Larry David revealed some key details about his upcoming HBO comedy series during a talk at SXSW.
Premiering on June 27, the sketch show is titled “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America,” and it satirizes the United States in celebration of its 250th anniversary.
Directed by “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Seinfeld” alum Jeff Schaffer, the series is seven episodes, each of which contains about four sketches. The show features a rotating cast that includes plenty of “Curb” actors, including Jeff Garlin, J.B. Smoove and Susie Essman, who plays Susan B. Anthony.
David and Schaffer revealed some of the other guest stars, too: Bill Hader and Kathryn Hahn will play Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, and Jon Hamm and Sean Hayes will play the Wright brothers. Even Barack Obama (whose Higher Ground is a producer of the show) will appear opposite David in one sketch.
Like “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” the show is not traditionally scripted, meaning each sketch has an outline, but most of the dialogue is improvised. Schaffer described the show as “‘Curb’ in costume.”
A short clip of “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness” was shown to the audience at SXSW. In the sketch, Larry witnesses the famous “V-J Day in Times Square” moment, which became the Life magazine cover image depicting a Navy sailor kissing a total stranger after the end of World War II. Inspired, Larry grabs a random woman and kisses her on the mouth. She is appalled and calls him a “fucko,” and in classic “Curb” fashion, Larry is soon surrounded by an angry mob in Times Square.
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