The half-hour scripted show premieres Oct. 4. Watch the new trailer exclusively on BuzzFeed.
1. No, the show is not about LeBron James.
But it is about a twentysomething phenom with an enormous new NBA contract that catapults him into superstardom.
Cam Calloway (Jessie Usher) is at the center of this Entourage-esque
half-hour scripted comedy, as a young man who suddenly has the world at
his feet. With his cousin as his manager and various needy family
members along for the ride, Cam must manage conflicting loyalties while
learning to navigate the worlds of sports, fame, and money.2. The show has serious gravitas behind it.
In
addition to the aforementioned 10-time NBA All-Star, the team of
executive producers is made more authentic with the addition of Maverick
Carter, James’ manager and lifelong friend. Mike O’ Malley
(Emmy-nominated for his work in Glee) serves as head writer and executive producer.
And if that’s not enough, Tom Werner is a co-creator and executive
producer as well. Chances are, you’ve grown up watching his work: Werner
is the man to thank for Martin, Roseanne, The Cosby Show, That ’70s Show, and many other iconic programs.3. The cast is captivating.
Tichina Arnold (Everybody Hates Chris, Martin), Teyonah Parris (Mad Men, Dear White People), Ronreaco Lee (Sister, Sister), and comedian Mike Epps round out the cast, led by charismatic — and handsome — newcomer Jessie T. Usher.
“I think the audience is smart enough to discover new talent,” Werner
said in July, at the National Association of Black Journalists
convention in Boston, of the ensemble cast. “I think it’s exciting to
discover new actors.”4. Technically, it’s a comedy.
As someone lucky enough to make it out
of an impoverished neighborhood, Cam tries to enjoy the fruits of his
labor. But the resentment of those he leaves behind lends itself to some
intense predicaments.
The show’s creators partnered with Starz in order to show the gritty
realities of the world in which Cam now lives. The sex, nudity, and
graphic language pay cable is known for? All here, if that’s your thing.
