Shaq Vs. is an American reality television series 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.[1]
Shaquille O'Neal claims to be "the greatest athlete" and challenged numerous top athletes in their own sports. It received generally negative reviews from critics.
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."[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]
Mike Goldberg, former 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.[5] In season 2, Kit Hoover served as both the co-host and sideline reporter.[6] Shaq's total record is 2 wins, 12 losses, and a tie.
The show did not return in 2011 for a third season.[7]
Each episode in Season 1 included preliminary challenges, banter from news conferences, and O'Neal and his rival negotiating a handicap. In each episode Shaq and his competitor do some form of charity work. Shaq mentions quite often that he loves to see the smile on the little kids' faces. The laughs come from "trash talking," but "when it comes to competing, there is no joking," O'Neal says.[1]
Final Record: 0-5
In February 2010, ABC announced that the series will return for a second season.[13] Season 2 would premiere on August 3, and unlike Season 1 which relied on sporting matches, Season 2 would also feature comedic non-sports competitions such as a spelling bee, dance battle, or magic act. Shaq competes against Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a NASCAR race, track and field sprinter Tyson Gay in a race, chef and television personality Rachael Ray in a cook-off, pop musician Justin Bieber in a dance-off, Charles Barkley in a golf match, Joey Chestnut in a hot dog eating contest, national spelling bee champion Kavya Shivashankar in a spell off, Las Vegas magic duo Penn & Teller by performing classic stage-magic acts, and Shane Mosley in a boxing match.[14][15][16]
Final Record: 2-7-1
Overall Record: 2-12-1
On Rotten Tomatoes season 1 of the show has a "rotten" 33% rating.[22] The Baltimore Sun remarked that the should have been a weekend daytime show shown on a Regional sports network rather than a primetime show. While Variety remarked that it was good idea that was terribly executed.[23] Meanwhile, the AV Club was more positive remarking that it was pretty agreeable way to waste your time.[24]
In 2018 Shaquille O'Neal stated in an interview with TMZ sports that he "held back" in his fight with Oscar De La Hoya as he was friends with him, while he also stated that he "turned it up a little" in his fight with Mosley.[25]
Shortly after O'Neal was traded to the Suns in February 2008, Nash mentioned to his new teammate a reality show he was pursuing.
At an appearance yesterday to promote the series-ending episode – in which he'll race against Olympic swimming star Michael Phelps – the Cleveland Cavaliers centre said Nash's premise was based on training with other athletes, not competing against them.