Billy Crystal Returns to TV in FX Pilot

The FX network announced on Wednesday that it was bringing the comedy star Billy Crystal back to television in a pilot for a new situation comedy.

If additional episodes of the show are produced, as is highly likely given Mr. Crystal's profile, they would be the first regular television work for Mr. Crystal since he was a cast member on “Saturday Night Live” in 1984.

In the show, which is called “The Comedians,” Mr. Crystal plays a once-great comic who tries to keep his career going by pairing up with a younger comic in a late-night sketch comedy show.

Larry Charles, well known as a writer-director with such credits as “Seinfeld,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and the movie “Borat,” is one of the creators of the series, which is based on a show that originated in Sweden. Mr. Charles will also direct the pilot.

FX has recently split its programming genres into two separate channels, with one devoted to comedy. The network already gained a reputation for innovative comedy with shows like “Louie” and “It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”

A version of this article appeared in print on May 23, 2013, on page C3 of the New York edition with the headline: Billy Crystal Starring In Sitcom Pilot for FX.