'The Mike Stud Project (working title)' Premieres This Summer

Anyone who's ever followed a dream or pursued a passion knows you've got to have a back-up plan - but what happens when Plan B turns out to be even more ambitious than Plan A? Esquire Network takes viewers inside the world of Mike Stud - a Duke educated, former All-American baseball player who unexpectedly turned to music after an injury robbed him of his lifelong dream to play pro ball. Now, Mike Stud can be seen at the top of the Billboard and iTunes charts as he continues to build his brand in the most unconventional way -- as an unsigned artist, heavily relying on social media to build awareness, sell tickets and engage with fans around the world. "The Mike Stud Project (wt)," a new eight-episode docu-series premiering this summer on Esquire Network, brings viewers along for the wild ride during Mike's nation-wide tour as he and his loyal pack of lifelong friends navigate the world of broken down buses, crowds-gone-crazy, hotel evictions, groupies flashing various body parts, and guys chugging copious amounts of alcohol, all while somehow holding it together in the mercilessly harsh yet wildly exhilarating road to BECOMING a superstar.

In just five short years, Mike Stud has garnered over 60 million views on YouTube, released three #1 Hip-Hop Albums on iTunes, and headlined three notoriously 'wild' national tours. However, and perhaps most impressive of all, Mike has done it entirely independently - no labels, just him and the variously talented 'cast of characters' that live with him, work with him, and ultimately rely on him for their livelihood. His carefully cultivated crew includes: Matt "Blue" Ouellet (The Best Friend/Hype Man), Jon Kilmer (Videographer), DJ Fader (DJ and Tour Manager), Gerry Corcoran (Tour Manager), Patrick "Paddy" Quinn (The Director), and Ben Foley (Creative Director, Photographer, and Designer of Merchandise). Outside the core group, Marcus Stroman (Toronto Blue Jays) and Tyler Seguin (Dallas Stars) will be stopping by to catch a show and hang with the crew, as well as Mike's girlfriend and oh-so-charming supermodel-on-the-rise Josie Canseco (daughter of former baseball slugger Jose Canseco).

Underneath the good-natured 'boys will be boys' shenanigans is an underdog story of how in the face of heart-breaking disappointment, Mike has jumped at a SECOND CHANCE to live a charmed life. This hustling entrepreneur is banking on a serendipitous opportunity while bringing his friends on his crazy journey. With exclusive access to Mike's 40-city "Back2You Tour" across North America, Esquire Network will follow Mike and his entourage of friends turned collaborators as they embark on their most substantial endeavor to date, all in the wake of Mike's latest album release.

"The Mike Stud Project (wt)" is produced by Den of Thieves, executive produced by Jesse Ignjatovic, Evan Prager and Alexandra Lipsitz and co-executive produced by Jordan Barrow, Jared Morell and Austin Rosen.

About Esquire Network

Esquire Network champions the pursuit of a well-played life. The lifestyle and entertainment network, which debuted in September 2013, features programming that speaks to classic and contemporary passions and interests, from fashion and style to food and drink, travel, family and relationships. Building on Esquire magazine's 80 years of insight into what makes men tick, Esquire Network is available wherever viewers are watching: in 75 million homes nationwide, online at http://esquiretv.com, On Demand, via mobile with the Esquire TV Now app and other platforms. Esquire Network is a unit of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal. To find Esquire Network, visit: http://esquiretv.com/channelfinder.

About Den of Thieves

Den of Thieves has emerged as a force for ambitious music driven event shows and uniquely stylized television series. Using their extensive experience working with talent, their credits cover a vast array of formats and include Comedy Central's Key & Peele SUPER BOWL Special, MTV's " Greatest Party Story Ever," as well as Pitbull's New Year's Revolution and AMERICAN IDOL on FOX, the CMT Awards, the Peabody Awards, the MTV Movie Awards, THE RADIO DISNEY MUSIC AWARDS and the MTV Video Music Awards.

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