Shaq tips his hat to Betty White
'Upload' star says old people are funnier than pets and kids
Shaquille O'Neal is no match for Betty White.
The former NBA champion is set to tip off his humorous, new clip show, "Upload With Shaquille O'Neal" on truTV next week but concedes that he can't compete with the comedy wiles of "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" and its formidable host.
Bing: More on 'Upload with Shaquille O'Neal' | 'Betty White's Off Their Rockers'
"I love Betty White," O'Neal said of the 91-year-old TV rock star during a recent phoner. "I haven't really seen her show. But I'm not a hater. I wish her well."
To be fair, O'Neal's show is more of a clip roundup in the vein of "America's Funniest Home Videos," while White's show is a hidden-camera/prankster series. But the formats are similar.
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O'Neal and his co-hosts, comedians Gary Owen ("Think Like a Man") and Godfrey, make funny comments about video clips that feature old people, kids, goofy dads and pets doing silly things. "Upload" even features celebrity guests.
"Off Their Rockers," meanwhile, features elderly actors playing practical jokes on everyday people and White often welcomes celebrity guests in between bits. But O'Neal says White has him beat because her octogenarians are more hilarious than his quirky toddlers and animals.
"I'm old now," said O'Neal, 40. "Old people are funnier."
Besides, White and O'Neal are friends. Check out this 2011 video where he asks White to be his wife:
"Upload with Shaquille O'Neal" debuts Thursday, Feb. 21, at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on truTV. "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
I absolutely love Betty White! She is one of the best role models I have ever seen on TV. When I was a kid I watched her on password, and many other shows she has been on. I will go out of my way to watch anything she is on. When my grandma was alive, I lived with her - one of my grandmas favorite shows was password - she loved watching it because of Betty White. At a very early age I learned to watch and appreciate her wit, wisdom and all around good nature.
I'm almost 50 now and probably one of Betty Whites biggest fan, I only hope one of these days I get to meet her, she reminds me so much of my grandma.
Penny White
primetime tonight
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Deanna Barnert | Los Angeles, Calif.
Entertainment journalist Deanna "TVDeeva" Barnert visits sets, interviews industry players and critiques the final product. Buzz's daytime TV queen covers it all for MSN TV, but loves her sitcoms, soaps and any juicy drama that doesn't call itself Reality TV.
