• Variety, Monday, July 20, 2009 10:09 PM

ABC is picking up the new reality competition show "Shaq Vs." with Shaquille O'Neal. The show follows O'Neal as he competes against star athletes such as Olympic champ Michael Phelps in swimming and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in football. Other athletes facing off with O'Neal include tennis champ Serena Williams and Olympic volleyball gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor.

"Shaq Vs." will follow O'Neal and his weekly competitor as they go through the training process, including a press conference before the big day. O'Neal will train for a week leading up to each challenge; to keep the playing field level, he'll also negotiate a handicap with each opponent.

The network has picked up five episodes of the hourlong show, with the possibility of a sixth. O'Neal is currently talking to Lance Armstrong about participating in an extra episode. Media Rights Capital and Dick Clark Productions are behind the series, which starts production tomorrow.

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