Heat F LeBron James has teamed with Red Sox Chair Tom Werner, writer/actor Mike O'Malley, longtime friend Maverick Carter and manager Paul Wachter "to develop a half-hour comedy series, titled 'Survivor's Remorse,' for Starz," according to Lacey Rose of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The series will "explore the complexity, comedy and drama" of what "truly happens when you make it out." Lead characters Cam Calloway and Reggie Vaughn have "achieved fame and fortune that neither could have imagined growing up in one of the toughest neighborhoods in Philadelphia." But success "comes with its own challenges, and the cousins and confidantes wrestle with the rewards of money, stardom, love, and occasionally, the guilt of having 'made it.'" James will "serve as an executive producer" along with Wachter, Carter and Werner. O'Malley will "serve as an executive producer and a writer on the project" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 9/3). In L.A., Meredith Blake noted while one of the main characters "will be an NBA star, James will not star in the half-hour series." The project "does not yet have an air date" (LATIMES.com, 9/3). CBSSN's Allie LaForce said the show will be about James' childhood, but "not specifically the experiences that he had, just similar to that." CBSSN's Doug Gottlieb said James is trying to present a positive image to the black community. Gottlieb: "There are certain places to which on cable TV you can go, and I think there’s opportunities to go there. I don’t feel like this show will go there just based upon who’s producing it and the fact that LeBron, like so many superstars, is so worried about his image” (“Lead Off,” CBS Sports Network, 9/3). In Boston, Shanahan & Goldstein wrote, "When LeBron James partnered with Fenway Sports Group a few years ago, we wondered why. What would they do together? Here's one answer: a sitcom" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/3).
BACK TO SCHOOL: ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst noted James now has a "permanent place" in Ohio State Univ.'s new basketball locker room. OSU coach Thad Matta yesterday said that the school has "given James a locker and it will be used to display James' branded Nike gear the school uses to help in recruiting." OSU in '07 "started wearing James' signature uniforms and shoes." Matta made James "an honorary member of the team" at a ceremony in '09 (ESPN.com, 9/3).
