Mah-velous news for fans of Billy Crystal: the comedy star has been cast in a lead role in FX’s the Comedians, the Hollywood Reporter announced Wednesday. Based on a Swedish series, the show follows a veteran comic (Crystal) who is paired with a younger, edgier comedian for a late-night sketch show.
The Comedians will mark Crystal’s first full-time television gig since he appeared as a series regular on Saturday Night Live from 1984 to 85.
Matt Nix (Burn Notice) and Ben Wexler (Community) will serve as writers and executive producers alongside Larry Charles (Seinfeld), who will also direct the pilot episode. The series is scheduled to begin production this Summer.
Earlier this year, FX announced plans for a new network, FXX. The Comedians is one of the first new series ordered as a result of this move, as FXX will focus largely on comedies aimed at a younger audience. The network will launch in September.