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Bill Burr is developing a sitcom based on the life of the comic Earthquake

By Chris Morgan | Last updated Jun 30, 2025 6:45 PM ET

Sitcoms starring standups used to be the norm. It was the go-to pipeline, and it gave us shows like "Roseanne," "Seinfeld," and "Everybody Loves Raymond." Sitcom vehicles for standups have become less common, as have network sitcoms in general, but they aren't extinct. Maybe they just need an exceedingly-successful sitcom like Bill Burr involved. Burr is developing a sitcom called "Earthquake" based on the life of the standup comedian Earthquake.

Earthquake, whose real name is Nathaniel Stroman, has been a comedian's comedian for decades, ever since he brought through on the Def Jam comedy tour. This affinity has led to him getting acting roles on "Everybody Hates Chris" and also "The Neighborhood," the latter of which stars Cedric the Entertainer.

Burr, meanwhile, is one of the most-successful standups going today. When he did his show based on his life, he went the animated route with "F is for Family." If he wanted to star in a sitcom, he could. Instead, he is developing one for a comedian he's a fan of in Earthquake.

The show is being developed for FOX, which is in need of original comedies that aren't animated. "Earthquake" hasn't been picked up as a show, with only a pilot script having been ordered at this point. One would imagine Burr's involvement, and the popularity of Earthquake, would get the show at least one season, but you never know.

(h/t The Hollywood Reporter)

Chris Morgan

Chris Morgan is a Detroit-based culture writer who has somehow managed to justify getting his BA in Film Studies. He has written about sports and entertainment across various internet platforms for years and is also the author of three books about '90s television.

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