Langston Kerman is the latest to join NBC’s untitled detective comedy pilot, stepping into a lead role alongside Keith David and Jake Johnson.
Set in Los Angeles, the single-camera comedy centers on the day-to-day workings of the private investigator office, blending character-driven humor with the city’s long-standing tradition of fictional detectives. The project is described as a modern comedic take on the genre, building on a legacy that includes classic noir figures like Philip Marlowe.
Kerman will play Justin Royal, described as “a great big teddy bear of a man,” who works as a private investigator at an agency run by his father, Julius Royal (David). A tough, old-school operator with antiquated views, Julius oversees the agency where Justin and Mickey Wilder (Johnson) serve as its primary investigators.
Mickey, a former LAPD officer whose life unraveled three years earlier, is smart, cynical, and quietly heartbroken — though he does his best to hide it. Despite his personal struggles, he has a natural instinct for investigative work, making him a key part of the agency’s operations.
The ensemble cast also includes Jane Levy as a whip-smart investigative journalist and Mary Shalaby as the agency’s flagrantly disinterested receptionist.
The pilot comes from writers and executive producers Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici, with Akiva Schaffer set to direct and executive produce. Jake Johnson also serves as a producer. The project is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
Kerman continues to expand his footprint across television and comedy, with credits including Insecure, Abbott Elementary, The Boys, The Other Black Girl, and English Teacher. He also served as head writer on HBO’s Pause With Sam Jay and recently released his Netflix comedy special Bad Poetry, directed by John Mulaney. Up next, he will appear in the film Cut Off and Amazon’s upcoming Barbershop series.
NBC has not yet announced a title or premiere timeline for the pilot, which remains in development.
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Langston Kerman joins Keith David and Jake Johnson in NBC’s new detective comedy pilot—and the character dynamics already sound like something to watch.