Shaq is back in a reality show, this time on network television.
Two years after the short series “Shaquille”, which aired prior to NBA playoff games on ESPN, O’Neal will host a new reality show on ABC where “he will help a bunch of overweight elementary and junior high school students shed pounds while educating the kids and TV viewers about the perils of childhood obesity.“
O’Neal, as one of the few athletes with mainstream, crossover appeal, will certainly attract more curious viewers than Mark Cuban did. Still, considering ABC’s track record with summer reality series, this show will likely disappear rather quickly.
O’Neal becomes the latest athlete to host a reality show; John McEnroe hosted “The Chair” on FOX, Ahmad Rashad replaced Anderson Cooper on “The Mole”, Jesse Palmer was the object of affections on “The Bachelor”, and Doug and Jackie Christie allowed a camera crew to document their mutually psychotic relationship.
