TV • 2009

Shaq Vs.

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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.