With former president Barack Obama

Barack Obama and Larry David are teaming up to make a sketch comedy show.

The series, for HBO, will celebrate America’s 250th birthday on July 4 next year, with the broadcaster saying it will feature Curb Your Enthusiasm actors and 'noteworthy guest stars’. 

It is being made by the production company Higher Ground, set up by the former president and his wife Michelle after he left office. Both will act as executive producers on the as-yet-untitled comedy.

Mr Obama 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.’

The 78-year-old Curb creator will be writing the script with long-term collaborator Jeff Schaffer.

David joked: ‘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. 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.’

Co-writer Schaffer, who will also direct the series, first worked with David when he started writing on Seinfeld after graduating from Harvard. He went on to direct several episodes of Curb - including the Seinfeld reunion – and also worked on the script for Sacha Baron Cohen films Brüno and The Dictator 

He gave a hint as to the direction of the new series by saying: ‘The characters Larry is playing didn’t change history. In fact, they were largely ignored by history. And that’s a good thing.’

The official longline for the half-hour series 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.’

David called an end to Curb last year after 12 series in 24 years. That show also aired on HBO.

Amy Gravitt, the executive in charge of the broadcaster’s 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.’

The series will be the first project with HBO for Higher Ground, which has mainly worked with Netflix so far. The company won an Oscar in 2020 for the documentary American Factory, about the clashes between high-tech Chinese executives and working-class Americans at a plant in Ohio.

Published: 11 Jul 2025