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Barack Obama is guest-starring on Larry David’s new sketch show and the take on American history is wild

Larry David’s latest HBO project mixes American history with awkward humor, surprise guest stars, and even a cameo from Barack Obama.

Some people organize fireworks or parades to celebrate history. And then there’s Larry David, who apparently looked at America’s upcoming birthday and thought, “You know what this needs? More awkward arguments and historical figures behaving badly.” The famously grumpy mind behind ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ is stepping back into television with a new sketch comedy project. The show is called ‘Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness’, and it’s arriving this summer on HBO. But the real surprise? One of the guest performers isn’t a comedian or actor. It’s former U.S. president Barack Obama. The seven-episode series is scheduled to debut on June 26, with new installments rolling out each week until early August.

Each episode will run through roughly four separate sketches, which means viewers will bounce between different settings, jokes, and absurd scenarios in one sitting. And the setup itself is already funny. According to the press release, the official logline reads: “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 show imagines historical personalities and moments through David’s trademark lens, meaning awkward encounters, petty arguments, and people taking minor inconveniences way too seriously. If you’ve watched ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’, you already know the vibe. And yes, Obama himself will appear in one of the sketches opposite David, as reported by Entertainment Weekly. But, his role has not been disclosed yet.

The former president even joked about the experience when the collaboration was first announced, saying, “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.” The guest list doesn’t stop there either. The rotating cast includes some familiar comedy heavyweights and a few actors stepping into historical roles. Bill Hader and Kathryn Hahn, for instance, will appear as Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln. Meanwhile, Jon Hamm and Sean Hayes take on the roles of aviation pioneers Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright. The lineup gets even more interesting. Jerry Seinfeld will appear as William Clark, paired opposite Larry David playing Meriwether Lewis. 

And longtime ‘Curb’ viewers will recognize several familiar faces popping up along the way. Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, J. B. Smoove, and Vince Vaughn are all expected to appear during the run of the show. Behind the camera, the project is guided by David and frequent collaborator Jeff Schaffer, who wrote the episodes together. Schaffer also directs the series, meaning the creative pair are steering the entire ship from start to finish. The production comes from Higher Ground, the company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama. Meanwhile, the show will air Fridays at 9 p.m. Eastern on HBO, with episodes also becoming available for streaming on HBO Max the same day. The finale is scheduled for August 7, wrapping up what appears to be a brief but packed comedy run.