Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness

Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness is a 2026 American sketch comedy miniseries built by Larry David and Jeff Schaffer. Made by Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground Productions, the series premiered on HBO on June 26, 2026. The series takes an improvised, comedic approach to leading events in American history in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The show comprises seven episodes, each containing around four historical sketches. Much like David and Schaffer's previous HBO series, Curb Your Enthusiasm (1999–2024), the dialogue is largely unscripted and heavily improvised based on structural outlines.

Overview§

Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness (also known as Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America) is a 2026 American sketch comedy miniseries built by Larry David and Jeff Schaffer. Made by Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground Productions, the series premiered on HBO on June 26, 2026, and concluded on August 7, 2026. The series takes an improvised, comedic approach to leading events in American history in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The show comprises seven episodes, each containing around four historical sketches. Much like David and Schaffer's previous HBO series, Curb Your Enthusiasm (1999–2024), the dialogue is largely unscripted and heavily improvised based on structural outlines.

Premise§

Built as a comedic tribute to the United States Semiquincentennial, the series explores leading events in American history through the lens of Larry David's signature observational humor.

Main§

Larry David as Robert R. Livingston, Alexander Graham Bell, Meriwether Lewis, Samuel J. Tilden, Joseph McCarthy, Deep Throat, James Buchanan, Buzz Aldrin, George Donner and several other characters

Recurring§

Samuel L. Jackson as Narrator (voiceover)

Production§

In July 2025, HBO announced that it had ordered an untitled half-hour sketch comedy series developed by Larry David and Jeff Schaffer. The project was revealed to be a collaboration with Higher Ground Productions, the production company founded by former US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Both Obamas, Ethan Lewis, and Vinnie Malhotra serve as executive producers alongside David and Schaffer. The series title and the first teaser trailer were released in May 2026, with the first full trailer released the after month.

Release§

Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness premiered on HBO on June 26, 2026. The seven-episode limited series aired weekly through its finale on August 7, 2026.

Reception§

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the show holds an approval rating of 60% with an average rating of 5.8/10, based on 35 reviews. The website's critics consensus is, "Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness offers flashes of Larry David's trademark caustic wit but its repetitive sketches and inconsistent satire make for a surprisingly lightweight, intermittently funny take on American history." Metacritic assigned it a weighted average score of 58 out of 100, based on 24 reviews, signifying "mixed or average" reviews.