Two Oscar nominees have joined the cast of FX’s comedy pilot from Charlie Kaufman. The Hollywood Reporter’s Live Feed reports that the show has cast Catherine Keener of “Being John Malkovich” and Sally Hawkins of “Blue Jasmine."

The project, called “How and Why,” is about a man who understands intellectual issues such as nuclear fusion but can’t grasp the realities of life, the story notes. John Hawkes, another Oscar nominee, has already been cast as Goodman Hesselman, the host of a show called “How & Why,” which is featured in the comedy.

Hesselman loses his job, then moves to another town to start a similar, albeit smaller, show. Michael Cera of “Arrested Development” is set to play his new boss.

Hawkins is slated to portray Goodman’s wife, while Keener’s character is named Alice, although not much has been revealed about the role, the story notes.

Kaufman, who wrote “Being John Malkovich,” is slated to write and direct the pilot, marking his return to half-hour comedy after Fox’s 1990s show “Ned & Stacey.”

Keener has two Oscar nominations, for "Being John Malkovich" and "Capote," while Hawkins was nominated for "Blue Jasmine." Hawkes received a nomination for "Winter’s Bone."

Kaufman won an Oscar for his screenplay for "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and was nominated for "Being John Malkovich" and "Adaptation."

Catherine Keener