HBO, Larry David & Obamas link for comedy show

HBO has unveiled a sketch show exploring US history from Curb Your Enthusiasm’s Larry David and Michelle and Barack Obamas’ Higher Ground Productions. 

David will star in the show and write it alongside fellow Curb alum Jeff Schaffer.  Schaffer will also serve as director of the series, which HBO said would feature “a mix of some Curb actors and noteworthy guest stars”. 

The logline reads: “President and Mrs. Obama wanted to honour America’s 250th anniversary and celebrate the unique history of our nation on this special occasion. …But then Larry David called.” 

Former US president Obama, who is exec producing, said: “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.” 

Few details about the show have been revealed but Schaffer suggested David would play more than one character from history.  

“The characters Larry is playing didn’t change history,” he said. “In fact, they were largely ignored by history. And that’s a good thing.” 

Amy Gravitt, executive vice president, head of HBO & HBO Max comedy programming, said: “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.” 

Exec producer are David, Schaffer, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Vinnie Malhotra and Ethan Lewis. 

The greenlight comes 15 months since Curb’s 12th and final season debuted on HBO, almost a quarter of century after the comedy’s debut.  

Higher Ground was launched by the Obamas in 2018 and has been behind recent apocalyptic thriller Leave the World Behind for Netflix and basketball docuseries Court of Gold, the latter also for the streamer.