Phelps’ shark wasn’t real, viewers’ rage is

Viewers tuned into the Discovery Channel's Shark Week expecting to see Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps race a great white shark, instead what they got was a video game. Something you could one day see at Casino Pier or any other Jersey boardwalk. "Step right up and race a great white."

The Discovery Channel billed it as "Phelps vs Shark, Great Gold vs Great White". Watching the great race between Olympic gold medal winner Michael Phelps and a great white shark, I'm wondering why the shark would be so gracious as to actually swim next to what could be his dinner. He didn't, as viewers heard this quote from ecologist Tristan Gutteridge, one the featured scientists:

Clearly, we can’t put Michael in one lane and a white shark on the far lane. We’re gonna have to do a simulation.

The promo wasn't exactly that clearly, despite the fact that Phelps in pre show interviews said that he wasn't going to race an actual shark. Many of those who watched are upset at what they saw and not because Phelps lost the race.

This isn't the first time Discovery pissed off their viewers. You may remember "Eaten Alive" when a guy didn't actually get eaten by a snake as promised. At this rate, how long before "Shark week actually jumps the shark" or have they done that already?

More from New Jersey 101.5: