Larry David was so precious about his scripts for his new HBO sketch show, “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness,” that not even former President Barack Obama could curb his enthusiasm — and was swiftly shut down by the comedian for trying to give him some notes.
The duo has long been friends and co-created the show together, and while Obama also happily co-executive-produced the series and stars in it, director Jeff Schaffer recalled a hilariously spicy exchange between them in an interview with Variety published Friday.
“He gave a few notes about something and Larry went, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, we got it,’” Schaffer told the outlet. “And the president goes, ‘I spent half an hour talking about how funny everything is. I give you one note and you get into a defensive crouch.’”
The co-writer, co-creator and director continued, “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.’ And Larry just goes, ‘Yeah, but I’m the president of this.’”
Schaffer said Obama’s input “was invaluable,” however, and that he had read a bunch of the material and “was really liking it.” He added that Obama has a “good rapport” with David, who has nonetheless long established himself as America’s cheekiest curmudgeon.
David recently appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and confirmed he and Obama frequently golf together. When David received an invitation to the former president’s 60th birthday, however, he recalled feeling utter anxiety about possibly being expected to perform standup.
The “Curb Your Enthusiasm” creator told Kimmel he was overjoyed when he got disinvited.
Left: Jordan Strauss/Invision/Associated Press; Right: Erin Hooley/File/Associated Press
David has tackled all sorts of political taboos across 12 seasons of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” but appeared to truly rustle some MAGA feathers by telling Variety that he was “embarrassed to be an American” following recent UFC fights held on the White House lawn.
“It was a travesty,” he told the outlet. “What else can you say about it? It was embarrassing.”