Jonathan Krisel

Jonathan Krisel (; born January 4, 1979) is an American director, producer, writer, editor, and occasional actor. He is best known for co-creating the series Portlandia (for which he also directed and co-wrote the majority of episodes), and he is also known for the 2016 FX series Baskets. Krisel has collaborated with the comedy duo Tim & Eric, beginning with Tom Goes to the Mayor, and later directed most episodes of both Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! and Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule. He executive produced several other TV series, including Kroll Show, Man Seeking Woman, and most recently the Showtime series Moonbase 8. He executive produced the Fox pilot Ghosted and has also collaborated with The Lonely Island on several SNL Digital Shorts.

Career Jonathan Krisel first began working with the comedy duo Tim & Eric in 2006 on their animated series Tom Goes to the Mayor, where he worked as an animator, producer, and senior editor. Next, he worked as director, writer, co-executive producer, and senior editor on their sketch comedy series Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! from 2007 to 2010. Further, he directed episodes of Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule and contributed to the script of the 2012 film Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie. He also worked as a producer and creative collaborator on several Digital Shorts for the sketch comedy television series Saturday Night Live.

Since 2011, he has co-created, written, and executive produced every episode of and directed 52 episodes (including the first 44) of the satirical sketch comedy series Portlandia, starring Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen on IFC network. Furthermore, Krisel co-created the show and appeared in three episodes.

He is the co-creator of the comedy series Baskets, alongside comedians Louis C.K. and Zach Galifianakis, with the latter starring in the project. Krisel is also the program's executive producer and primary director. The show premiered on FX on January 21, 2016.

He is also the grandson of child actress Virginia Weidler.

On September 30, 2018, Krisel was announced to write and direct an upcoming Sesame Street movie.

On March 3, 2023, Krisel was announced to direct the sequel to Detective Pikachu.

Filmography Short film Year Title Director Editor 2009 Rich Dicks 2010 Ed Hardy Boyz: The Case of the Missing Sick Belt Buckle The Red Roof Inn Chronicles

Television Year Title Director Writer ExecutiveProducer Notes 2004–2006 Tom Goes to the Mayor 17 episodes, animator, producer, senior editor 2007–2010 Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! 52 episodes2010 Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule 6 episodes, Also senior editor Funny or Die Presents 4 episodes 2010–2011 Saturday Night Live SNL Digital Shorts 2011–2018 Portlandia Also actor 2013–2014 Kroll Show 2015 Man Seeking Woman 5 episodes 2016–2019 Baskets Also creator 2017 Ghosted Episode: "Pilot" 2020 Moonbase 8 2024–2025 English Teacher 7 episodes 2025-2026 Adults 3 episodes 2026 Rooster Episode: "Release the Brown Fat"