Shaquille O'Neal And Nick Cannon To Host Cartoon Network's Third Annual Hall Of Game Awards

ATLANTA, Nov. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cartoon Network is proud to announce that basketball legend and Turner Sports NBA analyst Shaquille O'Neal and the multi-talented host of America's Got Talent, Nick Cannon will be the hosts of Cartoon Network's third annual Hall of Game Awards, premiering in February 2013. Cartoon Network's Hall of Game Awards lets viewers vote for their favorite sports stars and sports moments of the year. Last year 2.6 million viewers* tuned in and 102 million votes were cast online at HallOfGame.com to help their favorite sports stars win the ultimate prize, the golden GAME trophy. 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121114/CL13541)

"If you thought last year's show was big just wait till Nick Cannon and I combine our awesomeness for this year's enormous show," said O'Neal. 

"I am so excited to be hosting the third Hall of Game Awards with Shaq!" said Cannon.  "When I was there last year the energy was palpable and I can't wait to get on the stage and give out that famous GAME trophy."

"We're thrilled to have two icons of sports, television and film hosting this year's Hall of Game," said Rob Sorcher, chief content officer for Cartoon Network. "Shaquille O'Neal and Nick Cannon will definitely bring their Game and deliver a cool Cartoon Network event packed with top sports personalities, pop music and entertainment."

This first-of-its-kind, sports award and entertainment event for kids will once again be produced by IMG Media, the production arm of global sports, entertainment and media company, IMG.  Time Inc. Sports Group's SI KIDS franchise will be serving again as an official media partner. Veteran, award-winning television and special events producer, Michael Dempsey, and Steve Mayer will again serve as executive producers.  Viewers can expect a star-packed red carpet, on stage celebrity surprises, superstars from television, film, music and sports, and hilarious hijinks all wrapped up into one awesome awards show.

Last year's show was hosted by O'Neal, and featured appearances by First Lady Michelle Obama, David Beckham who received the Icon Award,  Jimmie Johnson, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Tim Tebow, Drew Brees, Victor Cruz, Nick Cannon, Cam Newton, Hope Solo, Rico Rodriguez, Zachary Gordon, Jennette McCurdy, Clayton Kershaw, Matthew Stafford, Maya Gabeira, Tony Gonzalez, Hakeem Nicks, Terrell Suggs, Torii Hunter, Jimmy Graham, AJ Green, Calvin Johnson, Matt Kemp, Steve McCann and The Miz.

Appearances also included the cast of Cartoon Network's Level Up—Gaelan Connell, Connor del Rio, Jessie T. Usher and Aimee Carrero— and the 2012 SI Kids SportsKid of the Year, Noah Flegel, along with musical performances by Flo Rida and Hot Chelle Rae.

Among his many accolades during his 19-year playing career, O'Neal was chosen as one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players, ranks fifth all-time in NBA scoring history (28,596 points scored), won the Rookie of the Year award (1993) and MVP award (2000) and was named All-NBA 14 times.  Additionally, his career includes four NBA Championships—three with the LA Lakers (2000—2002), where he was named NBA Finals MVP for all three championships, and one with the Miami Heat (2006).  The 15-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA All-Star MVP (2000, 2004, 2009) also won two scoring titles (1995, 2000).  He appeared in 1,207 regular season games, averaging 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.3 blocks in 34.7 minutes per contest throughout his career, which included playing for the Orlando Magic, LA Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics. He is currently an NBA analyst for TNT's Sports Emmy Award-winning Inside the NBA studio show and also offers analysis on NBA TV, which is jointly managed by the NBA and Turner Sports.

Nick Cannon, executive producer of the upcoming Cartoon Network sketch-comedy series Incredible Crew, made his television debut as a teenage sketch comedian on the series All That where he was also a writer, making him the youngest staff writer in television history at the age of 17. Cannon catapulted onto the big screen in 2002 when he appeared alongside Will Smith in Men in Black II before landing a leading role in Drumline. He hosted Wild 'N Out, a show that he created and executive produced for MTV, which was the network's highest-rated comedy series in its history.  In the fall of 2006, Cannon was featured in the film, Bobby, where his performance earned him a 2007 SAG nomination as well as being the first African American actor to be honored at the Cannes Film Festival with the "Breakthrough Actor of the Year" award. Most recently Cannon can be seen as the host of NBC's America's Got Talent as well as a series regular on Up All Night, which earned him recognition at this year's 2012 NAACP Image Awards for "Outstanding Supporting Actor." 

About Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com) is the #1 U.S. television network among boys 6-11. Currently seen in 99 million U.S. homes and 194 countries around the world, Cartoon Network is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for kids and families. In addition to Emmy-winning original programming and industry-leading digital apps and online games, Cartoon Network embraces key social issues affecting families with solution-oriented initiatives such as Stop Bullying: Speak Up and the Move It Movement.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

About IMG Media
IMG Media operates from over 30 offices worldwide and distributes content across all forms of media including TV, Audio, Fixed Media, Inflight and Closed Circuit, Broadband and Mobile. IMG Media Production generates 6000 hours of programming, over 200 projects in locations around the world. These include coverage of: 2012 Olympic Tennis, New York City Marathon, Masters, PGA Championship, ATP and WTA Tennis, Professional Bull Riding Wimbledon, Premier League Soccer. IMG Media also has produced entertainment specials and events such as: NHL All-Star Game, NHL Awards, Ryder Cup, Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials, World's and Year's Funniest Commercials for TBS, Christmas in Rockefeller Center, and Boston Pops 4^th of July Spectacular. IMG Media also maintains the world's largest sports archive with more than 250,000 hours of footage.

About Time Inc. Sports Group's SI KIDS Franchise  
Sports Illustrated Kids, the first sports magazine written for kids ages 8 and up, connects with its readers through their passion for sports. The magazine offers kids the access to athletes and sports information that they want with in-depth reporting, action photography, first-person athlete accounts and other features. The magazine, books, and web site sikids.com, promote positive values, good sportsmanship and the fun of reading.

*RATING PERIOD:  2/20/12
SOURCE:  Nielsen Media Research based on Live+7 blended with Live+ SD datamost current data.
NOTES:  All ratings based on Total U.S. Television Universe of 114,500,000 homes.

SOURCE Cartoon Network