Brandon T. Jackson first stand-up to join cast of simultaneous reality series on Esquire and Oxygen

At their Upfront presentations to advertisers today, the Esquire Network and Oxygen announced a first-ever joint project that will feature companion reality series shooting and airing at the same time on both cable channels — one showing the lives of stand-up comedians, the other showcasing the lives of the women and children who live with those same comedians.

Brandon T. Jackson appeared at today’s Upfronts for Esquire/Oxygen as the first announced cast member.

Jackson, 31, appeared on the big screen in Tropic Thunder, and in the past year on your smaller screens in Comedy Central’s Drunk History, MTV2’s Wild ‘N Out and Hulu’s Deadpool series.

The shows tentatively are titled Comedians of L.A. (Esquire) and Living With Funny (Oxygen).

Oxygen already shot a docu-series, Funny Girls, following the onstage and offstage lives of six aspiring stand-up comedians in Los Angeles. Funny Girls premieres April 7 2015.

“It’s an exciting time at Esquire Network and we are proud of our significant and continuous growth. This new line-up will present even more of the compelling, dynamic content that is engaging our male audience, setting us up for further momentum,” said Matt Hanna, Senior Vice President of Original Programming, Esquire Network. “As a young network, we’re constantly on the look-out for new and innovative ways to deliver quality programming – Comedians of L.A., delivers a groundbreaking concept not only in the way it is produced and presented, but also in the unique and transparent perspective it will give viewers.”

Here is the straight scoop on the two reality series, straight from the network press releases:

Comedians of L.A. (working title)

Living With Funny (working title)

Produced by L. Plummer Media with Lemuel Plummer executive producing.

In this first-of-its kind partnership with Oxygen, Esquire Network points an unflinching lens at the working life of a stand-up comedian onstage, backstage, and offstage. COMEDIANS OF L.A. (WT) follows rising comedians in Hollywood as they tour in concert halls worldwide and appear in blockbuster movies trying to take their careers to the next level. As they live and work in the same circles, the camaraderie and rivalries will surface as they all stand on the precipice of stardom, hustling to arrive. Oxygen’s series, LIVING WITH FUNNY (working title), focuses on their personal lives and relationships with their wives and girlfriends. This companion docu-series showcases the personal lives behind the curtain of rising comedians in Hollywood and the women in their lives.  Cameras will follow the howling tale of what happens when they drop the mic and come home to their family, friends and significant others. Because when you are a comedian, the jokes don’t stop just because the show does.

The series will air during the same period on each network so fans can follow both shows seamlessly. Brandon T. Jackson is the first comedian to commit to both shows. Additional cast will be announced at a later date.