Larry David Shares Title, Trailer, Premiere Date, and Cast Details for His HBO Comedy Produced by President Obama at SXSW
Larry David has unveiled details about his upcoming HBO sketch comedy series in collaboration with former President Barack Obama.
The creator and star of Curb Your Enthusiasm announced the name of the show, along with its premiere date and a trailer.
Life, Larry & The Pursuit of Unhappiness is set to debut on Friday, June 26, at 9 PM.
The seven-episode limited series, which features comedic sketches reflecting various historical moments, was introduced during a session at SXSW. David discussed the project with his collaborator, Jeff Schaffer, highlighting that each episode will present four distinct sketches.
In the trailer, David portrays a sailor in the wake of the iconic V-J Day in Times Square photograph by Alfred Eisenstaedt, where a U.S. Navy sailor kisses a woman after the victory over Japan. True to David’s comedic style, the encounter takes an awkward turn, leading to him being branded a “pervo-Nazi.”
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The series will feature notable appearances from Bill Hader, Kathryn Hahn, Jon Hamm, Sean Hayes, and Obama himself in one sketch. Other familiar faces from Curb, including Susie Essman and Vince Vaughn, are also expected to appear.
Written by David and Schaffer, who also directs, the half-hour series is produced by Obama’s Higher Ground, with executive producers including David, Schaffer, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Vinnie Malhotra, and Ethan Lewis.
This marks David’s first project since the conclusion of the twelfth season of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
During their SXSW session, titled “A Waste of Time with Larry David and Jeff Schaffer,” the duo humorously recounted their experiences working with Obama. Schaffer shared that Obama teased David about his golf skills and sunscreen usage, prompting David to assert, “I’m the president here.”
David, a history major in college, showcased his knowledge by reciting parts of the Gettysburg Address and noting historical facts, including the emotional toll on Mary Todd Lincoln following her husband’s assassination. “That’s just a stupid thing that I knew,” he remarked.
Hader will portray Abraham Lincoln, while David plays the aide-de-camp who convinced him to attend the theater on the fateful evening. Hahn takes on the role of Mary Todd Lincoln.
David and Jerry Seinfeld will reunite as Lewis and Clark, with Essman appearing as Susan B. Anthony. Hamm and Hayes will portray the Wright brothers. Emphasizing the improvisational nature of the series, David noted that the actors operate from an outlined framework.
Life, Larry spans from colonial times to the modern era and, while it does not address current U.S. political dynamics directly, David mentioned that “the political climate is touched upon various times throughout the series.”
“There are things we are doing that are in the past that allow us to comment … on things that are going on now,” Schaffer added. “Because we have made a lot of the same mistakes over and over again.”
In a reference to recent merger and acquisition headlines, Schaffer humorously dubbed HBO “the cool division of Oracle,” the software company co-founded by Larry Ellison, whose son manages Paramount Skydance, currently in discussions to acquire HBO Max’s parent, Warner Bros. Discovery.
