Brand X with Russell Brand

Brand X with Russell Brand

Company type	Television series
Industry	Television entertainment
Founded	June 28, 2012 (2012-06-28)
Founder	Russell Brand, Troy Miller
Defunct	May 2, 2013 (2013-05-02)
Headquarters	United States
Products	Late-night talk show, stand-up comedy series
Parent	FX Networks

Brand X with Russell Brand was an American late-night talk show and stand up comedy series that debuted on FX on June 28, 2012. The program, created by British comedian Russell Brand alongside producer Troy Miller, featured Brand as the host and aired for two seasons before concluding on May 2, 2013. On June 6, 2013, FX confirmed that the series would not be renewed for a third season.

Season 1

During the initial portion of the first season in 2012, episodes centered around extended monologues covering three loosely related subjects without guest appearances. Political commentator Matt Stoller joined Brand on stage during this period. Subsequent episodes incorporated celebrity guests who participated in two segments: an interview followed by a collaborative advice session with the audience. Later in the season, the show introduced the segment "Totally Unacceptable Opinion," where Brand engaged in debates with controversial representatives from hate groups such as the Westboro Baptist Church, then held conversations with individuals targeted by these organizations.

Season 2

On November 27, FX announced a renewal for a second season consisting of 13 episodes, which premiered on February 7, 2013, and transitioned into an hour-long live format. The "Totally Unacceptable Opinion" segment was discontinued, and Matt Stoller was replaced by Steve Jones, the founding guitarist of the Sex Pistols. Jones contributed guitar performances and interacted with Brand through banter, drawing upon his punk rock background and experience as a Los Angeles radio DJ to better align with the show's atmosphere.

Cancellation

FX declared on June 6, 2013, that Brand X with Russell Brand would not continue into a third season. Instead, the network reportedly developed a scripted pilot featuring Brand in a role loosely inspired by his own life, adopting a style reminiscent of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Reception

Critical response to the premiere was predominantly unfavorable. Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times observed that Brand overestimated his ability to maintain viewer engagement through monologues alone, contrasting him unfavorably with seasoned talk show hosts such as Jay Leno and Stephen Colbert.

In contrast, Tim Goodman from The Hollywood Reporter provided a more favorable assessment but noted that the half-hour duration constrained the show's potential. Goodman characterized Brand X as an effort to adapt Brand’s stand-up comedy approach for an American audience.