Larry David Returns With HBO Sketch Comedy ‘Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness’

The ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ creator reunites with Jeff Schaffer for a new HBO sketch series produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground.

Larry David is officially returning to HBO — but this time, he’s bringing something very different with him.

During a panel at SXSW, HBO revealed the first details for its upcoming original limited series ‘Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness,’ a sketch comedy project from Larry David and longtime collaborator Jeff Schaffer. The seven-episode series will debut Friday, June 26 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will stream on HBO Max, with new episodes arriving weekly through the August 7 finale.

The announcement came during a SXSW conversation between David and Schaffer moderated by Los Angeles Times television critic Lorraine Ali, where attendees were also shown new footage from the series.

The project marks David’s first major television venture since the conclusion of HBO’s ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ the long-running comedy that defined his on-screen persona as a version of himself navigating the absurdities of modern social etiquette. While the new series will reportedly feature several familiar faces from the ‘Curb’ universe alongside guest stars, ‘Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness’ takes a different creative approach — leaning into sketch comedy rather than traditional episodic storytelling.

The premise itself already carries David’s unmistakable comedic voice.

According to HBO, the series begins with an ambitious idea: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama want to commemorate America’s upcoming 250th anniversary by celebrating the country’s history in a special project.

But then Larry David gets involved.

The series is written and executive produced by David and Jeff Schaffer, with Schaffer also directing. The Obamas serve as executive producers through their production company Higher Ground, which has previously backed projects like the Oscar-winning documentary ‘American Factory,’ as well as films and series including ‘Crip Camp,’ ‘Rustin,’ and ‘American Symphony.’

The partnership between David and Higher Ground may sound unexpected on paper, but it also hints at the kind of comedic collision the series seems eager to explore — pairing David’s famously cynical sensibility with a project originally conceived as a patriotic celebration.

POPULAR ON THE CINEMA GROUP

For HBO, the series also continues a long creative relationship with David that stretches back decades. After co-creating ‘Seinfeld’ in the late 1980s, David went on to redefine HBO comedy with ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ which ran for 12 seasons and became one of the network’s most recognizable original series.

Now, ‘Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness’ appears poised to push that sensibility into an entirely new format.

And if the premise alone is any indication, celebrating America’s history may end up being the least predictable part of the story.

Watch The Trailer Below: