Exclusive: Irwin Entertainment links with Greg Berlanti for factual shows

Dancing With Myself. Pic credit: NBC

LA-based Irwin Entertainment is in talks with multiple scripted producers including Greg Berlanti to develop upcoming factual shows.

Several projects are understood to be under discussion with Irwin, which is behind NBC’s upcoming Shakira-fronted dance competition series Dancing With Myself.

Among the prolific scripted names Irwin is in discussions with is Greg Berlanti, who via his Berlanti Productions label is the architect of The CW’s ‘Arrowverse’ superhero universe, which includes The Flash and Superman & Lois.

The potential projects come amid a factual push for the John Irwin-led firm, which is focusing on real-life ‘stranger than fiction’ stories. It appointed former Rogue Atlas exec Eli Frankel as president of production and development, earlier this year.

Irwin founded Irwin Entertainment in 2005, producing reality series including Celebrity Rehab, Sober House and Couples Therapy.

The firm is well known as a producer of comedy specials and live events, including Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh for Netflix and Michelle Wolf: Nice Lady for HBO. It will also launch competition series Dancing With Myself on NBC on 31 May.

Comedy veteran Irwin, who started his career as a PA on 1980s Showtime sitcom It’s Garry Shandling’s Show, spent almost 20 years working with prolific comedy producer and writer Lorne Michaels, the creator of NBC’s Saturday Night Live. His early production credits include Def Comedy Jam and specials for comedians such as Rowan Atkinson and John Leguizamo.