Zimbabwe-born, Pittsburgh-based comedian Learnmore Jonasi, 31, is making his big appearance on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” this summer: In his next appearance tonight (8 p.m., WPXI-TV), he will make it into the Top 44 and compete for a spot in the show’s semifinals.

Jonasi, who said on “AGT” it was his dream to appear on the show, received a golden buzzer from host Terry Crews, whose performances on “White Chicks” and “Everybody Hates Chris” Jonasi imitated as a child. And as he grew older, Jonasi regularly watched “AGT” with his mother.

“My mom always says, ‘One day I’ll see you on that stage,'” he recalls. “When she saw me on that stage, she just thought, ‘Oh my God.’ Her dreams really have come true.”

Jonasi began his stand-up career at the age of 18 in his native Zimbabwe and applied for and received a comedian scholarship from the Steel City Arts Foundation, eventually moving to Pittsburgh three years ago. Jonasi recently joined Friendship.

“I saw Pittsburgh in movies, but I never thought I would stay there,” Jonasi said. “It’s one of those cities you don’t hear much about, but moving there was so interesting and I’m glad I did because I found community and friends there.”

Before his first stand-up performance on “AGT” two months ago, Jonasi said he stood backstage and played through all the worst-case scenarios that could happen to him in front of the judges.

“I was nervous, but when I got on stage, I was at home,” Jonasi said. “I’ve been doing this since I was a teenager, and it felt like any other stage. … When I finished my performance and everyone gave me a standing ovation, that was enough. I thought, ‘I did it.’ I was so scared of the red buzzer, so Terry Crews hitting the gold buzzer was the icing on the cake, the seal of approval from the person I’d always watched as a kid.”

Judge Howie Mandel praised Jonasi’s performance, which included jokes about his hometown in Africa and his comical reaction to the discovery that some poor people in America are white.

“Stand-up comedy is hard enough,” Mandel said, “but when you come from another country whose first language is not English and you not only communicate with everyone, but you tickle everyone, make everyone laugh and make the country a better place, you’re really great.”

Judge Simon Cowell called Jonasi “one of the funniest people we’ve had over the years.”

Jonasi describes his comedy style as self-deprecating, observational and physical, which is partly due to his 6’5″ frame, which led to him being bullied in Zimbabwe because he says people there are short. In America, he is admired for his height.

“I’m very big and strong on stage and I use my body to make people laugh,” he said.

Jonasi also dresses in a way that makes them smile: He wears colorful suit jackets (the jacket from his previous “AGT” appearance was made together with his sister) and shoes.

“I like to stand out,” said Jonasi. “I like to be the center of attention and this colorful splendor, that’s me.”

As for his unique first name, Jonasi said it is common for people born in Zimbabwe to have first names derived from English words.

“My mother’s sister’s name is Profit,” he said. “And one of my childhood friends was Takeiteasy.”

No matter what happens this week on “AGT,” the golden buzzer has already had a positive impact on her career.

“After I won the Golden Buzzer, I immediately went on tour,” Jonasi said. “It opened so many doors for me that were closed. I started touring everywhere – big cities, small towns in America – and getting ready for the live shows, testing the material and making sure it was up to scratch.”

Jonasi declined to say whether Pittsburgh will appear in his set on “AGT” tonight.

“You’ll just have to watch,” he said. “But I’ll represent you. I’m a Yinzer now!”

Following this week’s “AGT” live shows – the results show airs Wednesday at 8 p.m. – Jonasi will perform at the Pittsburgh Improv on Thursday at 7 p.m.

“Only murders”

Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building returns today with its fourth season (new episodes stream weekly on Tuesdays), and this time the trio must contend not only with a new murder, but also with Hollywood silliness.

Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez) eventually discover that Charles’ stunt double, Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch), was murdered in Charles’ apartment. This is a particularly hard blow for Charles, as he begins to have hallucinations of Sazz.

Could the murderer have been one of the residents of the West Tower, played by Richard Kind and Kumail Nanjiani?

At the same time, Paramount Pictures is planning to make a film based on the trio’s podcast, which will star Eugene Levy as Charles, Zach Galifianakis as Oliver and Eva Longoria as Mabel. Longoria in particular seems to enjoy exaggerating clichés about Hollywood divas.

This season of Only Murders is quite harmonious in the seven episodes provided for review, as viewers are familiar with both the returning cast and are treated to new Hollywood characters who provide humor and a host of new suspects.

WPKD-TV for sale?

According to Bloomberg, Paramount Global may be considering selling some of its independent television stations, including Pittsburgh’s WPKD-TV, Channel 19 (also known as KDKA+).

According to the report, Paramount has hired an investment bank to explore the sale of television stations that are not part of the company’s core business. A representative for Paramount declined to comment on the reports.

Retained/cancelled

Trade publications are reporting that Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso” will return for a fourth season, but so far only three of the original cast members have been tapped to return: Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca, Brett Goldstein as Roy Kent and Jeremy Swift as Leslie Higgins. More are expected to join next, including star Jason Sudeikis.

Apple TV+ has renewed the thriller “Criminal Record” for a second season.

The syndicated daytime series “The Drew Barrymore Show” has been prematurely renewed for a sixth season, 2025–26, ahead of the fifth season premiere on September 9.

The CW dropped the series “The Librarians: The Next Chapter” planned for fall, TNT picked it up and ordered a second season to be on the safe side.

HBO’s “Somebody Somewhere” ends with the third season, which premieres on October 27th at 10:30 p.m.

Amazon Prime Video has canceled “My Lady Jane” after just one season.

The National Geographic Channel has canceled the reality documentary series “Wicked Tuna” after 13 seasons.

Reach TV writer Rob Owen at [email protected] or 412-380-8559. Follow @RobOwenTV on Threads, Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky and Facebook. Ask TV questions by email or phone. Please include your first name and location.