Barack Obama poked fun at his infamous decision to wear a tan suit on the season finale of Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness, HBO’s history-rewriting comedy starring Larry David and co-produced by the Obamas.
“People always ask me where the tan suit came from. I think it’s time the truth finally came out,” the former president wrote on social media while sharing a clip from his appearance.
In 2014, Obama wore a tan-colored suit to a press conference addressing ISIS, a wardrobe choice that was endlessly criticized by certain factions of the media and even earned its own Wikipedia page. In the segment from Life, Larry, we learn that the tan suit idea came from Larry David himself.
After suggesting the tan suit because it was “Casual Friday,” David then used his trademark “pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good” compliment to coax the then-president into wearing the suit to the press conference. “People are going to be talking about this for a long, long time,” David tells Obama.
Barack and Michelle Obama serve as co-producers on Life, Larry through their Higher Ground production company; Barack previously provided the on-screen introduction to the first episode of the series, but his latest appearance allowed him to showcase his comedic chops alongside David.
“From the very beginning, my dream was to close the book on the tan suit once and for all,” Higher Ground executive producer Ethan Lewis told Variety. “The banter was phenomenal. Being a fly on the wall in that room was incredible.”
Co-creator Jeff Schaffer added of the scene between Obama and David, “The funny thing was watching him go, ‘Larry, you’re coming in late!’ He was the president, so he’s used to telling people what to do. Larry was in the odd position of being told what to do, which never happens on a Larry set.”
