ABOVE AVERAGE
AN ALMOST HISTORY OF AMERICA.
In honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States, Larry David collaborated with the Obamas for this sketch-comedy miniseries, taking us back and forth throughout the highlights and low points of American history, moments where a decidedly Larry David-esque character always managed to influence things one way or the other.
Done in the style of Curb Your Enthusiasm (with welcome appearances from that show’s stars) and loads of famous guests.
Very uneven, with some thin sketches mostly relying on David screaming a lot, but others were clever, timely and funny, identifying the hilarious irritations and mundanity of landmark events like Lincoln’s assassination, flying with the Wright brothers and landing on the moon.
2026-U.S. 7 episodes. Color. Created by Larry David, Jeff Schaffer. Cast: Larry David. Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson.
Trivia: Co-executive produced by David, Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. Among the guest stars: Michael Chiklis, Bill Hader, Richard Kind, Henry Winkler, Jimmy Kimmel, Rob Reiner, Jerry Seinfeld, Kaley Cuoco, Rita Wilson, Jon Hamm, Sean Hayes, Michael McKean, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kathryn Hahn, Don Johnson, Timothy Olyphant, Isla Fisher, Keegan-Michael Key, Paul Rudd, Greg Kinnear and Vince Vaughn.
Last word: “Larry saw the fun of throwing himself in the middle of history, because I think for Larry, his comedy is so often big thing, little thing. Even look at Seinfeld, you’re going to get to do your own pilot, wait, who stole my raisins? History is writ so large and Larry writes so small that the juxtaposition tickled him. To be honest, he likes being in costume, he really likes that.” (Schaffer, Deadline)