Tracy Morgan will be returning to TV in a new comedy on FX. FX recently gave the greenlight for a pilot co-written by Jordan Peele (Key & Peele) and John Carcieri (Eastbound & Down). Since this is recent decision for the network, the untitled pilot has been tentatively scheduled to begin production this summer.
In the comedy, Morgan will play a career criminal trying to rejoin society after spending 15 long years in prison. The name of Morgan’s character is still unknown, but Deadline explains the Saturday Night Live alum’s character has the singular skill of making grilled cheese with an iron, a skill which does not come in very handy as he tries to navigate the internet, self-driving cars, and political correctness. Morgan, Peele, and Carcieri will executive produce alongside Eric Tannenbaum (The Odd Couple) and Joel Zadak (Key and Peele).
Back in 2013, Morgan starred in FX’s comedy Death Pact and was set to star in new comedy the network had ordered straight-to-series. The project was put on permanent hold following Morgan’s nearly career-ending car crash in June 2014 on the New Jersey turnpike. Morgan’s SUV was rear-ended, and while he sustained broken bones and a brain injury, his friend and fellow comedian, James McNair, who was riding in the car with him died.
After a year of physical therapy, Morgan slowly began to reappear on TV. In September he made an appearance at the Emmys and later returned TV to host the show that had made him famous, Saturday Night Live. Since his initial return to television, the former 30 Rock star has been keeping busy. Morgan recently finished the production for Fist Fight in which he, Ice Cube, and Charlie Day star. He is currently finishing a stand-up tour Picking Up the Pieces and will star opposite Mick Epps in the Richard Pryor biopic Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said? from Weinstein Co.
FX is very enthusiastic about Morgan’s return to the network. “What an unbeatable combination – Tracy Morgan and Jordan Peele – two exceptional comics joining forces with a great team of writers and producers to create and produce this pilot for FX Networks,” said FX’s president of original programming, Nick Grad. “We’ve been committed to Tracy from the start and are thrilled that Jordan, John, Eric and Joel are joining him in developing this new project.”