Michelle Obama Joining Forces with iCARLY

Following yesterday’s iCARLY casting news, The Associated Press reports that Michelle Obama will be appearing in an episode of the Nickelodeon sitcom. She will be promoting Joining Forces, an initiative aimed at increasing awareness of the plight of military families, and providing opportunities and support for the families. The program focuses on helping families cope with issues related to housing, employment, education and health.

Dan Schneider (iCarly creator and executive producer) wrote the episode specifically for Obama and Joining Forces. He takes advantage of the fact that the main character of iCarly, Carly Shay (Miranda Cosgrove), is the daughter of a colonel serving overseas in the military. As The Associated Press describes it, when Carly wants to talk to her dad on his birthday, she and her friends break the rules to set up a web chat. After being discovered by the first lady, she “comes to have a chat with them in the most positive way possible.”

The episode featuring Obama is tentatively scheduled to air in January.

What a great cause! Do you think this is a good way to highlight important issues? Is iCarly’s target audience too young?