Larry David takes on American history in new HBO sketch comedy series
Larry David takes on American history in new HBO sketch comedy series
‘Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness’ brings Larry David into some of the biggest moments in American history.
“Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” are two of my favorite shows of all time, so yeah, I’ll watch basically anything Larry David is involved in. Add in the fact that “Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness” is a sketch comedy series, and this feels like a match made in heaven. The new HBO limited series premieres Friday, June 26 on HBO and HBO Max, with Larry David back to do what Larry David does best: turn human behavior, irritation, and social stupidity into comedy. The show runs seven episodes, with new episodes dropping weekly through Friday, Aug. 7. Here’s how to watch “Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness.”
How to watch ‘Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness’
- When: Friday, June 26, 2026, 9 p.m. ET
- TV: HBO
- Stream: Watch with a subscription to HBO Max
- From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN.
Everything you need to know about ‘Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness’
When will episodes of ‘Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness’ come on HBO Max?
“Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness” premieres Friday, June 26 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and will also be available to stream on HBO Max. After that, new episodes will debut weekly, leading up to the series finale on Friday, Aug. 7.
There are seven episodes total, so this is a pretty clean weekly rollout. You can watch each episode as it premieres or wait until August and binge the whole thing once the finale drops.
Why do we recommend HBO Max for watching ‘Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness’?
Because it’s the easiest way to watch the show whenever you want, once a new episode drops. “Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness” airs on HBO, but I’ll be watching on HBO Max because I don’t want to pay for a full cable subscription.
HBO Max currently has three plans. The Basic plan with ads is $11 per month, the Standard ad-free plan is $19 per month, and the Premium plan is $23 per month with 4K streaming and more devices. If you’re mostly signing up for Larry David’s new show, this is an easy one-month or two-month subscription situation, depending on whether you want to watch weekly or wait until the full season is available.
HBO Max
HBO Max is a subscription video streaming service that gives access to the full HBO library and exclusive Max Originals. There are hubs for content from TLC, HGTV, Food Network, Discovery, TCM, Cartoon Network, Travel Channel, ID, and more. Watch hit series like “The Last of Us,” “House of the Dragon,” “Succession,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and more. Within HBO Max, B/R Sports allows users to watch live NBA, MLB, NHL, March Madness, and NASCAR events.
Can you watch episodes of ‘Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness’ for free?
Nope. HBO Max doesn’t offer a standard free trial right now, so you’ll need a paid subscription to watch “Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness” when it premieres.
The upside is that this is a limited series with only seven episodes, so you’re not signing up for some endless season. You can subscribe, watch the full run, and cancel after the finale if you don’t plan on sticking around.
Watch the trailer for ‘Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness’
What is ‘Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness’ about?
“Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness” is a limited sketch comedy series starring Larry David, which honestly tells you most of what you need to know. HBO’s official logline is very Larry: “Those who don’t know history… are doomed to watch Larry David repeat it.” So expect David to do what he does best, turning tiny annoyances, social friction, and human stupidity into something painfully funny.
The series also features select actors from “Curb Your Enthusiasm” along with noteworthy guest stars, which should make it especially fun for longtime “Curb” fans. In the trailer, I definitely spotted Susie Essman, and I think I saw Vince Vaughn get slapped by David. Larry David writes and executive-produces the series with Jeff Schaffer, who also directs, and the show is also executive-produced by Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Ethan Lewis, and Vinnie Malhotra for Higher Ground.
Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America
An improvised, comedic approach to major events in American history in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.