It’s time to add another name to the list of TV stars who gained recognition on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Brian Jordan Alvarez, who has popped on our radar thanks to his viral videos and appearances in independent web series, is the creator and star of the new FX comedy English Teacher.
English Teacher, which stars Alvarez in the titular role, premiered on FX on September 2. Early feedback has been positive, and some reviewers are already calling for the show to be renewed beyond its initial eight-episode run.
For those who have followed Alvarez’s career over the past decade, the plaudits for English Teacher come as no surprise. The ridiculous, over-the-top skits on his YouTube channel have attracted more than 90 million lifetime views, and he showed off his showrunning chops when he released the indie web sitcom The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo nearly a decade ago.
More recently, Alvarez has popped up on TikTok, where he spawned a cultural phenomenon by informing viewers that sitting is the opposite of standing. If you haven’t seen this TikTok before, be warned — you’re about to join the millions of viewers who have gotten Alvarez’s ditty stuck in their heads.
@brianjordanalvarezSITTING 🗣️🗣️🗣️🎶🎶🎶♬ original sound – Brian Jordan Alvarez
Many of Alvarez’s projects have been supported by his frequent creative partner Stephanie Koenig, who co-stars in English Teacher and wrote the second episode of the show’s first season. Alvarez and Koenig previously tested the TV waters with an adaptation of their comedy Stupid Idiots, which was announced around the same time as Alvarez’s representation deal with CAA.
Alvarez and Koenig are not the first web series stars to show up on traditional TV networks, but English Teacher‘s arrival is well-timed. “Sitting is the opposite of standing” gave Alvarez a memeable moment on TikTok, and networks are bullish on serial programs that tie into TikTok trends (see also: the Natasha Rothwell-led adaptation of Who TF Did I Marry?)
The recognition for Alvarez and Koenig’s work is earned, and the pair seem to be well on their way to a cable TV success story. New episodes of English Teacher will drop each Monday until October 14.
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