NBA analyst Shaquille O’Neal is teaming up with truTV on a workplace comedy pilot loosely based on the former player’s business empire.
O’Neal is executive producing the half-hour scripted comedy with Mike Tollin; Mandalay Sports Media is producing. “Wedding Ringer” writer Jeremy Garelick is penning the pilot, John Fortenberry will direct.
Dan Kaplow and Jon Weinbach are co-executive producers of the pilot. Perry Rogers, Colin Smeeton and Michael Parris will also produce.
Here is the logline, courtesy of truTV:
The offbeat, yet capable, group juggles the mayhem of managing Shaq’s existing products and endorsements while implementing his latest batch of eccentric and oftentimes brilliant business ideas. But while they’re all working towards the same goal, each employee is constantly jockeying for the power and recognition to make the big guy proud.
“Shaquille and I have been friends for 20 years, and his growth as a businessman never ceases to amaze and amuse me,” Tollin said on Friday.
“There is no denying Shaq’s multifaceted appeal,” added Chris Linn, president, head of programming for truTV. “Thus, we couldn’t be happier to be collaborating with him, as well as Mike Tollin and Mandalay Sports Media, as we continue to push into new formats.”
It is not the first collaboration between the former Los Angeles Lakers player and Turner, as O’Neal serves as an analyst for “Inside the NBA” and host of video prank show “Upload with Shaquille O’Neal,” also on truTV.
