TMZ has learned Shaquille O'Neal and now-estranged wife Shaunie made a pilot for a reality TV show -- and while their marriage is falling apart, at least one network is still considering putting the reality show on the air.
Earlier this year, the O'Neals had been pitching out a show called "Love Shaq," based on several family-style reality shows like "Meet the Barkers," "Newlyweds" and "Til Death Do Us Part" -- but unlike those couples, the O'Neal's marriage fell apart before the show ever aired.
TMZ got in contact with A&E, who confirmed they had seen the pilot -- and told us they are still "considering" whether or not to purchase the show. FYI -- the show is obviously not in production at the moment.
But the show could be dead before A&E gets to make a decision -- as we previously reported, Shaunie's already moved out -- pulling their kids out of their Florida school and relocating to L.A.
Shaquille O'Neal's wife Shaunie has abruptly flown to Los Angeles and filed a petition for legal separation in Los Angeles County Superior Court ... and Shaq's people think it's all about money.
TMZ has learned Shaunie filed legal papers yesterday in L.A., even though the couple lives in Florida. The petition says although Shaunie is filing for legal separation, she intends to file for divorce. She lists "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for separation.
We're told Shaunie pulled her kids out of school in Florida several days ago and they are with her now in L.A.
Why, you ask, would Shaunie cross the country to file in L.A.? Well, a spouse generally does a lot better in the spousal support department here in California. Shaunie is asking for both spousal and child support -- though she did not specify an amount for either.
Shaunie claims in her papers to be a resident of L.A. since November 8, 2009 -- 2 days ago.
The date of separation is listed as 11-9-09. The couple has 4 minor children. Shaunie wants legal and physical custody of all the kids.
Here's a shocker -- the most powerful talent agency on the planet refused to negotiate with a man who accused them of stealing his TV show idea and giving it to Shaquille O'Neal ... so now that dude has filed a lawsuit.
It's all over the show "Shaq Vs." A sports writer named Todd Gallagher claims the William Morris Endeavor Agency stole his idea about a show in which he competes against pro athletes in different sports -- and turned it into "Shaq Vs". ... a show featuring Shaq competing against pro athletes in different sports.
Todd had fired off a letter to the agents back in August in hopes of a settlement, but they refused ... so today he filed a $5,000,000 lawsuit in L.A. County Superior Court.
For the record -- Shaq has stated publicly that he came up with the idea all by himself.
We've seen some real "hands-on" interviews before -- but this one takes the cake.
FOX Sports Radio's "Money" from the "Petros & Money Show" got one of the most memorable birthday surprises we've ever seen last week -- when Shaquille O'Neal literally bent Money over his knees and delivered a b-day behind beating!
And that's no ordinary spank ... Shaq's hand is big enough to hit both cheeks at once.
Shaquille O'Neal thinks he can take on peeps like Michael Phelps and Oscar De La Hoya for his reality show, but we found one thing he definitely can't beat -- a ticket.
TMZ has learned Shaq was ticketed early this morning in Hollywood after officers saw him intentionally stopping his car in the middle of the road in front of a few clubs. O'Neal was cited for impeding traffic and let go.
FYI -- Shaq is a reserve cop ... you'd think he'd know better.
You know Shaquille O'Neal is frighteningly huge when he makes a human in a giant Snoopy suit look like one those stuffed prizes you win at a carnival. The human monster visited Knott's Berry Farm amusement park in Buena Park, CA on Thursday -- then Twittered about how being 7'1" sucks sometimes by saying, "i'm at knots berry farms n my butts 2 big 2 fit in da seats on ride. ahhhhhh (dats me yellin)."
In Shaq's world, the sign reads "You have to be this short to ride this ride."
It was hardly a fair fight -- Shaq is 7'1", 325 lbs, Oscar De La Hoya is 5'10", 154lbs -- but the two strapped on the gloves and threw down in Vegas last night ... and the footage is AWESOME.
During the fight at the Planet Hollywood Hotel, the diminutive boxing champion is clearly holding his own against the behemoth of basketball -- even landing a few shots on the big man's grill.
As the for winner -- we're guessing we're gonna have to tune into that "Shaq Vs." show to find out.
The idea for Shaquille O'Neal's new show "Shaq Vs." is already accused of being stolen -- and it hasn't even hit the airwaves yet.
Author Todd Gallagher alleges William Morris Endeavor Entertainment -- the agency repping Todd -- approached him to turn his book "Andy Roddick Beat Me with a Frying Pan" into a TV show sometime last year ... then hijacked his idea and turned it into "Shaq Vs."
Todd's book was based on him competing against professional athletes who agreed to play with handicaps -- such as Roddick using a frying pan instead of a tennis racket.
The allegations are part of a letter fired off to Endeavor, in which Todd's lawyers claim the company "intentionally cut him out ... creatively and financially" and then got another one of their clients -- Shaquille O'Neal -- to fill in for him.
Todd's lawyers want to meet up with Endeavor for a possible settlement discussion -- if this doesn't happen, they intend to file a "lawsuit prior to the Show being aired on August 18th."
This might be the greatest piece of video we have ever shot!WATCH THIS!
"The Diesel" is looking to run right over David Beckham -- 'cause last night Shaquille O'Neal was trash talking like crazy, calling out the "scared" Galaxy star for refusing to accept his one-on-one soccer challenge.
Quick recap: Shaq threw down the gauntlet on Becks, via Twitter, saying "u will never score a goal on me, I challenge you lil man." David responded by deflecting attention, telling press "I don't see him calling Kobe out ... I think Kobe could score against him."
But last night at the Sherman Oaks Galleria, Shaq took the smack talk to another level -- saying to Beckham, "There's no way you'd score on me ... how many goals did you score for the Galaxy?"
Shaq didn't just entertain our photog, dude shook hands and posed with every single fan who approached him ... and for the record, we've never seen Beckham do that.
It's not clear when this Michael Jackson "tribute" video was shot -- but Shaquille O'Neal and Damon Jones performing the infamous dance-off/knife fight from "Beat It"... awesome!
The phrase "pick on someone your own size" has never been truer -- as Shaquille O'Neal (7'1" 330 pounds) just challenged massive MMA fighter Hong Man Choi (7'2" 330 pounds) to a no-holds-barred fist fight.
Shaq shot this video calling out the giant after a recent training session -- and according to the clip, it seems like the challenge could be legit.
Hong's the guy who made Jose Canseco his mini-bitch back in May ... but really, is that an accomplishment?
While the Shaq-less Los Angeles Lakers enjoy the sweet taste of victory -- there's a 7-foot trash-talkin' ex-teammate who knows he's got a big helpin' of "KobeBryant's ass" comin' his way.
Check out the message Shaquille O'Neal just posted on his Twitter page ... spelling errors and all: Congratualtions kobe, u deserve it. You played great . Enjoy it my man enjoy it. And I know what yur sayin rt now "Shaq how my ass taste "
Obviously, this stems from Shaq's incredible rendition of "Kobe How My Ass Taste" -- a freestyle rap he dropped when Kobe and the Lake Show lost in the NBA Finals last year.
When Shaq posted this pic of a personalized private jet bearing his wife's name and face on his Twitter page Wednesday, it seemed like The Diesel had just one-upped any gift any man had ever given his lady ... until Shaunie blew his cover!
While it's not impossible to think Shaq has the kind of disposable income to blow on a PJ, Shaunie immediately cleared up any speculation, telling people via Twitter, "lol... Directly frm photoshop, lol."
This pic of Shaq's new hairdo however -- completely legit.
Shaq invited him to play basketball in his private gym, Usher took him to an NBA playoff game, Bow Wow even helped him shoot a YouTube video -- seems like Chris Brown is finally out of celebrity exile.
At first it was hard to find a celebrity who would take a stand on the incident at all, but now -- just three months after he allegedly beat the crap out of Rihanna -- he's back in the "in-crowd," like the whole thing never happened. He's even dropping an album.
We don't expect Chris is gonna have a sit-down dinner with Jay-Z any time soon... but at this point, would you really be surprised?