truTV Orders Pilot for Shaq, Inq. (working title)
From Mandalay Sports Media and Executive Producers
Shaquille O’Neal and Mike Tollin
Scripted Project to be Based on the Team Behind All Things Shaq
truTV has ordered a pilot for Shaq Inq. (working title), a workplace comedy loosely based on the wild and frenetic business empire of Shaquille O’Neal, who is executive-producing the show with Mike Tollin (Smallville, Arli$$). The series is being produced for truTV by Mandalay Sports Media. Jeremy Garelick (The Wedding Ringer, The Break-Up) will write the pilot, withJohn Fortenberry (Galavant, Instant Mom) set to direct. Perry Rogers, Colin Smeeton andMichael Parris will render producer services.
This half-hour scripted comedy follows Shaquille O’Neal and the team who runs his sprawling business empire. 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.
Dan Kaplow (Trophy Wife, Sin City Saints) and Jon Weinbach (The Other Dream Team, Straight Outta L.A.) are co-executive producers of the pilot.
Tollin said, “Shaquille and I have been friends for 20 years, and his growth as a businessman never ceases to amaze and amuse me.”
“There is no denying Shaq’s multifaceted appeal,” said 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.”