Barack Obama got defensive after Larry David brushed off his notes for “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness”

Wesley StenzelSat, June 27, 2026 at 3:39 PM UTC

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Barack Obama in New York City on Dec. 12, 2018; Larry David in Los Angeles on Oct. 19, 2021Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights; Araya Doheny/WireImageKey points -

Barack Obama executive produced Larry David's new historical comedy show Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness.

Co-creator Jeff Schaffer said that the former president "gave a few notes" about David's ideas.

After David brushed off Obama's notes, Schaffer said the politician accused David of getting into "a defensive crouch."

Barack Obama executive produced Larry David's latest project — which means the former president got into a creative spat or two with the Curb Your Enthusiasm star.

Jeff Schaffer, who co-created the historical comedy series Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: an Almost History of America alongside David, told Variety how the former president and his production company, Higher Ground, contributed to the new series, which sees key moments in American history interrupted by curmudgeonly characters portrayed by the Curb star.

"Ethan Lewis at Higher Ground reached out on behalf of the Obamas. They wanted to do something for the 250th [anniversary of the United States], and Larry, who is an American history buff, was interested in the idea of Larry going through history," Schaffer explained.

Larry David in 'Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness'Credit: John Johnson / HBO

Schaffer  — who served as director, producer, and writer on the series — noted that David immediately clicked with Obama. "Larry took a shine to this idea very quickly, in a way that Larry rarely takes a shine to anything," he said. "It helps that he and President Obama have a really good rapport, as you see in the show. From the first meeting, it was like, 'We've got to get these two on screen together.'"

Schaffer described Obama's input as "invaluable" and noted that he gave David honest feedback.

"From our first meeting, he had read a whole bunch of stuff and was really liking it," he recalled. "He gave a few notes about something and Larry went, 'Yeah, yeah, yeah, we got it.'"

In Schaffer's telling, Obama — who is also set to appear on the show — didn't appreciate David's dismissiveness. "The president goes, 'I spent a half an hour talking about how funny everything is. I give you one note and you get into a defensive crouch,'" he remembered. "The president said, 'When I was in the Oval Office, I took advice and listened to my advisors, and I was the president of the United States.'"

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Schaffer said that David had a powerful comeback. "And Larry just goes, 'Yeah, but I'm the president of this,'" he remembered.

Barack Obama in Chicago on June 18Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP via Getty

The producer noted that he neglected to use Obama's reputation as a trump card while negotiating the budget. "Using a presidential veto to get more money would have been amazing," he said. "I wish I'd thought of that. 'The president needs an extra three days of shooting. He demands it.' We should have done that."

Curb Your Enthusiasm ended with its 12th season in 2024, but Schaffer said that David has remained creatively fruitful despite his signature show drawing to a close.

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"Larry can't sit still," he said. "He's like a prostitute who has sex when he's not working. He's always writing and thinking about stuff. We were actually in the beginning stages of thinking about other things to do after Curb."

Schaffer described a couple of other projects that he and David considered. "There was a movie we were thinking about, and there was a possible limited series we were thinking about," he said. "But this seemed appealing for a variety of reasons. One was working with the Obamas, and two was that the show had a deadline. It had to be done by now for the 250th."

The premiere episode of Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: an Almost History of America is now streaming on HBO Max.

on Entertainment Weekly

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