Shark Tank is a reality which combines the
entertainment value of competition with the learning experience of educational
programming. The premise is this: burgeoning entrepreneurs pitch a product/business
concept in hopes one or more sharks bite! If you aren’t business savvy, don’t
fret, it only takes a few episodes to familiarize yourself with the lingo. Who
thought one could learn something and
be entertained at the same time?!
Spanning nine seasons to date, Shark Tank
has showcased and brought success to several inventive products. This was part
of the reason I found this show. My interest in the show American Inventor, from
way back when, had me searching clips on YouTube. I stumbled across Dragon’s
Den (the UK equivalent of Shark Tank). The dragons did indeed come before the
sharks, but the den was doing something the tank wasn’t. The UK version always used
the dragon’s quirks to the show’s advantage. This is an idea that the ABC
version hadn’t first relied on, which might be saving it now.
I'm sure talk of "evaluations"
and "equity" isn’t conversation most audiences would be interested
in. Shark Tank must have been floating on unique products in the beginning,
drawing in 7.9 million viewers on average during the fifth season. This hasn’t
been the case lately, however. While Shark Tank keeps our attention with peculiar
products, fast-paced dialogue and precision editing (lead the audience to
believe this is going bad, and cut to commercial), it seems to have finally adopted
an idea from its predecessor. The focus has shifted more on the sharks in later
seasons. Their relationships have blossomed, and their personalities are
becoming a central focus.
Audiences have come to despise no shark
more than Keven O'leary, the literal shark on this program. Nicknamed by
himself, Mr. Wonderful, he is unafraid to squash dreams and
"cockroaches" alike. “Show me the money,” He’ll say after every pitch
because it’s always about the money and not much else to Mr. Wonderful.
Audiences have formed a love/hate relationship with this shark. Yes, that
includes the other sharks. O'leary makes up his mind rather quickly. He's
snappish and curt, and I’m certainly a fan. Never afraid to speak his mind, Mr.
Wonderful is easily half of Shark Tank's entertainment value. I don't believe
he'll be sharing the middle chair with any one for as many seasons as ABC
wishes to gift us.
You can watch the latest season on Hulu,
but do yourself a favor and check out the Mr. Wonderful music video:
O’leary and Herjavec have always been my
favorites of the program. Herjavec is the figurative angel on everyone’s
shoulder desperately pleading for you not to listen to O’leary on the other.
Then again, all of the sharks have come around to sassing Mr. Wonderful. Shark
Tank features a variety of sharks who interchange through seasons and episodes.
Click the link below to meet those of the latest season:
ABC Shark Tank Page
Business Insider
IMBD
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