Big Chicken with Dan Black

"Big Chicken with Dan Black" is Episode 422 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Nick Wiger and Mike Mitchell. "Big Chicken with Dan Black" was released on November 2, 2023.

## Synopsis

Dan Black (The Last Improv Show) joins the 'boys to discuss his family deli, Shaq, and fried chicken before a review of Big Chicken. Plus, a fall edition of Season's Eatings.

## Nick's intro

“*He said, ‘I’m Billy Friedkin. And I was like, ‘Oh, shit, The Exorcist? I love you. That’s me and my mom’s favorite movie.*’”

This was how legendary director William Friedkin — of *The French Connection*, *Sorcerer*, and yes, *The Exorcist* — met the star of his 1994 college-basketball drama *Blue Chips*: the larger than life in every way Shaquille O’Neal.

The massive and mostly mononymous Shaq had a career on the hardwood as impactful as Friedkin’s on the silver screen, with four NBA championships and a legacy as an all-time great big man. And his early acting role in *Blue Chips —* opposite then *People Magazine*’s “Sexiest Man Alive” Nick Nolte — helped make Shaq into the prototypical modern athlete, with a business and media empire in parallel with his playing career. Shaq starred in other films like *Kazaam* and *Steel*, charted rap singles like "What’s Up Doc" and "I Know I Got Skillz," and landed lucrative endorsement deals with Reebok and Pepsi.

And in the decade plus since his retirement in 2011, Shaq’s fame has perhaps even grown, a testament to his personal charm and business acumen. His analysis and antics as part of the *Inside the NBA* quartet proves often more entertaining than basketball itself. His buddy ad campaign with crudely animated auto-insurance mascot, The General, is this generation’s *Lethal Weapon*. And his brand partnerships have evolved to include age-appropriate endorsements like Icy Hot, a bizarrely fitting Halloween experience at Long Beach’s Queen Mary called Shaqtoberfest, and a board of directors seat and brand-ambassador arrangement with Papa John’s.

And, in 2018, Shaq launched a chicken-focused chain restaurant of his own — naturally, paired with a reality series, *Big Chicken Shaq*, spelled S-H-A-Q. As of 2023, his franchise has nearly twenty locations, with a dozen more planned.

So can The Big Aristotle’s burgeoning bird broker become a Blue Chip fast-food stock?

Or will time prove it another embarrassing curiosity, like his clunky and derivative Sega Genesis fighting game, *Shaq Fu*?

This week on Doughboys… Big Chicken.

## Fork rating

* Diesel Cookies & Cream Shake
 Mike Mitchell
* Big Shamrock Double Chocolate Shake
 Dan Black
 shared
* Uncle Jerome's Nashville Hot
* Shaq Attack
* The Ultimate
* Buffalo Crispy Chicken Sandwich
	+ Blue Cheese
* Big Popcorn Chicken
* 3 Piece Tenders
* BC Fries
* Dirty Fries
* Sweet Potato Waffle Fries
* Lucille's Mac n' Cheese
* Jalapeño Slaw
* Slaw
* Big Cookie

Nick, Mitch, and Dan all went together to Big Chicken (in Glendale).

They ate the Big Cookie live during the episode.

With these scores, Big Chicken makes the Broken Plate Club. Everyone is sad about it because they love Shaq.

For the record, this appears to have originally supposed to be part of **Shaq Week 2**, but because of their disappointment in Big Chicken, The Doughboys canceled it.

## Season's Eatings: Autumn Edition

In this segment, the Doughboys try a variety of holiday-themed snacks.

They have Van Leeuwen Buttermilk Berry Cornbread Ice Cream, Entenmann's Pumpkin Pop'ems, Entenmann's Apple Cider Donuts, and Diamond Pumpkin Pie Spice Walnuts.

They don't typically rate things in Season's Eatings, but I added Snack or Wack based on their reactions. Nick did rank the four items.

2. Ice Cream
3. Donut
 Mike Mitchell

Van Leeuwen Buttermilk Berry Cornbread French Ice CreamEntenmann's Pumpkin Pop'EmsEntenmann's Apple Cider DonutsDiamond Pumpkin Pie Spice Walnuts
## Favorite Berry and Nut 🫐🥜

 Mike Mitchell
 Dan Black
 Emma Erdbrink
 Casey Donahue

## Quotes

**Nick**: Honestly, yes.

## The Feedbag

 Mike Mitchell
 Dan Black

## Photos

Popcorn Chicken, Shaq Attack, Buffalo, Chicken Tenders, The UltimateDirty FriesThe Ultimate, Shaq Attack, Chicken Tenders, Buffalo, Popcorn ChickenBC Fries, Sweet Potato Waffle Fries, Slaw, Jalapeño Slaw, Lucille's Mac n' CheeseBig Conductor, Diesel, Big Shamrock