Jonathan Krisel Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

EXCLUSIVE: Lucy Freyer (Paint), Malik Elassal, Owen Thiele (Dollface), Amita Rao and Jack Innanen (The Dessert) have been cast as the leads of FX‘s ensemble comedy pilot Snowflakes, written by former The Tonight Show scribes Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw and to be directed by Jonathan Krisel (Baskets).

Joe Otterson TV Reporter FX has ordered a pilot for the half-hour comedy “Snowflakes.” The project boasts an impressive lineup behind the camera. Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw are the writers and executive producers, with Nick Kroll executive producing under his first-look deal with FX Productions. Karey Dornetto will also executive produce along with Alicia Van Couvering, president of Kroll’s Good at Business production banner, and Jonathan Krisel, with Krisel also directing.

FX has ordered its latest comedy pilot.

FX has handed a series order to English Teacher, a comedy created by and starring Brian Jordan Alvarez. Paul Simms (FX’s Atlanta and What We Do in the Shadows), serves as an executive producer on the project, which was originally ordered to pilot in June 2022.

Masters of the Universe: Revolution” in an all-new role, as the ancient sorceress of technology, Motherboard, Mattel announced Monday. Foster returns to the “He-Man” franchise after starring in the 1987 live-action film “Masters of the Universe” as Evil-Lyn. “Revolution” picks up after the 2021 animated series “Masters of the Universe: Revelation,” chronicling the epic battle between He-Man and Skeletor’s ongoing rivalry for Eternia. Foster’s Motherboard is a nefarious A.I. sent to conquer Eternia by Hordak, the classic villain from the 1980s “She-Ra” animated series. Foster joins Mark Hamill as Skeletor, Chris Wood as He-Man, Melissa Benoist as Teela and William Shatner in a still-to-be-announced role. Fred Soulie, Rob David, Christopher Keenan, Ted Biaselli and Kevin Smith serve as executive producers on the animated series.

Two-time Emmy winner Sarah Silverman is returning to HBO for a new stand-up comedy special, her second for the premium cable network. The as-yet untitled special, taped in front of a live audience at The Wilbur Theater in Boston, MA, will debut this May.

EXCLUSIVE: Oscar winning co-director/co-scribe/producer of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Rodney Rothman, and former MGM exec Adam Rosenberg, have inked a first look deal with Sony Pictures to develop, produce, write, and direct feature films through their company, Modern Magic.

Jordan Moreau The “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” sequel has finally caught a director. Jonathan Krisel, co-creator of “Portlandia,” is in negotiations with Legendary Entertainment to direct the sequel to the live-action “Pokémon” movie from 2019. Chris Galletta will write the script. Krisel co-created, wrote and executive produced IFC’s sketch comedy show “Portlandia,” which starred fellow co-creators Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein in a multitude of oddball situations around Portland, Oregon. He also co-created, wrote and directed FX’s “Baskets,” starring Zach Galifianakis as a rodeo clown. Previously, Galletta wrote the 2013 coming-of-age comedy “The Kings of Summer.”

Deadline, which first reported the news, “While no deals are done at this time and nothing is confirmed, insiders believe Reynolds will have some part to play in the upcoming sequel though that is undetermined right now.”Pokémon has delighted fans of all ages around the world for more than 25 years.  With more than 440 million video games sold worldwide, 10s of billions of Pokémon TCG cards shipped, and an animated series licensed to broadcast in 177 countries spanning 25 seasons, Pokémon is one of the most successful entertainment properties in the world.Krisel’s credits include co-creating, writing, and executive producing “Portlandia,” as well as co-creating, directing and writing “Baskets” starring Zach Galifianakis for FX.

EXCLUSIVE: Portlandia co-creator Jonathan Krisel is in negotiations to direct the Pokemon Detective Pikachu live-action sequel based on the globally popular Pokémon franchise for Legendary Entertainment. Chris Galletta will write the script for the follow-up to Legendary’s 2019 box office hit. 

EXCLUSIVE: Sope Aluko, who is best known for starring as The Shaman in Marvel’s Black Panther, is joining Bammas.

Hulu is proceeding with a pilot order to Bammas, a comedy written, executive produced by and starring Opeyemi “Opey” Olagbaju & Biniam Bizuneh.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterHulu has ordered the comedy pilot “Bammas” written by and starring Opeyemi Olagbaju and Biniam Bizuneh, Variety has learned.The show follows a pair of young Ethiopian- and Nigerian-American best friends as they struggle to overcome their loser reputations in a magical realist version of Washington DC.Olagbaju and Bizuneh serve as executive producers in addition to starring and writing. Danny Chun (“The Office” “The Simpsons”), who mentored the pair at the Sundance Lab in 2019, will serve as showrunner and executive producer.

Jonathan Krisel Jonathan Krisel was executive producer of “Baskets,” starring Louie Anderson, which aired on FX from 2016-19. Anderson, who died at age 68 on Jan. 21, won an Emmy for his performance as Christine on the show, which also starred Zach Galifianakis.

Louie Anderson portrayed Christine Baskets in the FX series “Baskets.” Photo: Ben Cohen/FX

died peacefully Friday in Las Vegas, Nevada, following complications from cancer, his rep confirmed to ET.Henry Winkler, George Wallace, Howie Mandel, Marc Maron, Gilbert Gottfried and Jeff Ross are just some of Anderson's many friends and colleagues whose tributes started pouring in following the devastating news. FX, the network that aired Anderson's dramedy,, for four seasons, also released a statement expressing their deepest sympathies to Anderson's loved ones and everyone lucky enough to have known him.«We are so deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend, Louie Anderson,» the statement read. «For four wonderful seasons, Louie graced us and fans of  with a bravura performance as Christine Baskets, for which he deservedly was recognized by his peers with the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.»«It was a risky role for him and he embraced it with a fearlessness and joy that demonstrated his brilliance as an artist,» the statement continued.

Heidecker in a new Showtime comedy, which sees three awful astronauts live in a Moon Base Simulator in Arizona.The series, “Moonbase 8” was ordered for six episodes. It was created, written and executive produced by Armisen, Heidecker, Reilly and Jonathan Krisel, who directed the series.

Denise Petski Senior Managing EditorShowtime has picked up Moonbase 8, a half-hour workplace comedy series from Portlandia co-creators Fred Armisen and Jonathan Krisel (Baskets), Tim Heidecker (Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!), John C. Reilly (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story) and A24.

It won't be his first visit...

According to Variety, Chance The Rapper is in talks to join the planned Sesame Street movie over at Warner Bros.