FX Orders Brian Jordan Alvarez’s Comedy “English Teacher” to Series

Brian Jordan Alvarez is headed to the classroom…

FX has handed a series order to English Teacher, a comedy created by and starring the 36-year-old half-Colombian American actor, comedian and filmmaker.

Brian Jordan AlvarezPaul Simms serves as an executive producer on the project, which was originally ordered to pilot in June 2022.

English Teacher, also executive produced by Jonathan Krisel, follows a high school teacher in Austin who’s trying to balance the competing demands of the students and their parents in a world where the rules seem to change every day.

Alvarez is joined in the cast by Stephanie Koenig, Enrico Colantoni and Sean Patton.

“Brian is an incredibly talented writer, actor and creator who has fully delivered on his vision for English Teacher,” said Nick Grad, President, FX Entertainment. “Together with a creative team featuring Paul Simms and Jonathan Krisel, along with this brilliant cast, they have created a hilarious, original comedy that is fresh, engaging and fun.”

English Teacher is joining FX’s live-action comedy lineup, which is led by another workplace series, the popular and acclaimed The Bear. Its arrival also comes amid increased interest in the world of school teachers sparked by the success of ABC’s Abbott Elementary

Executive producing English Teacher are Alvarez, Simms, Krisel and Dave King. The series is produced by FX Productions.

Alvarez’s previous credits include appearances on Will and Grace, Jane the Virgin and his 2016 web series The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo.

Brian Jordan Alvarez to Executive Produce, Write & Star In FX’s Comedy Pilot “English Teacher”

Brian Jordan Alvarez is heading to the classroom..

FX has given the green light to the comedy pilot English Teacher from the 34-year-old Latino producer, actor and writer and Paul Simms.

Brian Jordan AlvarezAlvarez will executive produce, write and star in the pilot.

English Teacher is a comedy about gay high school English teacher Evan (Alvarez) and his fellow teachers in Austin as they try to balance the competing demands of the students and their parents in a world where the rules seem to change every day.

Alvarez has appeared on Will & Grace, Get Shorty, Grace and Frankie and Jane the Virgin.

He also created the web series The Gay and Wonderous Life of Caleb Gallo.

Oscar Nuñez to Star in Netflix’s Quarantine Anthology Series “Social Distance”

Oscar Nuñez is keeping his distance…

The 61-year-old Cuban actor and comedian has been cast in Netflix’s upcoming quarantine anthology series Social Distance.

Oscar Nuñez

Hailing from Orange is the New Black creator Jenji Kohan, the series will also star Scandal’s Guillermo Diaz, Love Victor’s Isabella Ferreira, Katy Keene & In The Heights star Daphne Rubin-Vega, Danielle Brooks, Mike Colter Asante Blackk, Peter Scanavino, Lachlan Watson, Max Jenkins and Marsha Stephanie Blake.

Set in the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Social Distance is an eight-part anthology series that showcases the power of the human spirit in the face of uncertainty and isolation. Each standalone episode is told through a virtual lens and captures the unique emotional experience of being forced apart by circumstance and having no choice but to communicate remotely and rely on technology to maintain any sense of connection. Through these varied and deeply human stories, Social Distance aims to provide some much-needed catharsis during a tumultuous time while also capturing a snapshot of this singular moment in history.

The project was conceived, cast and executed entirely remotely during quarantine. The writers never met during the writing process, Diego Velasco directs talent remotely, Hilary Weisman Graham runs production from her living room and the cast acts and films themselves from home. Some of the actors’ real-life relatives also guest star in the series.

“Many of these stories required casting actors who were quarantined with other actors. That hurdle seriously hindered our options and so casting non-actors was sometimes essential,” said Weisman Graham on the decision to cast actors’ family members. “It was definitely a roll of the dice, but thankfully, we were thrilled to discover that talent really does breed talent. These family members may not have had aspirations to be in front of the camera when we first started, but they should all quit their day jobs immediately.”

Weisman Graham, who also serves as showrunner, executive produces with Tara Herrmann, Blake McCormick and Kohan. Velasco, who directed an episode of Orange Is the New Black and is working with Kohan on her upcoming series Teenage Bounty Hunters is directing and will co-executive produce.

Social Distance cast members include (in no particular episodic order):

Danielle Brooks with real-life mother LaRita Brooks and brother DJ Brooks; Marsha Stephanie Blake with real-life daughter Rocco Luna; Misha Brooks; Isabella Ferreira; Oscar Nunez; Daphne Rubin-Vega with real-life husband Tom Costanzo and son Luca Costanzo; Guillermo Diaz; Miguel Sandoval; Camila Perez; Olli Haaskivi; Giana Aragon; Mike Colter; Okieriete Onaodowan; real-life spouses Heather Burns and Ajay; Shakira Barrera; Steven Weber with real-life son Jack Hohnen-Weber; Helena Howard; Asante Blackk with real-life father Ayize Ma’at; Lovie Simone;

Max Jenkins; Brian Jordan Alvarez; Peter Vack; Rana Roy; Peter Scanavino with real-life son Leo Bai-Scanavino; Ali Ahn; Tami Sagher; Barbara Rosenblat; Michael Mulheren; real-life spouses Becky Ann Baker and Dylan Baker; Sunita Mani; real-life spouses Raymond Anthony Thomas and Marcia Debonis; Kylie Liya Page; Lachlan Watson; David Iacono; Will Meyers; Niles Fitch; and Ava Demary.

Nuñez is best known for starring on NBC’s The Office.

Alvarez to Star in MTV’s Dark Comedy Pilot “Self Promotion”

Brian Jordan Alvarez is ready for a little self-promotion.

The Latino actor, writer and director has been added to the cast of MTV’s dark comedy pilot Self Promotion, which will be directed by Zach Braff.

Brian Jordan Alvarez

The project centers on overworked assistant Katie Preston (portrayed by Alexandra Krosney) who discovers that her dragon lady boss is missing (or worse). Things get messy fast, with Katie, believing she’ll be the prime suspect, covering up the crime scene. She starts calling the shots in her boss’s “absence,” and goes full CSI to find out what actually happened and exonerate herself.

Alvarez will portray Wyatt, one of Katie’s co-workers at Critical Mass, the chic lifestyle website.

His credits include the short films You Are What I Want, It’s Just a Question and Wave.