Adding a little heart and soul to a summer of harsh reality TV, 'Shaq's Big Challenge' debuts Tuesday night on ABC at 9 p.m. Led by NBA star Shaquille O’Neal, the show sets out to transfom the lives of six morbidly obese kids by teaching them healthy eating habits and workout routines while targeting America’s epidemic of childhood obesity.
A six-episode series, the challenge begins when Shaq meets the kids at their homes and discovers the root of their weight problems. They range in age from 11 to 14 and weigh up to 285 pounds, with favorite snacks including something called a “fryburger” and a bowl of popcorn drenched in two sticks of butter. Shaq and personal trainer Tarik Tyler take the kids on workout regimens, and while the expected level of failure occurs at first, the trailers show some energetic and possibly revitalized kisd as well.
Reality TV has tackled weight loss before, of course, but unlike ‘The Biggest Loser’ no one is eliminated here (can you imagine those poor 11-year olds crying their way off the set?) And other than TLC’s ‘Honey We’re Killing the Kids,’ no show has specifically taken on childhood obesity. It’s hard to say whether the show will draw in the kids who are already spending their summer evenings watching TV instead of out riding bikes, but more than a few parents are likely to tune. The show’s ABC website, largely under construction at the moment, promises a lot of bells and whistles to help parents see the same changes in their owns kids. And there’s a general interest to be had in the show as well; why watch fake pirates, bad short films or amateur celebrity impersonators when you can see a genuinely heartwarming show? With its genuine pathos and dramatic arc, ‘Shaq’s Big Challenge’ is like ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ for the body.
Finally, it’s hard to underestimate the appeal of the Shaq Attack himself. The basketball star’s athletic grace and gentle persona have made him a celebrity for the last 15 years, and as a chubby kid himself, he’s speaking from experience as he guides these kids. On reality TV airwaves filled with celebrity wannabes, Shaq simply comes across as the real deal.
