Ashamed to be an American
Larry David celebrates the United States 250e anniversary with his new HBO show “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America,” but he wasn’t feeling too patriotic when President Donald Trump marked the country’s milestone with a UFC fight at the White House.
“It was a mockery,” David told me Tuesday night at the premiere of “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness” in Hollywood. “What else can you say? It was embarrassing. I was ashamed of being an American.”
Premiering June 26 on HBO, “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America” is a sketch show that satirizes key points in American history.
The series features a slew of celebrity guests, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bill Hader, Kathryn Hahn, Jon Hamm, Henry Winkler, Sean Hayes, Joe Manganiello, Jane Krakowski, Greg Kinnear, Alan Tudyk, Rita Wilson, Jerry and David Seinfeld. Vince Vaughn also guest stars, as do “Curb Your Enthusiasm” alumni Jeff Garlin, JB Smoove and Susie Essman as Susan B. Anthony.
Barack Obama also stars in one of the sketches. He and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground produces the series.
While details of the skit are being kept under wraps, David said Obama had “perfect” comedic timing. “He was really good at ad-libbing,” David said.
He described having Obama as a scene partner as “really trippy.”
“It was exciting. We had a great time,” David said, adding that he tried not to think about it too much because he didn’t want to “screw it up.”
Maybe the former president deserves an acting Emmy for his performance? In typical David behavior, he shrugged, “I wouldn’t go that far.”
It was Higher Ground who approached David about the project.
“I know the president a little bit. We played golf together, and I did a Super Bowl ad maybe four or five years ago where I was dressed in costumes and stuff. So maybe that was part of their thinking,” David said. “I don’t know. Maybe they just like ‘Curb.'”
David certainly wears a lot of period costumes and wigs. No surprise, but he wasn’t a fan of spending so much time on hair and makeup. “I don’t understand how people walk around with wigs and hairpieces,” he said. “It feels like a thousand bugs are crawling on your head and the beards are even worse. They’re so itchy you can’t eat.”
The series is directed by co-creator Jeff Schaffer. Higher Ground’s Ethan Lewis serves as executive producer.
To keep the evening spoiler-free, guest stars who attended the premiere, including Garlin, Essman and Winkler, were not allowed to speak to the press. David, Schaffer and Lewis were the only ones to give interviews.
Lewis told me the Obamas wanted to celebrate 250e anniversary, but wanted to do this “in a way that feels unexpected and unique.”
Schaffer said one of his biggest concerns was what to call Obama while directing him. “I said to the people of the Upper Ground, ‘What should I call him if I want to give him a note?'” he recalled. “They said, ‘Try it, sir.’ You try to remember not to just say, “Okay, Barack, you have to do this,” because we’re moving very quickly. But he was great.”
