Barack & Michelle Obama Are Going Back to Their Roots With This Unexpected TV Show

For Barack and Michelle Obama, storytelling has always been part of the mission. From memoirs and podcasts to documentaries and dating shows, their post-White House era has been all about finding new ways to connect — and now, they’re taking that a step further with a surprise return to comedy.

On Thursday, HBO announced that the former First Couple is partnering with Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm creator Larry David on a six-episode sketch comedy series exploring American history. Yes, really.

President Obama quipped, “I’ve sat across the table from some of the world’s most difficult leaders … Nothing has prepared me for working with Larry David,” per Variety. And David offered his trademark deadpan: after a “three-day foam party” gone wrong, followed by a failed stint as a beekeeper, he’s returning to television “with a heavy heart.”

The show is penned and produced by David and longtime collaborator Jeff Schaffer, with Schaffer also directing. The team promises a blend of familiar Curb faces and fresh guest stars (with no word on whether or not Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s wife, Cheryl Hines, who played David’s wife in Curb, will make an appearance or not.)

The really sweet circle-back here? The Obamas are harking back to their roots in storytelling and civic education. Barack cut his teeth as a community organizer on Chicago’s South Side, later teaching constitutional law and building a life around public service and civic narrative. Michelle, a Princeton and Harvard Law graduate, worked for non‑profits and in city offices before championing public‑health initiatives like Let’s Move! and White House gardens as First Lady.

Through their Higher Ground production company, founded in 2018, the Obamas have already produced poignant documentaries (American Factory), children’s series (Waffles + Mochi), and historical narratives (Rustin). Now, pivoting to satirical sketches marks a clever return to grassroots education—this time with comic timing and a wink.

And while Michelle’s recent solo moves — including her dating show The Later Daters and the continued success of her podcast, IMO — have stoked speculation about the Obamas’ relationship, this project shows they’re still very much in step when it comes to vision.

So whether you’re here for the comedy, the commentary, or just curious to see Larry David and Barack Obama try to make each other break, this might be the American history lesson we didn’t know we needed.

Before you go, click here to see Barack & Michelle Obama’s sweetest public appearances!.