Dem
47
GOP
53
We already had an item recently about Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Happiness, and we also had one about Barack Obama being a decent fellow. So, why not an item that combines both storylines?
Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Happiness, which stars Larry David, and which is produced by (and features supporting appearances from) Barack Obama, released its season finale this week. The "bit" that is the foundation of the show is that David plays his usual socially awkward, somewhat misanthropic character. However, instead of doing so in modern-day Los Angeles (Curb Your Enthusiasm) or in modern-day New York City (Seinfeld, in the person of George Costanza), he is inserted into various notable moments from history.
In the final segment of the season-concluding episode, David is playing an aide to Obama during the latter's presidency. They address various fashion-related issues, including an extended discussion of whether or not you can eat soup while you're wearing a tie. It's relatively clear where it's headed; the sketch reaches its climax when Obama is choosing a suit for a press conference, and David goes all-in on advocating for one that is tan-colored. You can see the segment here; we've cued it up to the tan suit portion:
The piece ends with Obama leaving for his press conference, and David (correctly) predicting that people are "going to be talking about this one for a very long time."
Most presidents are/were able to laugh at themselves, on occasion. Obama certainly could; he was capable of both dishing it out and of taking it. And most of the remainder who did not have this ability, like Richard Nixon, were at least able to screw on a smile for the camera and fake it. These days, it's sometimes nice to have a reminder this is the norm.
Have a good weekend, all! (Z)