CTV picks up Shaq

NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal, who has delivered such hits as ‘I’m Outstanding’ during his dubious rap music career, thinks he is a better performer than Justin Bieber. O’Neal will challenge Bieber, the tween sensation whose video for ‘Baby’ recently hit the 250-million mark on YouTube, to a dance-off in season two of his series Shaq Vs., debuting Aug. 3 on CTV.

The network purchased the broadcasting rights of Shaq Vs. from Disney, which is the Canadian distributor of the show, according to a spokesperson. The six-episode series will air Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. and on CTV.ca, targeting adults aged 18 to 54.

Viewers of the first season of Shaq Vs., which debuted last year on ABC to a luke-warm 4.5 million viewers (Nielsen), watched Shaq compete against sports celebrities such as Olympic champion Michael Phelps and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in their areas of specialty.

However, Shaq is a multi-talented guy and he believes his prowess extends beyond athletic ability. In the new season, executive produced by Phoenix Suns star Steve Nash, he is going up against non-athletes such as Rachael Ray in a cook-off, performing a magic trick that is supposed to outdo Penn and Teller, and he engages in a war of words with a 15-year-old spelling bee champion.

‘I’ve spent all year sharpening my skills and I want to win. There’s no challenge bigger than me,’ commented O’Neal in a release.

From Media in Canada