Larry David's HBO series “Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness” launches

Larry David returns to television with the seven‑part limited sketch comedy “Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness,” which premiered on HBO and HBO Max on June 26, 2026. The series, co‑written and directed with longtime collaborator Jeff Schaffer, revisits key moments of American history in an improvised, satirical format. It is executive‑produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions, and the former president appears in a cameo.

The show features a rotating roster of guest stars, including Bill Hader as Abraham Lincoln, Kathryn Hahn as Mary Todd Lincoln, Jon Hamm and Sean Hayes as the Wright brothers, Jerry Seinfeld, Lin‑Manuel Miranda, Susie Essman as Susan B. Anthony, and many others. Critics have given mixed reviews, with Rotten Tomatoes at 60 % and Metacritic at 65.

Behind‑the‑scenes, director Jeff Schaffer recalled a moment when Obama offered a note on a scene and David brushed it off, prompting Obama to say, “When I was in the Oval Office, I took advice and listened to my advisors, and I was the president of the United States.” David retorted, “Yeah, but I’m the president of this.” The series ties into the United States’ 250th‑anniversary celebrations and is available for streaming via HBO, HBO Max, and partner platforms in the United States and other territories.