Shaq Vs
| Shaq Vs. | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Reality, Competition |
| Directed by | J. Rupert Thompson |
| Starring | Shaquille O'Neal |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
|
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | August 18, 2009 – August 31, 2010 |
Shaq Vs. is an American reality television show produced for ABC by Dick Clark Productions and Media Rights Capital starring American basketball star Shaquille O'Neal. It began airing on August 18, 2009.
Shaquille O'Neal claims to be "the greatest athlete" and challenged numerous top athletes in their own sports.
The Washington Post has pointed out similarities to Shaq Vs. and Todd Gallagher's book Andy Roddick Beat Me with a Frying Pan saying the book and the show have "precisely the same premise" and that a TV show based on the book Gallagher was trying to sell was "the exact same show." TMZ later reported that Gallagher and O'Neal shared the same agent and the agent had previously shopped a virtually identical show with Gallagher. Gallagher's name appears in the credits of season 2 as a producer.
The Arizona Republic reported that in early 2008 Steve Nash, a former teammate of O'Neal's, had mentioned to O'Neal a reality show he was pursuing that would feature Nash taking on professional athletes in their own sport. O'Neal said Nash's idea was based on training with other athletes, not competing against them. Nash would not confirm the Republic's story and said, "We collaborated on parts of the show." Nash is an executive producer of the program.
Mike Goldberg, play-by-play announcer for the UFC, has served as both the show's play-by-play announcer and one of the show's two co-hosts for all of its seasons. In season 1, Pat Tomasulo, sports anchor at WGN-TV, co-hosted with Goldberg while Charissa Thompson served as the sideline reporter. In season 2, Kit Hoover served as both the co-host and sideline reporter. Shaq's total record is 2 wins, 12 losses, and a tie.
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