LeBron James and Maverick Carter's barbershop-set talk show "The Shop" is "coming to HBO" after the net "ordered a handful of episodes," which first bowed in '16 on James’ Uninterrupted digital site, according to Marisa Guthrie of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. The first episode for HBO was "shot last week" at West Hollywood’s Barber Surgeons Guild and will air Aug. 28. It "features James and Carter in conversation" with Snoop Dogg, Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr., Saints RB Alvin Kamara, Warriors F Draymond Green, WNBA L.A. Sparks F Candace Parker and comedian Jon Stewart. James: “This show is real, it’s candid and it’s the essence of conversation. And we know with social media and text being the way people communicate, the form of conversation, actually talking, is kind of a lost art." Each episode "will assemble a mix of personalities in a barbershop for unconstructed, frank talk while the cameras roll; the conversation will then be whittled down to 30-minute episodes." So far, James is "slated to appear in at least the first three episodes." HBO has "left the episode order somewhat vague given James' day job, so it’s unclear when the second episode will air." James' SpringHill Entertainment also has "several projects at HBO, including a multi-part documentary" about Muhammad Ali and the documentary "Student Athlete," which is "set to bow Oct. 2 and examines the NCAA’s controversial rule barring athletes from earning a cut of the money they bring to their colleges." For HBO Sports -- where the "linchpin is live boxing and its shoulder programming -- 'The Shop' is the latest effort to broaden its sports offering" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 7/26).
