Jonathan Krisel


Jonathan Krisel is an American director, producer, writer, editor, and occasional actor. He is best known for co-creating the series Portlandia, 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 of the episodes of both Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! and Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule. He has 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 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 has also directed episodes of Kroll Show, Man Seeking Woman, and the Showtime series Moonbase 8.
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
YearTitleDirectorEditor
2009Rich Dicks
2010Ed Hardy Boyz: The Case of the Missing Sick Belt Buckle
2010The Red Roof Inn Chronicles

Television
YearTitleDirectorWriterExecutive
Producer		Notes
2004–2006Tom Goes to the Mayor17 episodes; animator, producer, senior editor
2007–2010Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!52 episodes
2010Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule6 episodes; Also senior editor
2010Funny or Die Presents4 episodes
2010–2011Saturday Night LiveSNL Digital Shorts
2011–2018PortlandiaAlso actor
2013–2014Kroll Show
2015Man Seeking Woman5 episodes
2016–2019BasketsAlso creator
2017GhostedEpisode "Pilot"
2020Moonbase 8
2024-2025English Teacher7 episodes
2025AdultsEpisode "Pilot"