Molly Eichel: Philly boxing promoter takes shot at reality TV

CELEBRITY BOXING PROMOTER Damon Feldman may be heading to a small screen near you, courtesy of a liquor magnate.

Reality-TV cameras will follow Feldman as he makes his comeback in the Philly celebrity boxing arena. Feldman is the man who brought the likes of Tonya Harding, Rodney King and Michael Lohan (Lindsay's dad) into the ring to fight for celeb supremacy.

Each episode of the currently untitled series will follow Feldman as he puts the fights together and feature a different celebrity boxer. It will also delve into Feldman's personal life, including his two kids - 10-year-old Alyssa and five-year-old Landon - and his newly single status. Feldman divorced his wife about six months ago, and was engaged to Nadya "Octomom" Suleman earlier this year, but it was all for publicity.

"It'll have a family feel and with an 'Entourage' spin," said co-creator and executive producer Christine Nicole, "because you need to have the women in there. Sex sells."

Nicole, who started in reality television herself, is a partner in Rumbum Reality, a branch of a company created by Bacardi Rum scion Luis Bacardi. The Rumbum banner also includes a racing team, a record label and a film-production company. Feldman's show will be the first production from Rumbum's reality-TV division. Nicole says she's looking to sell the final product to Spike, MTV or HBO.

Feldman has had other reality-show offers in the past, but his legal history has prevented him from completing his duties. He has not promoted a fight in Pennsylvania in some time. In 2011, he pleaded no contest to charges of fixing fights and promoting fights without a license.

"I hope it gives an indication of how I'm a hustler. I went through everything to build the WWE of boxing," Feldman said. "I've done the Hollywood thing, but I want to do everything here and stay in my hometown."

Cameras start rolling in late March, with Feldman's first fight back - featuring Jose Canseco - scheduled for April 11.

Local entrepreneur (and co-owner of the Philadelphia Soul) Cosmo DeNicola was at Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's Palo Alto fundraiser for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. DeNicola chatted with both men, although their convos were quite different.

With Zuckerberg, DeNicola talked about utilizing mobile devices to manage chronic disease, a project DeNicola has been working on for some time. "He was wearing a hoodie," DeNicola told me. "It was right out of central casting."

DeNicola got closer to home with Christie. The pair discussed a sports arena to replace the dearly-departed Spectrum, and DeNicola thinks South Jersey is the place to do it. DeNicola said he didn't discuss the possibility of the Soul playing there.

* West Philly got suspenseful yesterday, as writer/director/West Philly native Dom Franklin began filming the thriller "The Church" at First Corinthian Baptist Church at 51st and Pine. The film is about a supernatural force that doesn't approve of plans to sell a church to make way for new development. The movie stars B-movie superstar Clint Howard (brother of Ron), "The Human Centipede's" Ashley C. Williams, "Nightmare on Elm Street" franchise alum Lisa Wilcox and Matthew Nadu, former Daily News Sexy Single and a member of the CW Philly Crew/CBS3. Rick Kain, who also worked on ultimate classic "Die Hard" is helping with stunt coordination. Shooting continues until March 6.

* In other film news, locally-shot horror flick "Nobody Gets Out Alive," directed by Jason Christopher, was released on DVD, Netflix and Redbox on Tuesday. Coincidentally, it also stars Clint Howard. Dude's becoming a regular here.

Grays Ferry resident Sara Gates, 22, will appear in the premiere episode of SyFy's "Stranded," wherein she and two friends venture to New Hampshire's Star Island to film their experiences investigating a haunted hotel. Gates said her scariest moment came on the last night when she could feel a presence brushing up against her elbow. "Stranded" premieres tonight at 10 p.m.

94.1 WIP game analyst and former Eagle Mike Quick, comedian Joe Conklin, Sheriff Jewell Williams and CSN's Arthur Fennell will hang out at the 11th Annual Zarwin HUB March Madness. The event includes basketball viewing and silent auctioning (tickets to "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" and a signed Jrue Holliday jersey, among others). Proceeds benefit Philabundance. Want to go? Like Zarwin Baum on Facebook or follow them on Twitter at @ZarwinBaum to find out how.

Email: eichelm@phillynews.com

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