The Marquee Group has agreed to acquire Tollin/Robbins
Productions & Management (T&R), which produces HBO's
"Arli$$" among other shows. T&R also produces Nickelodeon's
"Keenan and Kel," "All That" and "Sports Theater with
Shaquille O'Neal." It will also produce the upcoming
feature film "Varsity Blues." The new company has been
named Marquee-Tollin/Robbins Entertainment (The Marquee
Group). Marquee paid $22M for T&R, which also includes a
division that manages actors, writers and directors (DAILY
VARIETY, 8/17). As part of the deal, T&R's Mike Tollin and
Brian Robbins signed five-year personal service contracts
with Marquee. Tollin said the deal will allow T&R to tap
into Marquee's roster of athletes and talent from its
management companies (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 8/17).
HIS STORIES: "Arli$$" Producer/Star Robert Wuhl was
profiled on CNN's "Page 1." CNN's Nick Charles: "Like an
agent who has to hustle for clients early in his career,
Wuhl is finding the more popular 'Arli$$' gets, the more
phone calls he gets from real life agents pushing to get
their athletes on the show" ("Page 1," CNN, 8/15).