Larry David is officially coming out of comedic retirement — and he’s bringing a former U.S. president along with him.
HBO has ordered a new untitled sketch comedy series that will dive into the eccentric corners of American history, created by Curb Your Enthusiasm‘s Larry David and executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama under their Higher Ground banner.
The series, expected to debut in 2026 in time for the U.S. Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary), will run for six half-hour episodes. It’s described as a comedic celebration of America’s lesser-known historical moments — the kind of characters who didn’t exactly make history… and according to David’s longtime collaborator Jeff Schaffer, “that’s a good thing.”
The logline sums it up best:
“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 will write and star in the series, alongside Schaffer, who will also direct. The show will include familiar Curb Your Enthusiasm faces and “noteworthy guest stars.”
In a statement filled with signature dry wit, David explained what pulled him back to TV post-Curb:
“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.”
President Obama also chimed in with his own sense of humor:
“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 upcoming project also marks a new chapter for Higher Ground, which has primarily worked with Netflix since its inception. This collaboration with HBO is a rare departure and follows the company’s recent projects like Leave the World Behind and the acclaimed docuseries Court of Gold.
Amy Gravitt, EVP and head of HBO and 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.”
No word yet on the official title or premiere date, but one thing’s for sure — if Larry David is poking around America’s historical archives with Barack Obama looking on, expect things to get both hilariously petty and patriotically unhinged.