JB Smoove Taking His Talents to Fox in First-Look Deal

Comedian, actor, and writer JB Smoove has inked a first-look deal with Fox Entertainment Studios to develop unscripted content.

In a recent press release, Fox said the multi-year agreement will see Smoove executive produce an unscripted slate of content via his Alternate Side Productions, alongside company co-founders Rick Dorfman and Miles Grose.

“Let me tell you something… unscripted is where the magic really happens,” Smoove said in a statement. “You can’t plan it, you can’t fake it, you just gotta jump in and let it fly. That’s my lane!”

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Fox Entertainment Studios will produce the new content, which is expected to span a range of formats.

“JB brings an unmistakable comedic voice and a fearless, spontaneous energy that makes him a natural fit for the unscripted genre,” Allison Wallach, head of unscripted programming at Fox Entertainment Studios, said in a statement.

Wallach added, “Together with Rick, Miles and the team at Alternate Side Productions, JB has a sharp eye for original concepts and an ability to connect with audiences in a way that feels fresh, energizing and highly entertaining.”

Fox Entertainment Studios is a division of Fox focused on in-house content. Among its projects are The Masked Singer; I Can See Your Voice; and Name That Tune. The unit also oversees animation studio Bento Box Entertainment; TMZ and its primetime franchise TMZ Investigates; and independent film label Tideline Entertainment.

JB Smoove is a veteran stand-up comic and former writer and performer on Saturday Night Live. His breakout role was as Leon Black on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. Among his other TV credits are The Real Husbands of Hollywood and Mapleworth Murders, which earned him an Emmy Award.

He also had parts in the films Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019); Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016); and Top Five (2014).

A native of North Carolina, he was born Jerry Angelo Brooks. JB Smoove is represented by Authentic Talent and Literary Management, UTA, and attorney Roger Pliakas.