LeBron James Producing TV Comedy About Rags-to-Riches Player

Where is the world's best basketball player?

One place he isn't is Los Angeles, where he was expected to be promoting the new Starz comedy for which he's an executive producer.

Yes, Lebron James is a 10-time NBA All-Star, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and two-time NBA champ with the Miami Heat. And now, he's one of the producers behind "Survivor's Remorse," a show about a world-class basketball player who grew up in poverty and is thrust into fame and wealth.

Why didn't James attend the summer press tour session of the Television Critics Association on Friday?

"Well, up until today, he was unemployed, so today he may be in HR office," said Maverick Carter, his longtime manager and another executive producer of the show.

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The story is loosely based on James's life and his role behind the scenes is mostly to support it conceptually. But writer-actor Mike O'Malley ("Glee"), who is also a producer on the six-episode series, pointed out that the basketball phenom "is very funny."

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FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation pushes embattled New York prosecutor into national spotlight

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

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FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

"We did go down to Miami and did a table read," he said. "That was one of the best days of the pre-production of this, to see them enjoy this. He’s very funny."

The cast of the show includes Jessie T. Usher as the lead, Tichina Arnold and Mike Epps. It premieres Oct. 4.

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— Maria Elena Fernandez