Shaq turns spotlight on kids who want to shape up

Yet another celeb is getting a piece of the reality TV pie, but for Shaquille O’Neal it’s not about him being in the spotlight.

A four-time NBA champ, Shaq knows the importance of exercise and eating right – it’s made him a millionaire. More recently, he has seen the impact that childhood obesity is having throughout the United States, but instead of just watching from the sidelines, Shaq has decided to do something about it.

In his new show, “Shaq’s Big Challenge,” the basketball superstar works with children from across the country in an effort to help them slim down and shape up before it’s too late.

Much like “The Biggest Loser” is an inspiration to adults, this show is great for those pre-teen couch potatoes who are glued to their Game Boys.

After watching the preview and scanning the press release, I decided to visit the show’s Web site. Although I’m a little disappointed at what the site currently has to offer, it looks promising.

In addition to being able to follow the members of Shaq’s fat-fighting team, parents can learn how to help their families fight the fat and sign up for Shaq’s e-newsletter.

This one really is a reality show that the whole family can benefit from, so tune in to ABC at 9 p.m. Tuesday, June 26, for the premiere and help your children help themselves before it’s too late.

I also had planned on telling you about “Curl Girls” this week, but I’m afraid I don’t have much to offer.

It’s a new show on LOGO that follows a group of lesbian surfers as they ride the waves of the Pacific, compete against each other, and struggle with relationships and careers. The only problem – I didn’t even make it all the way through the preview.

It’s not that it’s a bad show; it just wasn’t my cup of tea. Check out the second episode for yourself at 10:30 p.m. next Wednesday on LOGO.

More importantly, I’ve made one of my picks for the finals of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” While watching Tuesday night, I was amazed by Cass Haley.

Haley’s exactly what the show should be about, which doesn’t include male Shakira impersonators. I listened to him sing again on the show’s Web site, and while he has a great voice and his stage presence allows you to look past his worn shorts and rumpled shirt, it’s his passion that I love.

His passion for his wife, his son, and his music shows how much he truly wants to win $1 million to make life better for his family. I was pleased with the judges’ unanimous “yes” vote to move him along to the next round and can’t wait to see what he performs next.

If you missed Haley’s performance, it’s not too late to go to www.nbc.com and watch a video clip from the show along with some of Tuesday night’s other performances.