TBS Orders "Unqualified" (wt) Pilot with Shaquille O'Neal and Ken Jeong
Basketball Legend and Comedic Actor Team Up to Tackle a Variety of
Odd Jobs in this Unscripted Comedy
O'Neal and Jeong to Executive Produce with Abso Lutely Productions
LOS ANGELES, NOVEMBER 5, 2018- TBS has picked up the unscripted comedy Unqualified (wt) to pilot. Following their magnetic showdown on the network's rap battle series Drop the Mic, Shaquille O'Neal and Ken Jeong are pairing up again for Unqualified (wt), which will follow the unlikely duo as they take on different odd jobs. Between them, there are very few things these two iconic Renaissance men can't do. Shaq easily shifted from court to courtside commentary as an analyst for Turner Sports' Emmy Award-winning Inside the NBA on TNT. And Jeong really is a medical doctor as well as playing one on TV. But can they be scuba instructors? Line cooks? Dental hygienists? Nude art class models? All in one day?
Summoned to their temporary employment by unsuspecting people via a digital portal, Unqualified (wt) will follow the antics of Shaq and Ken as they try their hands at jobs that have always intrigued them, along with a few they'd rather avoid. Sometimes Shaq and Ken will have no clue what they're walking into.
Utilizing their wide range of talent and hustle, the duo will perform tasks such as patrolling malls as rent-a-cops, substitute teaching kindergarten, train conducting and performing as party clowns.
"These guys made magic on Drop The Mic together. Their chemistry is undeniable." said Michael Bloom, senior vice president of unscripted and specials for TBS and TNT. "And no doubt that magic will extend to the unwitting people who expect anything to get done when they show up."
"We are built to hustle." said Shaquille O'Neal and Ken Jeong. "We're thankful to TBS for giving us the opportunity to embrace any challenge that comes our way and we hope to surprise everyone with our ability to learn the ropes on the fly."
O'Neal and Jeong will executive produce Unqualified (wt) alongside Dave Kneebone, Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim of Abso Lutely Productions as well as Jensen Karp, Perry Rogers Colin Smeeton, Mike Perris, and Brett Carducci.
About TBS
TBS, a division of Turner, is one of basic cable's top entertainment networks with young adults, and home to the most popular and critically acclaimed comedies on cable - Angie Tribeca, CONAN, The Detour, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, The Guest Book , The Last O.G., Search Party, and Wrecked - as well as animated series American Dad!, Final Space and Tarantula. TBS' slate of unscripted series includes competition show Drop the Mic and Snoop Dogg Presents The Joker's Wild. Upcoming comedies include Miracle Workers and Close Enough. In addition, the TBS lineup includes popular comedy hits like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Family Guy, The Cleveland Show, Bob's Burgers, The Big Bang Theory, New Girl and 2 Broke Girls; blockbuster movies; and live coverage of Major League Baseball's regular and post-season play, the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship and ELEAGUE, Turner's eSports gaming competition.
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About Turner
Turner, a WarnerMedia company, is a global entertainment, sports and news company that creates premium content and delivers exceptional experiences to fans whenever and wherever they consume content. These efforts are fueled by data-driven insights and industry-leading technology. Turner owns and operates some of the most valuable brands in the world, including Adult Swim, Bleacher Report, Boomerang, Cartoon Network, CNN, ELEAGUE, FilmStruck, Great Big Story, HLN, iStreamPlanet, Super Deluxe, TBS, Turner Classic Movies (TCM), TNT, truTV and Turner Sports.
About Abso Lutely Productions
Abso Lutely Productions was founded in 2007 by comedians Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim and producer Dave Kneebone. It began as a means of producing the surreal sketch comedy show, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! for Adult Swim. By prioritizing the amplification of fresh and unconventional comedic voices, Abso Lutely has since become a destination for ideas that push the boundaries of traditional comedy. It produces shows for major networks including IFC, Comedy Central, Cartoon Network, and Netflix, and is known for such breakout hits as Nathan For You, The Eric Andre Show, and Magic For Humans.
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