Today, Prime Video greenlit four new sports documentaries, including a four-part documentary on NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt Sr., a four-part series chronicling the history of the Madden video game franchise, an anthology series about the most epic Game 7s throughout sports history, and a true-crime documentary about ChiefsAholic, the notorious Kansas City Chiefs superfan and serial bank robber.
Prime Video also announced the renewal of the Emmy-nominated docu-follow series Coach Prime for a third season. For the upcoming season, Coach Prime will once again transport fans inside the locker room and onto the field of Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders’ University of Colorado Boulder (Cu Boulder) football program.
Coach Prime is executive produced by Smac Entertainment’s Constance Schwartz-Morini, Michael Strahan, FredAnthony Smith, and Jamie Elias. Micah Brown also serves as executive producer and showrunner. Coach Prime is produced by Smac Productions, a division of Smac Entertainment, for Prime Video Sports.
Prime Video also announced the renewal of the Emmy-nominated docu-follow series Coach Prime for a third season. For the upcoming season, Coach Prime will once again transport fans inside the locker room and onto the field of Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders’ University of Colorado Boulder (Cu Boulder) football program.
Coach Prime is executive produced by Smac Entertainment’s Constance Schwartz-Morini, Michael Strahan, FredAnthony Smith, and Jamie Elias. Micah Brown also serves as executive producer and showrunner. Coach Prime is produced by Smac Productions, a division of Smac Entertainment, for Prime Video Sports.
- 5/14/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
Amazon is diving headfirst into the world of sports documentaries with four new projects on its streaming slate, including one on Dale Earnhardt Sr. and another about a Kansas City Chiefs super fan that will cross over int0 true crime as well.
The company announced all four projects during its Upfront presentation on Tuesday.
The documentaries are as follows:
A four-part documentary on NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt Sr.; a four-part series chronicling the history of the Madden video game franchise; an anthology series about the most epic Game 7s throughout sports history; and a true-crime documentary about ChiefsAholic, the notorious Kansas City Chiefs superfan and serial bank robber.
More details about each are below.
Untitled Earnhardt Documentary
The history of the Earnhardt family is the history of NASCAR—you can’t tell the story of one without the other—and at the center of the Earnhardt family was Dale Earnhardt Sr.
The company announced all four projects during its Upfront presentation on Tuesday.
The documentaries are as follows:
A four-part documentary on NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt Sr.; a four-part series chronicling the history of the Madden video game franchise; an anthology series about the most epic Game 7s throughout sports history; and a true-crime documentary about ChiefsAholic, the notorious Kansas City Chiefs superfan and serial bank robber.
More details about each are below.
Untitled Earnhardt Documentary
The history of the Earnhardt family is the history of NASCAR—you can’t tell the story of one without the other—and at the center of the Earnhardt family was Dale Earnhardt Sr.
- 5/14/2024
- by Katie Campione
- Deadline Film + TV
Twenty years in, Kenan Thompson is the longest serving cast member on Saturday Night Live, but he likely owes part of his success on the show to his early work on another sketch comedy series, Nickelodeon’s All That, which premiered thirty years ago today on April 16th 1994.
Created as a Saturday Night Live for kids by Mike Tollin and Brian Robbins, All That consisted of comedy sketches performed by a cast of kids, alongside performances from some of the biggest musical acts of the day.
As it happened. Thompson—then fresh off his screen debut in D2: The Mighty Ducks—was the very first person All That viewers saw onscreen in a cold open:
Much like his SNL career, Thompson’s time on All That was marked by a large number of characters including Pierre Escargot, Superdude, and a Bill Cosby impression that he’d later bring to SNL.
Created as a Saturday Night Live for kids by Mike Tollin and Brian Robbins, All That consisted of comedy sketches performed by a cast of kids, alongside performances from some of the biggest musical acts of the day.
As it happened. Thompson—then fresh off his screen debut in D2: The Mighty Ducks—was the very first person All That viewers saw onscreen in a cold open:
Much like his SNL career, Thompson’s time on All That was marked by a large number of characters including Pierre Escargot, Superdude, and a Bill Cosby impression that he’d later bring to SNL.
- 4/16/2024
- by Nick Riccardo
- LateNighter
Exclusive: Mike Tollin, executive producer of Emmy-winning The Last Dance, today announced the launch of Mtp, a re-branding and restructuring of his Mike Tollin Productions, with a focus on expanded content.
The announcement follows the premiere last month of his six-episode docuseries Justice, USA on Max.
Under the re-brand, sports will remain a major component of Mtp’s content expansion, and has allowed Tollin to bring on new talent and reorganize the company structure. Jonathan Vogler has been elevated to President of Unscripted Productions and Ricky Cruz has been brought on as VP/Development. On the scripted side, Harry Wood is now VP Development and Sarah Alammuri has joined as Director/Development. Steve Tollin remains Director of Finance.
“I love the new team,” said Tollin. “They’re passionate and scrappy. Sports will continue to be our main lane, but we’ll follow the side streets as often as possible to tell stories with pro-social content.
The announcement follows the premiere last month of his six-episode docuseries Justice, USA on Max.
Under the re-brand, sports will remain a major component of Mtp’s content expansion, and has allowed Tollin to bring on new talent and reorganize the company structure. Jonathan Vogler has been elevated to President of Unscripted Productions and Ricky Cruz has been brought on as VP/Development. On the scripted side, Harry Wood is now VP Development and Sarah Alammuri has joined as Director/Development. Steve Tollin remains Director of Finance.
“I love the new team,” said Tollin. “They’re passionate and scrappy. Sports will continue to be our main lane, but we’ll follow the side streets as often as possible to tell stories with pro-social content.
- 4/3/2024
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Hill Harper, running for an open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, returned to Los Angeles earlier this month, where the actor headlined a fundraiser co-hosted by John Legend, as well as other figures including Vivica A. Fox and Mike Tollin.
The event was a needed boost to the actor and activist’s campaign: In the Democratic primary race, Harper is facing Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-mi), who has a wide lead in polls and in her campaign war chest. She had more than $6 million cash on hand as of the end of last year, dwarfing that of her rivals. Harper had almost $150,000.
Harper, best known for his roles in The Good Doctor and CSI:ny, is largely running to the left of Slotkin, a former CIA analyst, and obviously hoping for a breakthrough. He also has relayed what Barack Obama, a classmate at Harvard Law School, told him that as hard...
The event was a needed boost to the actor and activist’s campaign: In the Democratic primary race, Harper is facing Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-mi), who has a wide lead in polls and in her campaign war chest. She had more than $6 million cash on hand as of the end of last year, dwarfing that of her rivals. Harper had almost $150,000.
Harper, best known for his roles in The Good Doctor and CSI:ny, is largely running to the left of Slotkin, a former CIA analyst, and obviously hoping for a breakthrough. He also has relayed what Barack Obama, a classmate at Harvard Law School, told him that as hard...
- 2/22/2024
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Soon after Bill Bradley takes the stage in Rolling Along: An American Story, there’s a realization that this is not a traditional political documentary of talking heads, archival clips and fleeting reflections.
The project instead is a “performative autobiography,” as Bradley, the former NBA champion, U.S. senator and presidential candidate, calls it.
During the 90-minute, one-man show, Bradley talks, in poetic terms at times, about reaching the heights of fame and suffering stinging losses. He recounts a life growing up in Crystal City, Mo, becoming a star athlete in high school, attending Princeton and then playing the New York Knicks. He speaks of how the teamwork skills helped open his eyes to the world and led to his political career, culminating in his 2000 bid for the presidency. He was defeated by then-Vice President Al Gore in his quest for the Democratic nomination. “I went from thinking of myself...
The project instead is a “performative autobiography,” as Bradley, the former NBA champion, U.S. senator and presidential candidate, calls it.
During the 90-minute, one-man show, Bradley talks, in poetic terms at times, about reaching the heights of fame and suffering stinging losses. He recounts a life growing up in Crystal City, Mo, becoming a star athlete in high school, attending Princeton and then playing the New York Knicks. He speaks of how the teamwork skills helped open his eyes to the world and led to his political career, culminating in his 2000 bid for the presidency. He was defeated by then-Vice President Al Gore in his quest for the Democratic nomination. “I went from thinking of myself...
- 2/12/2024
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
"I wanted to know America, like I once knew the seams of a basketball." HBO Max has revealed an official trailer for a sports biopic documentary called Rolling Along: An American Story, available streaming at the start of February on Max. "A story about all of us." Written & performed by two-time NBA Champion, former U.S. Senator, and lifelong storyteller Bill Bradley. The former NBA star and Senator recounts his life from Mississippi childhood to Princeton basketball fame, to the NBA, to 18 years in the Senate focused on rights, education & growth, and finally his presidential bid. After spending six years writing, developing, and performing his story on stage as a one-man show, Bradley partnered with the Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Frank Oz, Academy Award winner Spike Lee, and Emmy Award-winning producer Mike Tollin to share this performative autobiography. This seems to be a filmed version of his stage performance with some additional footage & photos added in.
- 1/16/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
“Rolling Along: Bill Bradley,” an oral autobiography of the life and career of former star New York Knicks player and U.S. Senator Bill Bradley, has been acquired by Max and will begin streaming on the service Feb. 1.
Directed by “The Last Dance” executive producer Mike Tollin and executive produced by Spike Lee and Frank Oz, “Rolling Along: Bill Bradley” is the live theatrical recording of a stage performance by Bradley, who spent six years writing and developing the show. “Rolling Along,” which incorporates archival footage, was filmed over four nights at the Signature Theatre in New York, with an audience and five cameras at New York’s Signature Theater in 2021.
In the film, the former NBA champion and U.S. Senator shares scenes from his life, from his childhood in a small town on the banks of the Mississippi River; to Princeton, where he became the best college basketball...
Directed by “The Last Dance” executive producer Mike Tollin and executive produced by Spike Lee and Frank Oz, “Rolling Along: Bill Bradley” is the live theatrical recording of a stage performance by Bradley, who spent six years writing and developing the show. “Rolling Along,” which incorporates archival footage, was filmed over four nights at the Signature Theatre in New York, with an audience and five cameras at New York’s Signature Theater in 2021.
In the film, the former NBA champion and U.S. Senator shares scenes from his life, from his childhood in a small town on the banks of the Mississippi River; to Princeton, where he became the best college basketball...
- 1/16/2024
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
The Max Original four-part docuseries Shaun White: The Last Run, an Msm production and directed by Shaul Schwarz and Christina Clusiau, debuts Thursday, July 6 on Max.
Synopsis: With unprecedented access and never-before-seen personal archival footage, the docuseries is a revealing portrait of three-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the greatest athletes in two separate sports, snowboarding and skateboarding, Shaun White. It is a story that includes childhood struggles with a congenital heart condition, the development of his unbeatable talent, sacrifices made by his unconventional but remarkably supportive parents, the move into pro-snowboarding at a young age, and of course, his exploits at the Olympics, where he holds the record for most gold medals by a snowboarder.
Episode Descriptions:
Episode 1: Becoming Shaun
As Shaun gears up to qualify for his fifth Olympics, he recalls his childhood in San Diego with his remarkably supportive family. Never-before-seen footage shows how the...
Synopsis: With unprecedented access and never-before-seen personal archival footage, the docuseries is a revealing portrait of three-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the greatest athletes in two separate sports, snowboarding and skateboarding, Shaun White. It is a story that includes childhood struggles with a congenital heart condition, the development of his unbeatable talent, sacrifices made by his unconventional but remarkably supportive parents, the move into pro-snowboarding at a young age, and of course, his exploits at the Olympics, where he holds the record for most gold medals by a snowboarder.
Episode Descriptions:
Episode 1: Becoming Shaun
As Shaun gears up to qualify for his fifth Olympics, he recalls his childhood in San Diego with his remarkably supportive family. Never-before-seen footage shows how the...
- 6/20/2023
- by Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid - TV
SlamBall is officially bouncing back.
The alternative sport — which combined elements of basketball, American football, ice hockey, and trampolines — has closed an $11 million Series A round led by Roger Ehrenberg’s Ia Sports Ventures and Eberg Capital as well as strategic investors across sports, gaming, entertainment, and media.
“It’s an incredible feeling to be back, and especially by popular demand,” said Mason Gordon, CEO and co-founder of SlamBall. “I want to thank SlamBall’s persistent and passionate fans for making this comeback possible and our investors for helping make the dream real. This is a true Cinderella story–only with helmets, pads and trampolines.”
SlamBall will relaunch with a six-week season this July in Las Vegas followed by a seventh playoff week. Domestic and international touring stops will follow. Talks are currently underway for distribution, while a docuseries about the league is in development via Mike Tollin’s Msm.
The alternative sport — which combined elements of basketball, American football, ice hockey, and trampolines — has closed an $11 million Series A round led by Roger Ehrenberg’s Ia Sports Ventures and Eberg Capital as well as strategic investors across sports, gaming, entertainment, and media.
“It’s an incredible feeling to be back, and especially by popular demand,” said Mason Gordon, CEO and co-founder of SlamBall. “I want to thank SlamBall’s persistent and passionate fans for making this comeback possible and our investors for helping make the dream real. This is a true Cinderella story–only with helmets, pads and trampolines.”
SlamBall will relaunch with a six-week season this July in Las Vegas followed by a seventh playoff week. Domestic and international touring stops will follow. Talks are currently underway for distribution, while a docuseries about the league is in development via Mike Tollin’s Msm.
- 3/21/2023
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Amanda Bynes, along with fellow former All That cast members Lori Beth Denberg, Danny Tamberelli and Kel Mitchell, will reunite at 90’s Con for the show’s largest reunion since the popular Nickelodeon series wrapped 18 years ago. It also marks Bynes’ first major public appearance since her conservatorship ended last year. Hosted by Thats4Entertainment, the convention runs March 17-19 in Hartford, Ct.
Bynes et al will appear at the convention for the cast reunion and panel discussion. According to organizers, guests also “will have the chance to meet and greet with the cast for autographs, selfies and professional photo opportunities. There will also be an opportunity to take a photo on a replica of the iconic orange couch with the cast members.”
“I’m really excited to reunite with my cast mates and meet the fans at 90’s Con!” said Bynes.
Created by Brian Robbins and Mike Tollin, sketch...
Bynes et al will appear at the convention for the cast reunion and panel discussion. According to organizers, guests also “will have the chance to meet and greet with the cast for autographs, selfies and professional photo opportunities. There will also be an opportunity to take a photo on a replica of the iconic orange couch with the cast members.”
“I’m really excited to reunite with my cast mates and meet the fans at 90’s Con!” said Bynes.
Created by Brian Robbins and Mike Tollin, sketch...
- 1/18/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The attempt by Atlanta Braves slugger Henry Aaron to break Babe Ruth’s hallowed record of 714 career home runs, and the armed guard from the Atlanta police department assigned to keep him safe 24/7 amidst racist hate mail and death threats, will be turned into a feature film.
715! is the working title of a film that will be written by Oscar-winning Precious scribe Geoffrey Fletcher. It will be produced by Mike Tollin and his Mandalay Sports Media, and Richard Saperstein through Bluestone, which will finance.
Tollin’s producing credits include the Chicago Bulls miniseries The Last Dance, as well as the films Coach Carter and Radio, and Saperstein’s credits include Se7en, John Q and Hancock. Tollin also wrote and directed Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream, the Oscar-nominated and Peabody-winning 1995 documentary that created the relationship with Aaron, his wife Billye and his estate, which makes this film possible.
They...
715! is the working title of a film that will be written by Oscar-winning Precious scribe Geoffrey Fletcher. It will be produced by Mike Tollin and his Mandalay Sports Media, and Richard Saperstein through Bluestone, which will finance.
Tollin’s producing credits include the Chicago Bulls miniseries The Last Dance, as well as the films Coach Carter and Radio, and Saperstein’s credits include Se7en, John Q and Hancock. Tollin also wrote and directed Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream, the Oscar-nominated and Peabody-winning 1995 documentary that created the relationship with Aaron, his wife Billye and his estate, which makes this film possible.
They...
- 11/2/2022
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
There was a moment late in the 2008 men’s basketball gold medal match in Beijing — a tense matchup between a superstar-filled United States team and reigning world champions Spain — when Dwyane Wade drives with the ball past a defender, stopping short just as his feet hit the paint. Wade then kicks the ball out to Kobe Bryant, open and just beyond the three point line.
“I found him across the court, he jabbed, raised up and hit a three. It was at that moment that we realized it was over,” recalled Wade Thursday night while standing on the red carpet for the Netflix documentary The Redeem Team outside Netflix’s Tudum Theater in Hollywood. He knows the play well because it’s one of his favorites from the game, one that ended with gold medals around the necks of Wade, Bryant, LeBron James,...
There was a moment late in the 2008 men’s basketball gold medal match in Beijing — a tense matchup between a superstar-filled United States team and reigning world champions Spain — when Dwyane Wade drives with the ball past a defender, stopping short just as his feet hit the paint. Wade then kicks the ball out to Kobe Bryant, open and just beyond the three point line.
“I found him across the court, he jabbed, raised up and hit a three. It was at that moment that we realized it was over,” recalled Wade Thursday night while standing on the red carpet for the Netflix documentary The Redeem Team outside Netflix’s Tudum Theater in Hollywood. He knows the play well because it’s one of his favorites from the game, one that ended with gold medals around the necks of Wade, Bryant, LeBron James,...
- 9/24/2022
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Click here to read the full article.
Kenan Thompson will make his Emmys hosting debut Sept. 12. And if anyone has the résumé for the job, it’s him. He may be Saturday Night Live‘s longest-running castmember (he’s about to begin his 20th season), but Thompson, 44, has been cracking up live audiences as far back as 1994, when he was cast on Nickelodeon’s fledgling sketch-comedy show, All That.
Thompson, who grew up in Atlanta, had already landed a couple of plum movie roles by age 16, including one in Disney’s Heavyweights, a Judd Apatow-penned comedy about a weight-loss camp run by an unhinged entrepreneur (Ben Stiller). It was that performance that brought him to the attention of All That creators Brian Robbins (now president of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon) and Michael Tollin.
“There was no doubt from the first time we met him that he’d be an asset to our cast,...
Kenan Thompson will make his Emmys hosting debut Sept. 12. And if anyone has the résumé for the job, it’s him. He may be Saturday Night Live‘s longest-running castmember (he’s about to begin his 20th season), but Thompson, 44, has been cracking up live audiences as far back as 1994, when he was cast on Nickelodeon’s fledgling sketch-comedy show, All That.
Thompson, who grew up in Atlanta, had already landed a couple of plum movie roles by age 16, including one in Disney’s Heavyweights, a Judd Apatow-penned comedy about a weight-loss camp run by an unhinged entrepreneur (Ben Stiller). It was that performance that brought him to the attention of All That creators Brian Robbins (now president of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon) and Michael Tollin.
“There was no doubt from the first time we met him that he’d be an asset to our cast,...
- 9/11/2022
- by Seth Abramovitch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Showtime Sports Documentary Films is set to release a documentary feature based on the life of basketball star Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, entitled “Stand.” The documentary will premiere in early 2023.
Directed by Joslyn Rose Lyons, “Stand” explores the personal and professional struggles of Abdul-Rauf, from being bullied as a child due to his Tourette’s syndrome to becoming a target of hate speech and Islamophobia during his basketball career. The documentary film features exclusive interviews with several basketball and entertainment stars including Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr, Shaquille O’Neal, Jalen Rose, Mahershala Ali and Ice Cube.
“It is an honor to be collaborating with Showtime and the production team and working with our director, Joslyn Rose Lyons,” Abdul-Rauf said in a statement. “Joslyn has brought a stellar, brilliant vision to this film. My hope is that my story will help heal and bring new perspective to the world.”
The film marks Lyons’ feature-length directorial debut.
Directed by Joslyn Rose Lyons, “Stand” explores the personal and professional struggles of Abdul-Rauf, from being bullied as a child due to his Tourette’s syndrome to becoming a target of hate speech and Islamophobia during his basketball career. The documentary film features exclusive interviews with several basketball and entertainment stars including Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr, Shaquille O’Neal, Jalen Rose, Mahershala Ali and Ice Cube.
“It is an honor to be collaborating with Showtime and the production team and working with our director, Joslyn Rose Lyons,” Abdul-Rauf said in a statement. “Joslyn has brought a stellar, brilliant vision to this film. My hope is that my story will help heal and bring new perspective to the world.”
The film marks Lyons’ feature-length directorial debut.
- 8/25/2022
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Netflix has picked up the documentary The Redeem Team, about the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team looking to reclaim the gold medal for Team USA at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Netflix plans an Oct. 7, 2022 release for the film executive produced by Olympians Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. “I’m excited for everyone to get an opportunity to go behind the scenes and see all the work that went into this iconic team — the Redeem Team!” Wade said in a statement on Friday.
The documentary features new Olympic footage, behind-the-scenes material and player and coaches interviews to portray Team USA looking for redemption after only earning the bronze medal four years earlier at the Athens Summer Olympic Games.
The International Olympic Committee, which opened up its video vault to the filmmakers, and Netflix collaborated on the film about an eventual gold...
Netflix has picked up the documentary The Redeem Team, about the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team looking to reclaim the gold medal for Team USA at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Netflix plans an Oct. 7, 2022 release for the film executive produced by Olympians Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. “I’m excited for everyone to get an opportunity to go behind the scenes and see all the work that went into this iconic team — the Redeem Team!” Wade said in a statement on Friday.
The documentary features new Olympic footage, behind-the-scenes material and player and coaches interviews to portray Team USA looking for redemption after only earning the bronze medal four years earlier at the Athens Summer Olympic Games.
The International Olympic Committee, which opened up its video vault to the filmmakers, and Netflix collaborated on the film about an eventual gold...
- 8/19/2022
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Netflix has partnered with the International Olympic Committee for The Redeem Team—a new documentary looking at the U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball team’s iconic victory of 2008, which will be released globally on the streamer on October 7th.
Using unprecedented Olympic footage and behind-the-scenes material, The Redeem Team tells the story of the U.S Olympic Men’s Basketball Team’s quest for gold at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 following the previous team’s shocking, low-point performance four years earlier in Athens. The documentary offers a portrait of team building and features interviews with athletes and coaches from Dwyane Wade and LeBron James to Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski, who reflect on how The Redeem Team set a new standard for American basketball.
The Redeem Team is an Olympic Channel, Kennedy/Marshall Company & Mandalay Sports Media production in association with 59th and Prairie Entertainment, Uninterrupted, NBA Entertainment & USA Basketball.
Using unprecedented Olympic footage and behind-the-scenes material, The Redeem Team tells the story of the U.S Olympic Men’s Basketball Team’s quest for gold at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008 following the previous team’s shocking, low-point performance four years earlier in Athens. The documentary offers a portrait of team building and features interviews with athletes and coaches from Dwyane Wade and LeBron James to Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski, who reflect on how The Redeem Team set a new standard for American basketball.
The Redeem Team is an Olympic Channel, Kennedy/Marshall Company & Mandalay Sports Media production in association with 59th and Prairie Entertainment, Uninterrupted, NBA Entertainment & USA Basketball.
- 8/19/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
NBA legends LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have teamed up once more — this time as executive producers and subjects of the new documentary “The Redeem Team,” which celebrates the victorious 2008 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball team.
Directed by Jon Weinbach (“The Last Dance”), the documentary marks the first collaboration between the International Olympic Committee (Ioc) and Netflix, as the project uses “unprecedented Olympic footage and behind-the-scenes material” to chronicle Team USA’s quest for Olympic gold at the 2008 games in Beijing.
According to the documentary’s official logline, “The Redeem Team” tells the story of the 2008 squad’s journey as they followed the previous team’s shocking performance four years earlier in Athens, where they took home a bronze medal after winning gold in the previous three straight Olympic Games. The film is said to offer “a fascinating portrait of team building” as it features interviews with the athletes and coaches,...
Directed by Jon Weinbach (“The Last Dance”), the documentary marks the first collaboration between the International Olympic Committee (Ioc) and Netflix, as the project uses “unprecedented Olympic footage and behind-the-scenes material” to chronicle Team USA’s quest for Olympic gold at the 2008 games in Beijing.
According to the documentary’s official logline, “The Redeem Team” tells the story of the 2008 squad’s journey as they followed the previous team’s shocking performance four years earlier in Athens, where they took home a bronze medal after winning gold in the previous three straight Olympic Games. The film is said to offer “a fascinating portrait of team building” as it features interviews with the athletes and coaches,...
- 8/19/2022
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
The last two episodes of the new series about the iconic New York Yankee Derek Jeter is now available to stream online. “The Captain” arrived on ESPN+ last month with new episodes airing on a weekly basis.
The docuseries, directed by Randy Wilkins and executive produced by Spike Lee and Mike Tollin, features dozens of intimate interviews with Jeter, alongside those in the athlete’s inner circle, such as his parents Dorothy and Dr. Charles Jeter, his sister Sharlee Jeter and his wife Hannah Jeter. Alex Rodriguez, Daryl Strawberry, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, manager Joe Torre and Dave Winfield also make appearances.
Through these conversations, viewers learn more about Jeter’s meteoric rise to success and the particular hurdles Jeter had to jump over as a biracial athlete. One revealing conversation with his family underscores how Jeter had to “work twice as hard” to reach his goals, even while journalists refused to acknowledge these setbacks,...
The docuseries, directed by Randy Wilkins and executive produced by Spike Lee and Mike Tollin, features dozens of intimate interviews with Jeter, alongside those in the athlete’s inner circle, such as his parents Dorothy and Dr. Charles Jeter, his sister Sharlee Jeter and his wife Hannah Jeter. Alex Rodriguez, Daryl Strawberry, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, manager Joe Torre and Dave Winfield also make appearances.
Through these conversations, viewers learn more about Jeter’s meteoric rise to success and the particular hurdles Jeter had to jump over as a biracial athlete. One revealing conversation with his family underscores how Jeter had to “work twice as hard” to reach his goals, even while journalists refused to acknowledge these setbacks,...
- 8/11/2022
- by Anna Tingley
- Variety Film + TV
Search “Derek Jeter” on YouTube and you invariably land on a clip of “The Dive,” the longtime New York Yankee shortstop’s spectacular play during a July 2004 home game vs. rival Boston Red Sox. After Jeter caught a foul ball on the run, momentum carried him until he freight-trained face-first into the stands. A moment later, he stood, dazed, gripped by fans, blood flowing from his cheek and chin, in an instant that crystallized his gutsy commitment to winning, to baseball and to the team he led to five World Series titles in 20 seasons from 1995 to 2014. “Nobody played harder, and nobody wanted to win more,” says Michael Tollin, an executive producer of The Captain, a stirring, triumphant seven-part docuseries that looks at Jeter’s stellar Hall of Fame career. The show follows the unlikely rise of a remarkably determined, scrawny kid from a biracial family in Kalamazoo, Michigan, who fulfilled...
- 7/18/2022
- TV Insider
Randy Wilkins, who directed the upcoming Derek Jeter ESPN Films documentary series “The Captain,” had one word to describe the topic he had to drag out of the stoic Hall-of-Fame shortstop: “Alex.”
New York Yankees fans in attendance at the June 12 Tribeca Festival Q&a following the first episode’s premiere got a kick out of that one. Jeter, who sat calmly on the Bmcc Tribeca Performing Arts Center stage beside Wilkins, perhaps did not. Wilkins, of course, was referring to Alex Rodriguez, an all-time-great Major League Baseball infielder in his own right. Jeter and A-Rod famously did not get along after the Yankees signed Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers star Rodriguez (whom many baseball pundits believed to be the superior shortstop).
Jeter held his literal ground on the left side of the infield: A-Rod switched positions to third base, and what had been an easy friendship forged at All-Star Games was never the same.
New York Yankees fans in attendance at the June 12 Tribeca Festival Q&a following the first episode’s premiere got a kick out of that one. Jeter, who sat calmly on the Bmcc Tribeca Performing Arts Center stage beside Wilkins, perhaps did not. Wilkins, of course, was referring to Alex Rodriguez, an all-time-great Major League Baseball infielder in his own right. Jeter and A-Rod famously did not get along after the Yankees signed Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers star Rodriguez (whom many baseball pundits believed to be the superior shortstop).
Jeter held his literal ground on the left side of the infield: A-Rod switched positions to third base, and what had been an easy friendship forged at All-Star Games was never the same.
- 6/13/2022
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
James “Radio” Kennedy, the South Carolina high school football mainstay whose story inspired the 2003 film Radio, starring Cuba Gooding Jr., has died at age 73.
T.L. Hanna High School football coach Harold Jones confirmed Kennedy’s death to the Independent Mail, a newspaper in Anderson, Sc. Jackie Kennedy, his niece and caregiver, told local TV station Wyff that Kennedy was hospitalized Saturday night before succumbing Sunday morning.
According to Jones, Kennedy had been treated for pancreatitis as well as ongoing diabetes and kidney issues.
Kennedy was a fixture in the school’s football program, earning his nickname by carrying a transistor radio everywhere he went. Kennedy coped with his intellectual disability by steadily attending football games at Hanna in the 1960s. He remained a constant presence at the school until his death. An article in Sports Illustrated brought his story to a national audience, providing the basis for the film.
“He was just a fine,...
T.L. Hanna High School football coach Harold Jones confirmed Kennedy’s death to the Independent Mail, a newspaper in Anderson, Sc. Jackie Kennedy, his niece and caregiver, told local TV station Wyff that Kennedy was hospitalized Saturday night before succumbing Sunday morning.
According to Jones, Kennedy had been treated for pancreatitis as well as ongoing diabetes and kidney issues.
Kennedy was a fixture in the school’s football program, earning his nickname by carrying a transistor radio everywhere he went. Kennedy coped with his intellectual disability by steadily attending football games at Hanna in the 1960s. He remained a constant presence at the school until his death. An article in Sports Illustrated brought his story to a national audience, providing the basis for the film.
“He was just a fine,...
- 12/15/2019
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
James “Radio” Kennedy, the inspiration for the 2003 Cuba Gooding Jr. film “Radio,” died early Sunday at age 73.
Harold Jones, the former football coach at T.L. Hanna High School in Anderson County, South Carolina, played by Ed Harris in the film, confirmed Kennedy’s death to the Anderson Independent Mail.
The 2003 film centered on the relationship between Jones and Kennedy, a young man with intellectual disabilities and an infectious smile who had long been drawn to Hanna’s football program since showing up on the field as a teenager in the mid-1960s.
Also Read: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2019 (Photos)
He gained the nickname “Radio” for the transistor radio he kept with him at all times — and soon won acceptance from both the team as well as the surrounding community — where he became what the Independent Mail called an “unofficial 11th-grader” at T.L. Hanna High School for decades.
“He became a fixture at football practices,...
Harold Jones, the former football coach at T.L. Hanna High School in Anderson County, South Carolina, played by Ed Harris in the film, confirmed Kennedy’s death to the Anderson Independent Mail.
The 2003 film centered on the relationship between Jones and Kennedy, a young man with intellectual disabilities and an infectious smile who had long been drawn to Hanna’s football program since showing up on the field as a teenager in the mid-1960s.
Also Read: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2019 (Photos)
He gained the nickname “Radio” for the transistor radio he kept with him at all times — and soon won acceptance from both the team as well as the surrounding community — where he became what the Independent Mail called an “unofficial 11th-grader” at T.L. Hanna High School for decades.
“He became a fixture at football practices,...
- 12/15/2019
- by Thom Geier
- The Wrap
Sports Illustrated TV (Si TV) is set to collaborate with award-winning filmmaker and co-chair of Mandalay Sports Media, Mike Tollin, and Gary Cohen's Triple Threat TV to produce the documentary, We Town. This will be the first original film for the newly launched streaming network. "Si TV is a one-stop shop for any sports lover, and We Town is a terrific example of our commitment to bringing premium original programming to the service," said Josh Oshinsky, VP of…...
- 12/14/2017
- Deadline
Exclusive: Peter Guber and Mike Tollin's Msm has optioned the rights to journalist Paul Solotaroff's in-depth account of the fentanyl epidemic which is currently devastating the suburban communities of New England. The article delves into a local DEA bureau chief's relentless pursuit to fight the war on drugs. Published yesterday in Men’s Journal, the 8,000-word piece is titled “The Needle and the Damage Done.” It will be developed as a one-hour drama designed for cable…...
- 10/17/2017
- Deadline
Coming off the network’s first Oscar win for “Oj: Made in America,” Espn’s latest “30 for 30” film delves into Los Angeles sports history once again. Premiering Tuesday night, “Morningside 5” is a fresh, new story for most viewers, but it’s well-traveled ground for filmmaker Mike Tollin, who first filmed five high school basketball stars — Stais Boseman, Dwight Curry, Corey Saffold, Dominic Ellison and Sean Harris — from Inglewood, California, back in 1992. Then new to Hollywood himself, documentary filmmaker Tollin teamed up with “Head of the Class” actor Brian Robbins to capture the essence of inner city high school basketball in.
- 8/8/2017
- by Debbie Emery
- The Wrap
It would be tough finding a harder working actor than Liev Schreiber who has successfully transitioned from supporting roles in movies to his very own TV show, playing fixer Ray Donovan on the Showtime series for five seasons. He’s received four Golden Globe nominations and two Emmy nominations playing that role.
In between seasons he’s found the time to make Chuck, a movie about the famed “Bayonne Brawler,” Chuck Wepner, whose career was documented in the Espn “30 for 30” doc, The Real Rocky. Besides being the New Jersey Heavyweight Champion in the ‘70s, Wepner famously went 15 rounds with Muhammad Ali, but his somewhat tragic story was also the inspiration for Sylvester Stallone to make Rocky.
The movie, directed by Philippe Falardeau (Monsieur Lazhar), recreates Chuck’s family life with his second wife Phyllis (Elisabeth Moss) and daughter. It then shows how his brush with fame led to drinking and...
In between seasons he’s found the time to make Chuck, a movie about the famed “Bayonne Brawler,” Chuck Wepner, whose career was documented in the Espn “30 for 30” doc, The Real Rocky. Besides being the New Jersey Heavyweight Champion in the ‘70s, Wepner famously went 15 rounds with Muhammad Ali, but his somewhat tragic story was also the inspiration for Sylvester Stallone to make Rocky.
The movie, directed by Philippe Falardeau (Monsieur Lazhar), recreates Chuck’s family life with his second wife Phyllis (Elisabeth Moss) and daughter. It then shows how his brush with fame led to drinking and...
- 5/4/2017
- by Edward Douglas
- LRMonline.com
Here is an exclusive clip before tonight’s premiere of the finished feature biopic of boxer Chuck Wepner gets a splashy Tribeca Film Festival premiere, the film showing for the first time under its new title Chuck. Producer Mike Tollin, who has been promising Wepner his life story would make the screen for real since he optioned his rights in 2003 — you can’t count Best Picture winner Rocky even though many, Wepner included, felt Sylvester Stallone channeled Wepner’s…...
- 4/28/2017
- Deadline
“Sometimes Life Is Like A Movie. Sometimes It’S Better”
Watch the trailer for the upcoming movie Chuck – we can’t wait for this one! In theaters May 5th.
Directed by Philippe Falardeau, Chuck stars Naomi Watts, Ron Perlman, Elisabeth Moss, Liev Schreiber, Jim Gaffigan, and Morgan Spector.
He was the pride of Bayonne, New Jersey, a man who went fifteen rounds in the ring with Muhammad Ali, and the real life inspiration for Rocky Balboa. But before all that, Chuck Wepner (Liev Schreiber) was a liquor salesman and father with a modest prizefighting career whose life changed overnight when, in 1975, he was chosen to take on The Greatest in a highly publicized title match.
It’s the beginning of a wild ride through the exhilarating highs and humbling lows of sudden fame—but what happens when your fifteen minutes in the spotlight are up?
Driven by a committed performance from Liev Schreiber,...
Watch the trailer for the upcoming movie Chuck – we can’t wait for this one! In theaters May 5th.
Directed by Philippe Falardeau, Chuck stars Naomi Watts, Ron Perlman, Elisabeth Moss, Liev Schreiber, Jim Gaffigan, and Morgan Spector.
He was the pride of Bayonne, New Jersey, a man who went fifteen rounds in the ring with Muhammad Ali, and the real life inspiration for Rocky Balboa. But before all that, Chuck Wepner (Liev Schreiber) was a liquor salesman and father with a modest prizefighting career whose life changed overnight when, in 1975, he was chosen to take on The Greatest in a highly publicized title match.
It’s the beginning of a wild ride through the exhilarating highs and humbling lows of sudden fame—but what happens when your fifteen minutes in the spotlight are up?
Driven by a committed performance from Liev Schreiber,...
- 4/7/2017
- by Melissa Thompson
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Ezra Edelman’s “O.J.: Made in America” won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature last night at the 2017 Academy Awards. It was a major coup for Espn, a media behemoth known for live sports events and shows, not movies. Yet what is more remarkable about “O.J.” is how many people have seen the clear-eyed, seven-hour-and-forty-five-minute historical examination of race in America.
Read More: Oscar Nominated Filmmakers Take Us Inside Their Artistic Process
From its June 11 premiere through the month of July, 41 million viewers tuned into watch one of the 40 telecasts of “O.J.” on ABC, Espn, and ESPN2. An additional 3.4 million unique viewers streamed the doc through the network’s streaming app WatchESPN. And while total viewership numbers are unavailable for Cable VOD, Espn told IndieWire the film has seen at least 7.1 million transactions. Not included in these numbers are how many viewers watched the film in theaters, on Hulu this August,...
Read More: Oscar Nominated Filmmakers Take Us Inside Their Artistic Process
From its June 11 premiere through the month of July, 41 million viewers tuned into watch one of the 40 telecasts of “O.J.” on ABC, Espn, and ESPN2. An additional 3.4 million unique viewers streamed the doc through the network’s streaming app WatchESPN. And while total viewership numbers are unavailable for Cable VOD, Espn told IndieWire the film has seen at least 7.1 million transactions. Not included in these numbers are how many viewers watched the film in theaters, on Hulu this August,...
- 2/27/2017
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
Philippe Falardeau’s drama starring Liev Schreiber, Elisabeth Moss and Naomi Watts has gone to IFC Films in a Us deal in Toronto.
EuropaCorp sources confirmed they had acquired Us rights from CAA to Lone Scherfig’s rom-com Their Finest, which stars Gemma Arterton, Sam Clafin and Bill Nighy and premiered as a Gala Presentation.
Meanwhile Netflix continued to pursue Us and select international rights to Fabrice Du Welz’s Message From The King starring Chadwick Boseman, the Vanguard selection it has been stalking since the weekend.
Buyers were understood to be circling Onur Tukel’s black comedy Catfight starring Sandra Oh and Anne Heche and interest was coalescing around George Nolfi’s Birth Of The Dragon following its world premiere on Tuesday.
Earlier on Wednesday Music Box announced it had acquired Terence Davies’ A Quiet Passion.
Returning to The Bleeder, IFC Films brokered the deal with UTA Independent Film Group in the wake of last weekend...
EuropaCorp sources confirmed they had acquired Us rights from CAA to Lone Scherfig’s rom-com Their Finest, which stars Gemma Arterton, Sam Clafin and Bill Nighy and premiered as a Gala Presentation.
Meanwhile Netflix continued to pursue Us and select international rights to Fabrice Du Welz’s Message From The King starring Chadwick Boseman, the Vanguard selection it has been stalking since the weekend.
Buyers were understood to be circling Onur Tukel’s black comedy Catfight starring Sandra Oh and Anne Heche and interest was coalescing around George Nolfi’s Birth Of The Dragon following its world premiere on Tuesday.
Earlier on Wednesday Music Box announced it had acquired Terence Davies’ A Quiet Passion.
Returning to The Bleeder, IFC Films brokered the deal with UTA Independent Film Group in the wake of last weekend...
- 9/14/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Philippe Falardeau’s drama starring Liev Schreiber, Elisabeth Moss and Naomi Watts has gone to IFC Films in a Us deal in Toronto.
EuropaCorp sources confirmed they had acquired Us rights from CAA to Lone Scherfig’s rom-com Their Finest, which stars Gemma Arterton, Sam Clafin and Bill Nighy and premiered as a Gala Presentation.
Meanwhile Netflix continued to pursue Us and select international rights to Fabrice Du Welz’s Message From The King starring Chadwick Boseman, the Vanguard selection it has been stalking since the weekend.
Buyers were understood to be circling Onur Tukel’s black comedy Catfight starring Sandra Oh and Anne Heche and interest was coalescing around George Nolfi’s Birth Of The Dragon following its world premiere on Tuesday.
Earlier on Wednesday Music Box announced it had acquired Terence Davies’ A Quiet Passion.
Returning to The Bleeder, IFC Films brokered the deal with UTA Independent Film Group in the wake of last weekend...
EuropaCorp sources confirmed they had acquired Us rights from CAA to Lone Scherfig’s rom-com Their Finest, which stars Gemma Arterton, Sam Clafin and Bill Nighy and premiered as a Gala Presentation.
Meanwhile Netflix continued to pursue Us and select international rights to Fabrice Du Welz’s Message From The King starring Chadwick Boseman, the Vanguard selection it has been stalking since the weekend.
Buyers were understood to be circling Onur Tukel’s black comedy Catfight starring Sandra Oh and Anne Heche and interest was coalescing around George Nolfi’s Birth Of The Dragon following its world premiere on Tuesday.
Earlier on Wednesday Music Box announced it had acquired Terence Davies’ A Quiet Passion.
Returning to The Bleeder, IFC Films brokered the deal with UTA Independent Film Group in the wake of last weekend...
- 9/14/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Mandalay Sports Media and Michael D. Ratner's Obb Pictures have entered into a co-production agreement to develop and produce a slate of sports-themed films, TV projects and multiplatform programming. Their first series project is Embiid, a documentary that centers on Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid's journey from Cameroon to Kansas, and ultimately the NBA. Msm's Mike Tollin is producing and Ratner is directing and producing. Ratner will also direct six episodes of Ride…...
- 2/5/2016
- Deadline TV
Mandalay Sports Media and Michael D. Ratner's Obb Pictures have entered into a co-production agreement to develop and produce a slate of sports-themed films, TV projects and multiplatform programming. Their first series project is Embiid, a documentary that centers on Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid's journey from Cameroon to Kansas, and ultimately the NBA. Msm's Mike Tollin is producing and Ratner is directing and producing. Ratner will also direct six episodes of Ride…...
- 2/5/2016
- Deadline
Exclusive: Walden Media and Mandalay Sports Media’s Mike Tollin are joining forces on 51 Dons, a feature film about the 1951 University of San Francisco Dons football team whose story rivals the racial tolerance tales told in 42 and Remember The Titans. It’s a fast-tracked project and comes after Mandalay Sports just completed the Chuck Wepner boxing biopic The Bleeder with Spotlight and Ray Donovan‘s Liev Schreiber playing the brawler with the high threshold for…...
- 12/16/2015
- Deadline
Liev Schreiber and his wife Naomi Watts are set to play heavyweight boxer Chuck Wepner and Chuck's wife Linda respectively in "The Bleeder" for Mandalay Sports Media and Campbell Grobman Films.
The story follows the New Jersey liquor salesman and boxer who at age 35 got a shot to fight Muhammad Ali right after the infamous 'Rumble in the Jungle' bout. The 40-1 underdog Wepner surprised everybody when he became only the third man to knock Ali to the canvas.
Ali got up and pummeled Wepne until the fight ended, but Wepner became a folk hero and an inspiration for Sly Stallone's "Rocky" script. The film will also deal with Wepner's sudden fame and hard partying lifestyle.
Philippe Falardeau ("The Good Lie," "Monsieur Lazhar") helms from a script by Jeff Feuerzeig & Jerry Stahl and Michael Cristofer. Schreiber, Mike Tollin, Carl Hampe, Christa Campbell and Lati Grobman are producing and shooting kicks...
The story follows the New Jersey liquor salesman and boxer who at age 35 got a shot to fight Muhammad Ali right after the infamous 'Rumble in the Jungle' bout. The 40-1 underdog Wepner surprised everybody when he became only the third man to knock Ali to the canvas.
Ali got up and pummeled Wepne until the fight ended, but Wepner became a folk hero and an inspiration for Sly Stallone's "Rocky" script. The film will also deal with Wepner's sudden fame and hard partying lifestyle.
Philippe Falardeau ("The Good Lie," "Monsieur Lazhar") helms from a script by Jeff Feuerzeig & Jerry Stahl and Michael Cristofer. Schreiber, Mike Tollin, Carl Hampe, Christa Campbell and Lati Grobman are producing and shooting kicks...
- 10/7/2015
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Mandalay Sports Media (Msm) has named Funny Or Die’s Dick Glover as its new CEO. In the role, Glover will oversee Msm’s day-to-day business operations, including merges and acquisitions activity, business development and strategic partnerships, while working closely with co-founder Mike Tollin to develop original sports properties across all media. Glover will remain on Funny Or Die’s Board; Mitch Galbraith will take over day-to-day CEO duties. Prior to his tenure at the Will Ferrell-Adam McKay comedy company, Glover served as vice president of Broadcasting and New Media for Nascar and its Digital Entertainment wing, overseeing all television,...
- 9/15/2015
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
The new CEO at Peter Guber and Mike Tollin’s sports media enterprise replaces Rich Battista. He left in April, after two years on the job, for Time Inc. where he’s an Evp overseeing People and Entertainment Weekly. New CEO Dick Glover comes to Mandalay Sports Media from Funny or Die, where he was CEO. He’ll remain on the comedy venture’s board and will “maintain close ties with the company,” Msm says. Glover knows sports, though. He was Nascar’s VP Broadcasting and New…...
- 9/15/2015
- Deadline TV
The new CEO at Peter Guber and Mike Tollin’s sports media enterprise replaces Rich Battista. He left in April, after two years on the job, for Time Inc. where he’s an Evp overseeing People and Entertainment Weekly. New CEO Dick Glover comes to Mandalay Sports Media from Funny or Die, where he was CEO. He’ll remain on the comedy venture’s board and will “maintain close ties with the company,” Msm says. Glover knows sports, though. He was Nascar’s VP Broadcasting and New…...
- 9/15/2015
- Deadline
Vice Sports is partnering with Mandalay Sports Media to launch a new docu-series telling ground-breaking, under-reported sports stories, the network and media company announced Thursday. Produced by Mandalay Sports’ Mike Tollin, Mason Gordon and Catlin Callaway, the digital series captures the action of high-stakes street football leagues in New York City, follows an underground fighting club’s attempts to go legit, and chronicles the controversy surrounding Zack Hample, an Mlb collector best known for catching the Alex Rodriguez’s 3000th hit earlier this year. Also included in each episode is a “Ride Along” segment featuring players such as Baltimore Ravens...
- 9/10/2015
- by Debbie Emery
- The Wrap
“Smallville” producer Mike Tollin is among a panel of seasoned executives who will judge pitches from 10 aspiring filmmakers in a new offering at the La Costa Film Festival called “The Reel Pitch.” The best pitch will win its storyteller the opportunity to refine their tactics under the guidance of one of the judges and then deliver it to one of Mandalay Sports Media studio partners and make a sale. “We are thrilled to make The Reel Pitch a key part of our 2015 festival offerings,” Michael and Ruby Callihan of Lcff said in statement Tuesday. “It’s one thing to screen...
- 7/1/2015
- by Debbie Emery
- The Wrap
Yahoo is teasing footage from its upcoming original series Sin City Saints. The digital media giant has released the official trailer for its half-hour sports comedy series from executive producer Mike Tollin.
The Sin City Saints trailer introduces viewers to Jake (played by Andrew Santino), the owner of a fictional but poorly-performing basketball team based out of Las Vegas. Dusty Halford (Malin Akerman) arrives as a lawyer and assistant to the NBC Commissioner to straighten things out. But things aren’t looking up for Jake, so he’ll have to get serious about the team or risk losing it. The first season of Sin City Saints will debut on Yahoo Screen on March 31, 2015.
Yahoo originally announced the development of Sin City Saints at Digital Content Newfronts in April 2014. Later that year, the internet-centric media company revealed the initial cast members (which also includes Tom Arnold as a local casino host...
The Sin City Saints trailer introduces viewers to Jake (played by Andrew Santino), the owner of a fictional but poorly-performing basketball team based out of Las Vegas. Dusty Halford (Malin Akerman) arrives as a lawyer and assistant to the NBC Commissioner to straighten things out. But things aren’t looking up for Jake, so he’ll have to get serious about the team or risk losing it. The first season of Sin City Saints will debut on Yahoo Screen on March 31, 2015.
Yahoo originally announced the development of Sin City Saints at Digital Content Newfronts in April 2014. Later that year, the internet-centric media company revealed the initial cast members (which also includes Tom Arnold as a local casino host...
- 3/13/2015
- by Bree Brouwer
- Tubefilter.com
Yahoo has released the trailer for their upcoming March 23 Yahoo Screen episodic series Sin City Saints. Developed by Mandalay Sports Media and filmmaker-producer Mike Tollin, the 30-minute comedy series will star Malin Akerman, Tom Arnold, and Andrew Santino. The show details the travails of a fictional Las Vegas expansion league basketball team, the Sin City Saints.
Deadline reports that Akerman will play a “Stanford-educated lawyer who is special assistant to the league commissioner, sent to ride herd on the unruly franchise”. Arnold plays a casino host and city insider and Santino plays a “rambunctious Silicon Valley tycoon who always wanted to own a pro basketball team but is in way over his head”. Santino’s character appears to be an apt, and maybe very “on the nose”, characterization of new, hardheaded, and “disruptive” NBA team owners, like Sacramento’s Vivek Ranadivé or Memphis’ Robert Pera.
The post Watch the trailer...
Deadline reports that Akerman will play a “Stanford-educated lawyer who is special assistant to the league commissioner, sent to ride herd on the unruly franchise”. Arnold plays a casino host and city insider and Santino plays a “rambunctious Silicon Valley tycoon who always wanted to own a pro basketball team but is in way over his head”. Santino’s character appears to be an apt, and maybe very “on the nose”, characterization of new, hardheaded, and “disruptive” NBA team owners, like Sacramento’s Vivek Ranadivé or Memphis’ Robert Pera.
The post Watch the trailer...
- 3/13/2015
- by Max Wood
- SoundOnSight
Exclusive: Check out this exclusive trailer from Yahoo for its new episodic series, Sin City Saints, starring Malin Akerman, Tom Arnold and Andrew Santino. Developed by Mike Tollin (One Tree Hill, Smallville, Varsity Blues) and Mandalay Sports Media, the series debuts March 23 on the company’s Yahoo Screen video service. The half-hour comedy series follows the ups and downs of a Las Vegas expansion basketball team of the same name. Other executive producers are Bryan…...
- 3/12/2015
- Deadline TV
Matthew Glade is rounding out the regular cast of ABC's untitled NBA buddy comedy pilot, executive produced by Galavant creator Dan Fogelman, Mandalay Sports Media's Peter Guber & Mike Tollin and Kapital Entertainment's Aaron Kaplan. Written/executive produced by Casey Johnson and David Windsor, the single-camera NBA project, from ABC Studios, is a buddy comedy about Mo (Blondy Baruti), an NBA rookie who doesn't speak English, and a translator, Jason (Skylar Astin), who…...
- 3/1/2015
- Deadline TV
Ving Rhames (Mission Impossible franchise) is taking a comedic turn with a co-starring role in ABC’s untitled NBA buddy comedy pilot, executive produced by Galavant creator Dan Fogelman, Mandalay Sports Media's Peter Guber & Mike Tollin and Kapital Entertainment's Aaron Kaplan. Written/executive produced by Casey Johnson and David Windsor, the single-camera NBA project, from ABC Studios, is a buddy comedy about Mo (Blondy Baruti), an NBA rookie who doesn't speak English…...
- 2/27/2015
- Deadline TV
After what was described as a worldwide search, ABC has cast Blondy Baruti, a 6-foot-10 former basketball player out of Oklahoma, as the lead opposite Skylar Astin in its untitled NBA buddy comedy pilot. It’s executive produced by Galavant creator Dan Fogelman, Mandalay Sports Media's Peter Guber & Mike Tollin and Kapital Entertainment's Aaron Kaplan. Also cast in the pilot, which is being done with the cooperation of the NBA and the the Guber-co-owned Golden State…...
- 2/26/2015
- Deadline TV
March is going to be a big month at Yahoo Screen. In addition to Community, which will begin its sixth season on March 16th, Yahoo has also announced that Sin City Saints, a sports comedy from executive producer Mike Tollin, will debut on March 23rd.
Sin City Saints, which Yahoo first announced at its Digital Content Newfronts presentation in 2014, centers on a fictional pro basketball team based in Las Vegas. The cast, which was announced in October 2014, includes Andrew Santino as the owner of the Saints, Malin Ackerman as an assistant to the NBA commissioner, and Tom Arnold as a local casino host.
Tollin, a prolific executive who previously dipped into the world of sports comedy as the producer of Arli$$, is one of several high-profile showrunners working with Yahoo Screen. In addition to Community, the digital media company's video wing will also distribute Outer Space, a sci-fi comedy from...
Sin City Saints, which Yahoo first announced at its Digital Content Newfronts presentation in 2014, centers on a fictional pro basketball team based in Las Vegas. The cast, which was announced in October 2014, includes Andrew Santino as the owner of the Saints, Malin Ackerman as an assistant to the NBA commissioner, and Tom Arnold as a local casino host.
Tollin, a prolific executive who previously dipped into the world of sports comedy as the producer of Arli$$, is one of several high-profile showrunners working with Yahoo Screen. In addition to Community, the digital media company's video wing will also distribute Outer Space, a sci-fi comedy from...
- 2/20/2015
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
Exclusive: Oscar-nominated Birdman co-writer Alexander Dinelaris Jr has set up his next script, The Year Of The Monarchs, with Mandalay Sports Media and Mike Tollin. Inspired by elements of his own life, Dinelaris Jr has scripted a story of the struggles of a father and daughter in a dying town that used to measure its success by a booming industrial economy and the boxscore of its baseball team. A bit of magic helps their adversity. Tollin will produce and Dinelaris Jr…...
- 2/19/2015
- Deadline
Shaq this out: Shaquille O’Neal will star in truTV’s comedy pilot Shaq Inq.
The workplace sitcom is loosely based on the wild and frenetic business empire of the former basketball player, who will serve as an executive producer alongside Mike Tollin (Smallville, Arli$$).
The half-hour project follows O’Neal and the team who manages his existing products and endorsements while implementing his latest batch of eccentric and oftentimes brilliant business ideas.
Ready for more of today’s newsy nuggets? Well…
* Get ready for a bloody good time. NBC has unveiled a trailer for Season 3 of Hannibal, premiering this summer.
The workplace sitcom is loosely based on the wild and frenetic business empire of the former basketball player, who will serve as an executive producer alongside Mike Tollin (Smallville, Arli$$).
The half-hour project follows O’Neal and the team who manages his existing products and endorsements while implementing his latest batch of eccentric and oftentimes brilliant business ideas.
Ready for more of today’s newsy nuggets? Well…
* Get ready for a bloody good time. NBC has unveiled a trailer for Season 3 of Hannibal, premiering this summer.
- 1/23/2015
- TVLine.com
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