Nickelodeon show reveals Cam Newton is afraid of snakes, but not afraid to take chances

8:38 AM ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cam Newton is afraid of snakes.

Not just a little bit.

A lot.

The reigning NFL MVP might be “Superman” on the football field, but in a swimming pool playing water polo, he’s Clark Kent.

These are things you will learn about the Carolina Panthers quarterback when you watch his Nickelodeon television show — “All in With Cam Newton” — that premieres Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

These are things Newton learned about himself filming 20 episodes of the show, in which he pairs children ages 7 to 15 with mentors who can help them fulfill their dreams.

OK, Newton already knew he was afraid of snakes. His fear just was magnified for the world to see when the 6-foot-5, 260-pound man-child hid around the corner while an aspiring veterinarian — Soleil, standing less than 4 feet tall — held a Burmese python.

But the show reveals a side of Newton that goes beyond giving footballs to kids after touchdowns, that goes beyond showing disappointment after losing the Super Bowl.

It reveals a side that is humbled by his inability to dominate in everything as he has in football for much of his 27 years, a side that realizes he has a bigger purpose in life than throwing touchdown passes.

It reveals a side that shows Newton has fears just like everyone else.

“That’s what life is all about, overcoming fears, overcoming things that make you uncomfortable, and do different things,” Newton told ESPN.com as he discussed the series. “With this show, it forced me to do that, and I liked it.”

Newton was the headliner for the show, showing the same goofy, playful and sometimes-cocky side one often sees on the field.

But the kids are the show’s stars, beginning with the first episode when Newton helps Jackson become a meteorologist.

ifYOUwantTObeAweatherMAN…uBETTERbeREADYforÂLLtypesØF…WEATHER!! RA1N,heavyW1NDs,HAiLetc.? #iWmW -1OVE #ALLinWITHcam

A photo posted by Cam Newton (@cameron1newton) on Mar 22, 2016 at 9:21am PDT

“That was the fun in it,” Newton said. “Being around one child one day playing basketball … and then being around another child who wanted to be a competitive cheerleader. That was …

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