Prett-ay, prett-ay, prett-ay good news for Larry David fans — TV’s curmudgeon king is returning to the small screen, this time in a six-episode, half-hour American history sketch comedy series on HBO to be co-produced by the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” alum along with Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground productions.
HBO announced Thursday it’s ordered up the as-yet untitled series, saying David will star, write and executive produce — and that it will feature a mix of “Curb” actors and “noteworthy” stars.
Jeff Schaffer, a frequent “Curb” director, will serve as co-executive producer and writer as well as director, according to HBO.
Details were few, but it’s likely to air sometime in 2026, in time for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
“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,” HBO said in its announcement.
According to the former president, “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.”
“Curb,” a comedy of (questionable) manners in which David played a fictionalized version of himself, ran for 12 seasons on HBO between 2000 and its finale in 2024.
Now David is returning to the cable giant — though his own enthusiasm for the project appeared somewhat curbed in Thursday’s official announcement.
“Once `Curb’ ended, I celebrated with a three-day foam party,” David said. `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.”
“Curb” received 55 Primetime Emmy nominations during its intermittent run, and captured the Golden Globe for Best TV Series-Musical or Comedy in 2002. Prior to “Curb,” David co-created and co-produced “Seinfeld” on NBC.
“It’s hard to remember a time before `Curb,’ or without Larry David’s perspective on modern life,” Amy Gravitt, executive vice president and head of HBO & HBO Max comedy programming, said. “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.”
Added Schaffer, “The characters Larry is playing didn’t change history. In fact, they were largely ignored by history. And that’s a good thing.”
The Obamas’ Higher Ground has produced a range of projects including the recent thriller “Leave the World Behind” and the basketball series “Court of Gold.”