Larry David revealed some important details about the upcoming HBO comedy series during a talk at SXSW on Friday.
The sketch show, which will premiere June 26, is titled “Life, Rally, and the Pursuit of Misfortune: Almost an American History,” and satirizes the United States in commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Directed by “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Seinfeld” alum Jeff Schaffer, the series will consist of seven episodes, with each episode containing about four sketches. It features a rotating cast that includes many Curb Your Enthusiasm alumni, including Jeff Garlin, J.B. Smoove, and Susie Essman as Susan B. Anthony.
David and Shaffer also revealed other guest stars. Bill Hader and Kathryn Hahn play Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, Jon Hamm and Sean Hayes play the Wright Brothers, and David and Jerry Seinfeld play Lewis and Clark. Vince Vaughn will also guest star. And even Barack Obama, whose production company Higher Ground is producing the show, will appear opposite David in one sketch.
“I was the boss on ‘Curve’ and ‘Seinfeld.’ I’m used to being the boss,” David said. “And Obama is pretty used to being the boss, too.”
In true producer fashion, the former president left David with a note about the series’ initial script.
When President Obama said, “I don’t think this is the right thing to do,” David remembers glancing at him and asking, “Really?”
President Obama reportedly said, “When I was in the White House, I was taking notes from my advisors, and I was the President of the United States!”
Then David retorted, “I’m the president here.”
Like “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” this show doesn’t have a traditional script. That is, each sketch has an outline, but most of the dialogue is improvisational. Schaefer described the show as “Curb in costume.”
A short clip of “Life, Rally, and the Pursuit of Misfortune” was shown to audiences at SXSW. In the sketch, Larry witnesses the famous “VJ Day in Times Square” moment. This moment became the cover image for Life magazine after World War II, which depicts a Navy sailor kissing a stranger. Inspired, Larry grabs a random woman and kisses her on the mouth. She is appalled and calls him “shit,” and in typical “Curve” fashion, Larry soon finds himself surrounded by an angry mob in Times Square.
Although the series focuses on 250 years of American history, David said the current political climate is “touched on at different times.” Schaefer quipped, “It’s a little strange to celebrate our country at this time of year. It’s like throwing a birthday party for a friend in rehab.”
When asked if he had ever thought about retiring after Curb Your Enthusiasm, which ended in 2024 after 12 seasons, David, 78, joked: “I’ve got the talent, so I can never retire.”
“Until people get out of the house and stop being irritated with other humans, we always have work to do,” Schaefer said.
David further added, “The only reason I actually left home was to reach out to people to get ideas. Otherwise, there’s no reason to leave home.”
Watch a preview clip of “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Most History of America” below.
