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Barack Obama makes a guest appearance in the new teaser trailer for Larry David’s upcoming sketch show Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness.
In the clip, the former U.S. president states: “I’ve sat across the table from some of the world’s most difficult leaders and wrestled with some of the globe’s most intractable problems. Nothing has prepared me for working with Larry David.”
He continues: “I’m just a producer on the show, so I don’t have to deal with him day-to-day but still, it’s a lot.”
Curb Your Enthusiasm creator David then appears and asks Obama if he can put him down as his medical emergency contact.
“Because if they see your name, they’ll be more inclined to help,” quips David.
The pair are working together on a new sketch comedy show, timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. It is set to debut on HBO on June 27. New episodes will arrive weekly, with the season finale on August 8.
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The show will be written by David and his Curb Your Enthusiasm collaborator Jeff Schaffer, who also directs. Several stars of David’s hit HBO sitcom are expected to reunite for the series, along with “noteworthy guest stars.”
The show’s official logline states: “President and Mrs. Obama wanted to honor America’s 250th anniversary and celebrate the unique history of our nation on this special occasion…. But then Larry David called.”
The Obamas founded their production company Higher Ground in 2018. Previous projects they have been involved in include the 2023 films Rustin and Leave The World Behind and the documentaries Crip Camp (2020) and American Symphony (2023).
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The company also produced the Broadway revival of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Proof, starring Don Cheadle and Ayo Edebiri, which currently runs through July 19.
In a previous statement announcing Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness, David said: “Once Curb ended, I celebrated with a three-day foam party. After a violent allergic reaction to the suds, I yearned to return to my simple life as a beekeeper, harvesting organic honey from the wildflowers in my meadow. Alas, one day my bees mysteriously vanished. And so, it is with a heavy heart that I return to television, hoping to ease the loss of my beloved hive.”
HBO’s head of comedy programming Amy Gravitt added: “It’s hard to remember a time before Curb, or without Larry David’s perspective on modern life. We’re thrilled that Larry is coming back to HBO, this time with Higher Ground, to give us a glimpse at our shared history as we celebrate our Semiquincentennial.”
Schaffer hinted towards the direction of the series by saying: “The characters Larry is playing didn’t change history. In fact, they were largely ignored by history. And that’s a good thing.”
Curb Your Enthusiasm ran on HBO for 12 seasons from 2000 to 2024. It followed a lightly fictionalized version of David, the co-creator of Seinfeld, and is widely considered one of the funniest sitcoms of all time.
