Shaq Vs.

History/ format

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.{{cite news | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130117135226/http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2009/08/19/20090819spt-boivinshaq.html | archive-date = January 17, 2013 | access-date = November 17, 2010 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090826204617/http://www.thestar.com/Basketball/article/685250 | archive-date = August 26, 2009 | access-date = November 17, 2010 | url-status = live

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. 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.

The show did not return in 2011 for a third season.

Seasons

Season 1

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.

Final Record: 0-5

Season 2

In February 2010, ABC announced that the series will return for a second season. 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.

Final Record: 2-7-1

Overall Record: 2-12-1

Legacy

Critical reception

On Rotten Tomatoes season 1 of the show has a "rotten" 33% rating. 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. Meanwhile, the AV Club was more positive, remarking that it was a pretty agreeable way to waste your time.

Later developments

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.

References

References

1. "D.C. Sports Bog - Shaq Denied Entrance to White House".
2. Murray-Yavar, Ann. (2009-08-03). "'Shaq VS' Premieres: Shaq Against Ben Roethlisberger". [[Comcast]].
3. (2010-07-15). ""SHAQ VS" PREMIERES AUGUST 3 ON ABC". theFuntonCritic.com.
4. (15 June 2011). "2010-11 canceled TV shows [pt 4] - updated May 2011". canceled TV shows - TV Series Finale.
5. Levin, Gary. (2009-07-20). "O'Neal courts competition on new reality show 'Shaq Vs.'". [[USA Today]].
6. Seidman, Robert. (2009-08-19). "TV Ratings Tuesday: Big Brother 11 hits highs, Hell's Kitchen still fiery, and Shaq…". TVbytheNumbers.com.
7. Seidman, Robert. (2009-08-29). "Shaq VS retains 100% of its week-ago debut". TVbytheNumbers.com.
8. Gorman, Bill. (2009-09-02). "TV Ratings Tuesday: America's Got Talent Helps NBC Edge Fox & Hell's Kitchen". TVbytheNumbers.com.
9. Gorman, Bill. (2009-09-09). "TV Ratings Tuesday: 90210, Melrose Place Premiere Weak; Fox & Hell's Kitchen Rule". TVbytheNumbers.com.
10. Seidman, Robert. (2009-09-16). "Updated TV Ratings Tuesday: The Jay Leno Show declines, Big Brother exits, Melrose slips". TVbytheNumbers.com.
11. Seidman, Robert. (2010-02-11). "ABC Brings Back Shaq for More Shaq Vs.". TVbytheNumbers.com.
12. Okamoto, Brett. (2010-07-08). "Shaquille O'Neal hits Las Vegas to take on Shane Mosley in boxing ring". [[Las Vegas Sun]].
13. Seidman, Robert. (2010-05-14). ""Downfall" and "Shaq Vs." To Premiere a Week Earlier Than Originally Planned". TVbytheNumbers.com.
14. Busbee, Jay. (2010-07-16). "Dale Earnhardt Jr., Shaquille O'Neal race for ... something or other". [[Yahoo]].
15. Seidman, Robert. (2010-08-04). "TV Ratings: 'Hell's Kitchen,' & 'MasterChef' Best 'Wipeout' & 'Shaq Vs.'". TVbytheNumbers.com.
16. Seidman, Robert. (2010-08-11). "TV Ratings: 'Hell's Kitchen Finale ' & 'America's Got Talent' Top Tuesday Viewing". TVbytheNumbers.com.
17. Seidman, Robert. (2010-08-18). "TV Ratings: 'Wipeout's Big Balls Dominate; 'Shaq Vs.' Stands Taller". TVbytheNumbers.com.
18. Seidman, Robert. (2010-08-25). "TV Ratings: TV Ratings: 'America's Got Talent Rules the Night". TVbytheNumbers.com.
19. Gorman, Bill. (2010-09-03). "TV Ratings Tuesday: 'America's Got Talent' Dips But Leads Night". TVbytheNumbers.com.
20. "Shaq VS {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes".
21. Lowry, Brian. (2009-08-15). "Love Shaq: ABC’s Latest Post-Up Move With ‘Shaq Vs.’".
22. (2009-08-19). "Shaq Vs. - "Shaq vs. Ben"".
23. "Shaquille O'Neal Says He Held Back From Beating Oscar De La Hoya's Ass".