Even if you don’t know tennis, you know who Maria Sharapova is. Between victories on the court and the millions of dollars she makes in between tournaments in endorsements, Sharapova has become the world’s highest-paid female athlete. Now she is taking her superstardom to television with a deal to executive produce a sports-related drama for The CW Network.
According to Variety, Sharapova’s project will take place in (what else?) the world of professional women’s tennis. This is the perfect project for a network like the CW, which has shows like Gossip Girl, which appeals to a younger demographic. I’m guessing the series will have all the aspects The CW looks for: young attractive girls in short outfits making squealing noises that guys will go nuts for. But don’t think this show will be just for the boys to look at, because I’m sure there will be hot, athletic guys on the men’s side of the tournaments for the ladies on the show (and in the audience) to gawk at as well.
Another thing to look out for in the new series will be the guest stars. It will be fun to see big-name players drop in to have some fun on the show. After all, Andy Roddick has hosted Saturday Night Live and Serena Williams has done some acting on TV when she hasn’t played herself (Law And Order, ER). Personally, I can’t wait for the inevitable John McEnroe cameo.
Sharapova’s partner in the series, which is still in the script-writing stage will be Jacob Epstein, who will also co-executive produce. Epstein has written for shows like Shark, Without A Trace, and Sliders.
With TV shows like Friday Night Lights fighting for their on-screen survival, it might be a dicey time to launch a sports drama. But if they promise an appearance by Sharapova in the pilot, with her blonde locks, 130-MPH serve, and a grunt no man can resist, it will definitely be worth a look.
