Shaq Vs. (2009)
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 received a half-a-million dollar settlement. 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.
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Episode 1 - Shaq vs. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Release Date: 2010-08-03Shaq heads to North Carolina to take on Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a head-to-head race at Concord Speedway. Also: a visit to Washington, D.C., to square off with National Spelling Bee Champion Kavya Shivashankar.
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Episode 2 - Shaq vs. Shane Mosley; Shaq vs. Penn and Teller
Release Date: 2010-08-10The 7-foot-1, 335-pound NBA star laces on the gloves to challenge 5-foot-9, 150-pound Shane Mosley in an exhibition boxing match in Las Vegas. Also: the big man attempts some hocus-pocus with magicians Penn and Teller. Prior to the fight, Shaq gets tips from trainer Freddie Roach.
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Episode 3 - Shaq vs. Rachael Ray; Shaq vs. Tyson Gay
Release Date: 2010-08-17Shaq goes shopping with Rachael Ray in New York City, where they pick up ingredients for a burger cook-off. Also: the big man gets help from Dwight Howard, Chris Johnson and DeSean Jackson in a 200-meter relay race against sprinter Tyson Gay in Los Angeles.
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Episode 4 - Shaq vs. Charles Barkley; Shaq vs. Competitive Eating
Release Date: 2010-08-24Shaquille O’Neal travels to Dana Point, CA to tee off against Charles Barkley on the St. Regis Monarch Beach golf links, then heads to Las Vegas to challenge Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Champion Joey Chestnut outside Serendipity 3
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Episode 5 - Shaq vs. Justin Bieber; Shaq vs. Jimmy Kimmel
Release Date: 2010-08-31