FX has ordered a pilot for the comedy "The Comedians," starring Billy Crystal as a superstar veteran who is paired with a younger, edgier comic on a late-night sketch show.
"The Comedians" comes from showrunners Larry Charles ("Seinfeld," "Curb Your Enthusiasm"), Matt Nix ("Burn Notice"), and Ben Wexler ("Community, "Arrested Development") who are writers and executive producers, along with Crystal. Charles will direct the pilot.
“It truly is an honor to be in business with Billy Crystal and Larry Charles, two of the all-time greats in comedy,” said FX Networks president John Landgraf. “We have also wanted for some time to be in business with Matt Nix, who has done such an amazing job creating and running 'Burn Notice.' They, along with Ben Wexler, are an unbeatable team and we’re incredibly excited about this project.”
The half-hour, single-camera comedy is produced by Fox Television Studios. Pilot production is scheduled for this summer.
The show is based on a Swedish format of the same name from Stockholm-based Efti AB, whose Carl Molinder and John Nordling will also executive produce.
Mikkel Bondesen and Henrik Bastin also serve as executive producers, with Kristen Campo serving as co-executive producer, through their production company Fabrik Entertainment ("Burn Notice," "The Killing"), which also is producing the project.
"To collaborate with such comedy royalty as Billy Crystal and Larry Charles, and writers and creators of Matt Nix and Ben Wexler's caliber, is more fun than you're supposed to have at work. We are truly honored," said Fox Television Studios President David Madden. "And we also remain gratified to be in business with Fabrik — Mikkel, Henrik and Kristen somehow continue to unearth incredibly special formats that seem to translate and resonate for US audiences."
