FX orders late-night unscripted series for Russell Brand

Well, blimey mate! Check out this cheeky monkey who earned himself a six-episode order for a late-night series of specials. On cable. It’s Russell Brand, who received the series order from FX on Thursday.

Details: Brand will star in six half-hour episodes of “an unscripted late night series” to debut in spring 2012. They’ll be shot in front of live audiences and showcase Brand talking up current events and working the crowds.

From the press release:

“We’re very excited to add Russell Brand’s bracingly funny, original, and honest voice to the FX comedy line-up,” said Nick Grad, Executive Vice President, Original Programming, FX. “We look forward to supporting Russell and his partner Troy Miller’s ambition to strip down the hosted comedy format to its most fundamental elements and to create something daring and unfiltered for the FX audience.”

Miller will executive produce with Brand and also direct the specials.

“I am so excited I’m on the point of climax, in fact I will put the “O” into FX, which spells FOX, which is actually the channel’s real name,” said Brand. “That’s the only thing that worries me about all this to be honest. At least I’ll be able to have a Christmas drink with Bill O’Reilly.”

Despite breaking through in America initially via film, Brand’s more recent movie choices haven’t been as successful, and his heritage is more linked to stand-up comedy than to acting. He does have quite the gift for gab, though. I initially thought this was going to be a talk show series. A series of half-hour specials, with ads, however? Hmmm. It’ll be interesting to see how he fits in with the other FX programming.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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