Larry David is heading back to HBO with his signature brand of curmudgeonly humor, this time joining forces with Barack and Michelle Obama for a sketch comedy series focused on American history.
The network announced Thursday that David will executive produce, write, and star in the limited six-episode series, which is being developed in collaboration with the Obamas’ production company, Higher Ground.
The untitled series, marking David’s return to HBO just over a year after the finale of Curb Your Enthusiasm, is intended to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States next year. David’s longtime collaborator and Curb showrunner, Jeff Schaffer, will co-write and direct the episodes. While the network has not yet announced a premiere date, it did offer a tongue-in-cheek logline:
“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.”
AFP/Getty Images
David, 78, released a typically irreverent statement about his return to television.
“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,” he joked. “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.”
Former President Obama offered a similarly dry remark:
“I’ve sat across the table from some of the world’s most difficult leaders and wrestled with some of our most intractable problems. Nothing has prepared me for working with Larry David.”
Since launching Higher Ground in 2018, the Obamas have sought to amplify new and diverse voices in the entertainment world. Their productions have ranged from the Oscar-winning documentary American Factory to children’s programming like Waffles + Mochi, as well as films such as Rustin and Leave the World Behind. While their level of visibility has varied across projects, this upcoming sketch show appears to mark a more public creative collaboration.
Though best known for Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, David has early roots in sketch comedy, having written and performed on ABC‘s Fridays in the early 1980s and briefly contributing to Saturday Night Live. This new series brings him back to that format—only now with presidential producers in the wings.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
