Larry David, the creator of Curb Your Enthusiasm, has taken aim at American lore with his new HBO show, Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America. The show reimagines key scenes from 250 years of US history as if they were a series of rapidly escalating, socially awkward celebrations of epic pettiness.
David plays a range of characters, including Deep Throat, the shadowy informant at the heart of the Watergate scandal, a first world war soldier, Alexander Graham Bell, and a Great Depression-era destitute on the breadline. His characters are often anachronistic, with observations on phone and queue etiquette, but the show bites harder and funnier in its portrayal of hotspots in American history.
The show zooms into historical moments involving Rosa Parks, Susan B Anthony, and the underground railway, often with David's signature sarcastic theatrics and explosive rants. Despite his reputation as an argumentative prick, David's characters are sympathetic and committed to fairness, escalating arguments and suffering consequences.
LLATPOU: AAHOA combines a simple sketch show with a history lesson, featuring a gallery of familiar stars, including Bill Hader and Jon Hamm. David's genius lifts the show above didacticism, making it a unique blend of history and comedy.
With its audacious take on American lore, David's show has already made waves, and with Barack Obama and Lin-Manuel Miranda appearing in the series, it's clear that this show is not to be missed.