Michelle Obama Takes L.A.: Jimmy Kimmel Live and Lunch at Will Smith's House

A night after her husband sat down with The Tonight Show, the first lady makes the rounds

By Natalie Finn Oct 26, 2012 5:46 AMTags

Michelle Obama wasn't about to let Jimmy Kimmel—or Guillermo—be late to the polls!

In a skit she shot for her appearance tonight on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the first lady is seen waking the guys up with a bullhorn to ensure they don't oversleep on voting day.

Her swing through Los Angeles came a day after her husband touched down during what he deemed his "48-hour campaign marathon extravaganza" ahead of the Nov. 6 presidential election.

Asked first about the first kids' Halloween plans, Obama (yes, she is allowing sweets to be passed out at the White House this year) told Kimmel that 14-year-old Malia thinks she's a little old for dressing up--"She'll wear a horn, or a nose or a tail"—but that 11-year-old Sasha will be trick-or-treating in "full gear."

Speaking of disguises, the first lady said that she sometimes tries to move about in public dressed down so as not to be recognized, but that it usually doesn't work too well. 

If she had an hour to herself as a civilian, she would...wait for it...

"I would walk out of the door of the White House like a regular person...go to CVS, go in there, go shop. I'd buy my toiletries. I'd pay money, I'd get a receipt. And then I'd go sit on a park bench and just watch people."

Kimmel suggested an Elmo costume, but Michelle will probably stick to her warmup suits and caps.

Earlier in the day, Obama attended a fundraiser at the Calabasas home of Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett Smith. Close to 300 people paid a minimum of $2,500 per ticket, benefiting the Obama Victory Fund, for the privilege of lunching in the vicinity of the first lady.

Couples who shelled out $10,000 got to pose for a photo with Michelle, while the $40,000 package secured a prelunch meet-and-greet.

"We made history y'all! The fundraiser that Jada and I are hosting for our First Lady is SOLD OUT—and we helped Mrs. Obama beat the fundraising record for a seated First Lady!" Will Smith wrote on Facebook earlier this week.

The event's cohosts included Salma Hayek; Roc Nation cofounder Jay Brown and wife Kawanna; film producer James Lassiter and wife Mai; and Lady Gaga's manager Troy Carter and his wife, Rebecca.

"You all have done so much work," Michelle Obama told the crowd today. "And I am honored and, yes, I'm going to go home and brag to Barack."

"I want to thank you all. I am beyond thrilled to be here today...It has been a privilege to get to know Will and Jada and their beautiful family. They have stepped up for us in so many ways, and it has truly just been a gift and a blessing to have you guys as friends and as part of our lives."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Obama campaign raked in $13 million from four major fundraisers in L.A. this month, including the Smith luncheon.

George Clooney still has bragging rights, though: The star-studded fundraiser he threw in May took in $15 million all by itself.

(Originally published Oct. 25, 2012, at 10:02 p.m. PT)