The Surprising Connection Between Drunk History And Waffles + Mochi

At the intersection of history buffs, talking puppets, and drunken debauchery, one might not expect to find former First Lady Michelle Obama. But this is 2021, and anything can happen. In fact, Waffles + Mochi, the new children's series from Netflix, is a gazpacho of trending topics. It's a place where celebrity chefs, celebrity politicians, and good old-fashioned regular celebrities can get together to teach the preschool set about eating well (via Bon Appétit). But if you thought there was no possible way that this fun, funny, and star-studded show about nutritional values could be related to Drunk History, the fun, funny, star-studded show about historical events ... well, you'd be wrong. 

According to Newsweek, Waffles + Mochi showrunners Erika Thormahlen and Jeremy Konner first had the idea to make a Food Network-meets-Sesame Street type of show about 15 years ago. They pickled and shelved the concept, but neither writer could forget it completely. When they ran into each other at an L.A. eatery over a decade later, Konner now with a toddler in tow, it was time to take the idea back off the shelf. "I jokingly said, 'Oh gosh, I wish that show existed now," Konner explained to Newsweek. "It would really help my kid be less of a picky eater." Just like that, Waffles + Mochi was back in business.

So what does all this have to do with the inebriated retelling of historical events? Well, before Waffles + Mochi, Jeremy Konner's biggest resume line was a little Emmy award-winning comedy series called Drunk History, which just ended its six-season run last summer (via Deadline). The show, which began as a YouTube series on creator Derek Waters' channel, had moved to Funny or Die before finally settling down at Comedy Central. Filming of its seventh season had to be halted last March due to COVID-19; and, alas, the show was not to be revived.

Konner's skillset from his Drunk History days should translate nicely to the set of Waffles + Mochi, however. After all, is getting someone to drunkenly narrate historical events to make them more interesting and memorable all that different from what he and Thormahlen are doing with their new children's show? "One of the core tenants of our show is that we never talk about health," Konner told Newsweek. "I think we should just get kids excited about food and the health aspect of it will follow."