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Actor/rapper Travis Bennett and producer Steelo Brim have been tapped as new hosts of “The Shop,” taking over for LeBron James and Maverick Carter as the show returns for a new season of episodes starting Monday, June
22.
The news was announced Monday by Fulwell Entertainment, the banner that came out of last year’s merger of Fulwell 73 and SpringHill. The company noted that James and Carter selected Bennett and Brim to take over as hosts and insiders note that Carter will still operate in the same building where “The Shop” is shot — and plans to continue to interact with the show’s hosts and production team.
“From the beginning, ‘The Shop’ has always been a place for real, honest conversations. We believe Travis and Steelo are the perfect pair to carry the torch forward with new energy and fresh perspectives,” said Carter, who serves as co-CEO of Fulwell Entertainment. “The team has done an amazing job curating a new format that will give our audience an even more intimate experience, and we’re excited to continue creating culture-defining moments in ‘The Shop.'”
“The Shop” will continue to be set in a barbershop and feature its usual style of conversations, but in moving to a weekly format, Fulwell said “this reimagined season shifts the focus toward deeper, more intimate connections, pairing our hosts with two guests per episode to dive into the stories behind cultural moments and headlines. Featuring innovative new segments and evolved formats, ‘The Shop’ remains the premier destination where the biggest names in sports, music, and entertainment drop their guard and speak their truth.”
The season premiere will feature TV personality Jasper Dolphin (“Odd Future,” “Jackass”) and actor Melvin Gregg (“Fight Night: Million Dollar Heist,” “Snowfall”).
“The Shop” was created by Paul Rivera and Randy Mims and launched on HBO in 2018, before later moving to YouTube.
“As a fan of ‘The Shop,’ stepping into the foundation that LeBron, Maverick, Paul, and Randy have laid is quite amazing,” Brim said in a statement. “I’m excited to bring new perspectives to the show, and for the audience to get to know us; we’re a great team.”
Added Bennett: “I watch ‘The Shop,’ so to become a part of something I’m already a fan of is sick. I really care about perspective, because it’s the only thing that’s unique to each person. Perspective is so important to share, to receive, and to acknowledge, and I think there’s no better platform than ‘The Shop’ to showcase that. I’m also excited for the ability to show my personality. With acting, I’ve been lucky to play characters very similar to myself, but I want people to get to know me personally, and I think a weekly format, like this, is the best way to do that.”
“The Shop” also announced plans to bring the new hosts to Cannes Lions for a hosted conversation on June 24 at UTA Beach, and to Fanatics Fest at New York’s Javits Center in New York City for the show’s first-ever live taping, on July 17. The new hosts will chat with James and Carter during the taping.
“The Shop” (also known as “The Shop: Uninterrupted”) comes from Fulwell’s Uninterrupted division; James, Carter, Bennett, Brim and Ben Turner are executive producers. Co-executive producer is Courtney Whitaker and showrunner is Karus Nelson.
