ABC commissions a pilot sitcom starring Jo Koy

Comedian Jo Koy

When you're hot, you're hot! Filipino American comedian Jo Koy's career is on fire.

ABC announced Tuesday that it ordered a pilot for a sit-com titled Josep. The projected series follows a recently divorced Filipino American nurse (Koy), as he tries to navigate dating, fatherhood and a "helpful" Filipino mother who can't help herself because he just wants what's best for her son.

Anyone familiar with Koy's standup material is probably familiar with the hilarious routines on those subjects that he often describes in his comedy routine.

Behind the camera, the series is a bevy of AAPI talent. Steve Joe is the writer and executive producer on the pilot. Kourtney Kang, who executive produced ABC's Fresh Off the Boat, will do the same job for Josep, along with The Detective Agency’s Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar, Joe Meloche, Imminent Collision’s Randall Park, Michael Golamco and Hieu Ho.

Koy is one of the busiest Asian American entertainers in Hollywood. He's currently on his world tour, "Just Kidding." He has his fourth Netflix special slated for March and a memoir "Mixed Plate" due out March 23.

Additionally, a motion picture, Easter Sunday, based on his comedy material is scheduled to be released April 1.

The movie, produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblin' Partners and Dan Lin's Rideback Productions, will star the comedian and is loosely based on his life. According to Ambling's website Koy plays a "man returning home for an Easter celebration with his riotous, bickering, eating, drinking, laughing, loving family, in this love letter to his Filipino American community."

Easter Sunday features a bevy of Asian American talent including Tia Carrere plays Tia Theresa, Brandon Wardell plays Junior, Eva Noblezada plays Ruth, and Asif Ali plays Tony Daytona. Eugene Cordero appears as himself, as does Lou Diamond Phillips. Lydia Gaston, Jimmy O. Yang, Rodney To, Jay Chandrasekhar, and Tiffany Haddish have also been cast.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective, follow me on Twitter @DioknoEd.

Jo Koy's funny upbringing as a Filipino American inspires a movie

Comedian Jo Koy played to a sold-out audience at San Francisco's 18,000-seat Chase Center and held them in the palm of his hand throughout his entire set.

During his monologue, he often told stories about growing up in Seattle by a strict single  Filipina mother. The audience, the majority of which were Filipino Americans, guffawed as they recognized their own relatives.

Being raised by a Filipino mother is a major part of his routine. "I really bonded with my mom," says Koy. "That's why I identify with being Asian, with being Filipino. Those stories are true. It’s from my heart. It’s what I lived growing up so that’s all I can talk about."

Now his Filipino American family -- at least the comedic version of his family -- will be the subject of an upcoming movie titled Easter Sunday, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

As the title suggests, the Amblin Partners project centers around a family gathering to celebrate Easter Sunday.

“This is a dream come true for me to work with such a legendary production company like Amblin who have produced some of my all-time favorite movies from Jurassic Park to 1917. I’m so honored to be a part of the Amblin family, and to have them help bring my personal stories to the big screen,” Koy said Tuesday in a statement.

Besides being the subjects of the movie, Asian Americans will be behind the camera as well.  Rick and Morty writer Jessica Gao and Silicon Valley star Jimmy O. Yang are among the executive producers. Dan Lin's Rideback will. be partnering with Amblin for the comedy. Comedian and writer Ken Cheng (Wilfred) will write the screenplay.  

Easter Sunday will be released domestically by Universal Pictures.

Koy, who says he has been doing standup comedy for over 30 years, was named the “Stand-Up Comedian of the Year” at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal in 2018. His Netflix special "Live From Seattle" albun reached No. 1 on the 2019 Billboard comedy album chart.

“Jo is one of the most popular comics working today and I’m delighted to be starting this journey with him. Jo’s comedy is at once unique to his life and his experiences, and at the same time relatable and familiar to us all," added Holly Bario, Amblin Partners’ president of production. "With every performance he shares his comedy, his heart and his family with us. His poor family ... who will now be lovingly made fun of in a whole new medium. To them, I apologize.”