‘The Whole Nine’ Comedy Inspired by NFL Star Calais Campbell’s Life Set At CBS
CBS is developing The Whole Nine, a multi-camera comedy inspired by the life story of Arizona Cardinals football star Calais Campbell. The project is from veteran sitcom producers Eric and Kim Tannenbaum and CBS TV Studios, where their Tannenbaum Co. is based.
Written by Sin City Saints co-creator Chris Case, Derek Elliot & Jack Donaldson, The Whole Nine centers on a pro football player who moves into a gated community and is surprised when his overbearing family shows up on his doorstep wanting to move in.
Case, Campbell, Doug Banker of Five All in the Fifth Entertainment and Eric & Kim Tannenbaum executive produce, while Elliot and Donaldson co-executive produce.
Campbell is a defensive end for the Cardinals and a two-time Pro Bowler. He grew up one of eight children, including two older sisters and five football-playing brothers. Despite financial hardship that forced them to move the family practically every year, Calais’ parents created a home that valued having fun, working hard, and living life (and playing sports) with integrity.
Today, Calais and his siblings all remain best friends, while their mother is a spark plug whose greatest joy is cheering on her children — and getting involved in their personal lives. And although their father Charles passed away in 2004, he remains their collective guidepost, and the man they continue to honor with their youth program–oriented Foundation work.
Last season, Case sold a comedy series project to Fox based on his experience as a teenager growing up with a black stepdad, an ex-football player, who married his white mom.
In addition to co-creating and executive producing the basketball-themed Sin City Saints for Yahoo, Case served as an executive producer on FX’s Legit. He is repped by CAA, Management 360 and Jared Levine.
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