Former President Barack Obama’s infamous 2014 tan suit made an unexpected return in a segment from the finale of Larry David’s limited HBO series, Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness.
The seven-episode limited sketch comedy series, which coincided with the 250th anniversary of the U.S., was produced by the Obamas’ production company, Higher Ground.
The collaboration between the 64-year-old former president and the 76-year-old comedian featured real-life banter behind the scenes during production. Director and co-creator Jeff Schaffer recalled that when Obama attempted to offer feedback during an early script meeting, David cut him off with, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, we got it.”
The satirical scene from Friday’s series finale presents an alternate history for the wardrobe choice, which originally drew intense criticism from right-wing commentators who deemed the light color unpresidential. The suit went on to become a viral political moment, eventually inspiring its own Wikipedia page.
In the sketch, Obama prepares for a press conference wearing a navy suit while refusing to let David sip his smoothie.
Once the president steps out, David sneaks a drink, spills it and ruins the navy attire. To cover up the accident, David points Obama toward a tan suit, pitching it as an option for “casual Friday.” After changing, Obama asks David for his thoughts on the look.
David responds with his signature catchphrase: “Prettay good.”
“Prettay, prettay, prettay, pretty good,” he says.
“Are you sure about this?” Obama asks.
“Never been more sure about anything in my life,” David replies. “People are going to be talking about this for a long, long time.”
Obama shared a clip of the appearance on X.
“People always ask me where the tan suit came from.” he wrote. “I think it’s time the truth finally came out.”
The concept originated with Ethan Lewis, an executive at Obama’s Higher Ground production company, which produces the series.
Lewis told Variety that the goal from the beginning was to “close the book on the tan suit once and for all.”
Co-creator Jeff Schaffer told Variety that Obama displayed strong improvisation skills on set, even offering directing notes to David.
Schaffer noted that Obama mentioned he enjoyed playing annoyed opposite David, though he joked that the comedian’s negative persona tended to rub off on him during their interactions.
