.

Livingit88 · 2024-05-12T07:19:59-0400

moonstreet said:
Oh its a big thing here in Ireland. Someone in Ireland was doing genealogy research on family members who went to America and found a link with Obamas family. Its all been properly verified. When he was President they did a State visit to Ireland and went to the area his Irish ancestor lived in during the 1800's and met his closest living Irish relatives. Theres even a highway service station named Barak Obama Plaza. Its insane.

I do remember him vaguely cheeseing with a pint of Guinness when he went to Ireland as president but I thought that was a formality thing tourists did.

moonstreet · 2024-05-12T07:54:40-0400

Livingit88 said:
I do remember him vaguely cheeseing with a pint of Guinness when he went to Ireland as president but I thought that was a formality thing tourists did.

Oh it is, but it was even more of a big deal with Obama, as it was in this small pub in a rural backwater village in the middle of nowhere.

Most of those staged photos with a pint of Guinness are in the Guinness Storehouse, a purpose built tourist attraction about Guinness in Dublin thats heavily promoted by Irish Tourism. Theres huge amounts of money spent on its promo and marketing so its on all of those top 10 places to visit lists.

Ayanami Rei · 2024-05-12T07:55:28-0400

moonstreet said:
Oh its a big thing here in Ireland. Someone in Ireland was doing genealogy research on family members who went to America and found a link with Obamas family. Its all been properly verified. When he was President they did a State visit to Ireland and went to the area his Irish ancestor lived in during the 1800's and met his closest living Irish relatives. Theres even a highway service station named Barak Obama Plaza. Its insane.

I saw this in an episode of a Conan O’Brien Must Go. They even have a statue there. I was shocked but impressed because it is actually nice unlike many statues I’ve seen recently.

HongKongho · 2024-05-12T07:56:56-0400

Livingit88 said:
I didn't know Obama had some Irish in him. Must be why he and Biden really got along.

Stanley Ann was a straight Irish lassie

Salone_Chic · 2024-05-12T07:58:49-0400

Lawlita said:
This show is good. Obama is Obama. Like both.

Hmm, might need to check it out. Disappointing that it’s filled with Cliches.

Ireland is my favorite European country.

moonstreet · 2024-05-12T07:59:32-0400

Bubblyflute said:
I don't know what it will take for white Americans and apparently half white Americans to stop doing this. So cringey.

It wont even happen, theres too much money involved. The Americans spend huge amounts of money here and the whole Darby O'Gill / Quiet Man image of Ye Olde Ireland gets huge funding from The Irish Government through Failte Ireland, The National Tourism Development Authority of the Republic of Ireland.

Livingit88 · 2024-05-12T08:00:33-0400

moonstreet said:
Oh it is, but it was even more of a big deal with Obama, as it was in this small pub in a rural backwater village in the middle of nowhere.

Most of those staged photos with a pint of Guinness are in the Guinness Storehouse, a purpose built tourist attraction about Guinness in Dublin thats heavily promoted by Irish Tourism. Theres huge amounts of money spent on its promo and marketing so its on all of those top 10 places to visit lists.

Intresting. Im not much of a drinker but trying Guinness in Ireland is on my bucket list.

moonstreet · 2024-05-12T08:04:52-0400

Livingit88 said:
Intresting. Im not much of a drinker but trying Guinness in Ireland is on my bucket list.

Oh defiantly have a Guinness here but theres no need to go to Guinness Storehouse. It tastes different here due to the way its made and that its direct from the factory. Theres also a huge mark up price in the tourist pubs, as again the dumb Americans come here and just spend lots of money, so the pubs put the prices up.

Livingit88 · 2024-05-12T08:10:03-0400

HongKongho said:
Stanley Ann was a straight Irish lassie

I Googled her and omg she has the same chin as his eldest daughter! She was born in Kansas and died before she could see him became president which is sad.

Livingit88 · 2024-05-12T08:11:43-0400

moonstreet said:
Oh defiantly have a Guinness here but theres no need to go to Guinness Storehouse. It tastes different here due to the way its made and that its direct from the factory. Theres also a huge mark up price in the tourist pubs, as again the dumb Americans come here and just spend lots of money, so the pubs put the prices up.

Thanks for the advice. I live in England, just never been to Ireland before.

Obama explores Irish heritage in new Netflix caper "Bodkin"

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