Chris Rock producing late-night talk show on FX

FX has ordered six episodes of an untitled late-night talk show executive produced by Chris Rock and starring comedian W. Kamau Bell, the network announced Wednesday. The weekly half-hour series, in which Bell will discuss politics, politics, pop culture, race, religion, the media and sex, joins an FX late-night lineup that also includes Russell Brand’s “Strangely Uplifting.” Brand’s show debuts June 28, and Bell’s series will premiere at an undetermined date during the summer. The series also marks a return to late night for Rock, former star of HBO’s “The Chris Rock Show.” “I think Kamau is one of the funniest guys out there and I can’t wait to work with the good people at FX,” said Rock. The series is produced by FX Productions. Chuck Sklar and Bell are executive producing with Rock. “Clearly this is a great opportunity. I’m going to do my best to make the most of it,” Bell said. “I feel lucky to be working with one of the greatest comedians of all time, Chris Rock, and the most forward-thinking network, FX.” “The presentation pilot that Chris and Kamau shot was terrific,” said Nick Grad, executive vice president of original programming for FX. “Kamau is a tremendous young comedian who has a very smart and sharp take on life. Working with Chris will only bring out the best of his talents.” Bell is a founding member of the comedy group Laughter Against the Machine and has been named San Francisco’s best comedian by SF Weekly and the SF Bay Guardian. He is best known for his solo show “The W. Kamau Bell Curve: Ending Racism in About an Hour,” a Time Out NY critic’s pick in the 2010 NY Comedy Festival.