The Shark Tank Review: ABC's New Reality Show Has Bite

Swimming with the fishes can sometimes be fun and relaxing. But this summer ABC has taken that peaceful concept and is now throwing people into the Shark Tank.

The Premise

Every Sunday, inventors and business owners and some wanna-bes enter the room known as the Shark Tank attempting to hock their wares to the high profile investors known as The Sharks. The Sharks (Barbara Corcoran, Kevin O'Leary, Daymond John, Kevin Harrington, and Robert Herjavek) attack each pitch person, grilling them, sometimes excessively, with questions designed to elicit the information that would make them want to invest or, in some cases, outright buy the product or company.

Criticism

The show has come under some criticism because often the Sharks will make fun of or criticize an idea or the person who refused an offer or who had a bizarre and entirely impractical idea. In the second episode of the show, for example, O'Leary and the other Sharks broke out laughing in response to a pitch in Episode 102 by Mary Ellen Simonsen for $500000 to develop her laptop sticky note fold-down holder. Cracking jokes nearly the entire time, the Sharks made fun of how she has "created a sticky pad for sticky pads."

Business Tips Gleaned from Watching

This show is a must watch for those interested in taking their business to the next level, acquiring investors for their products or inventing and selling their own products. The show has not only entertainment value, but business value as well. The criticisms are unfounded when one takes into consideration that the Sharks often do share secrets or little known facts about getting into business. For example, on the second show of the season, O'Leary asked one business person, the co-creator of an apparel line, if he'd attempted to sell his wares at trade shows and if he has any standing orders. This information can be crucial for those who have ideas or products they wish to sell and may not know how best to go about it.

The Sharks aren't as bad as some of the criticism has been. The simple fact is that they are out to make money and to help the businesses or investors along some too. They aren't out to simply hand over money as a few critics and contestants seem to think they should do. The shark attacks are the nature of business; if you can't handle swimming with sharks then its best to stay out of the tank. The show is, by far, one of the most unique, entertaining, and informative reality-based shows showing today. It is a "must watch," especially for those interested in advancing their ideas or businesses.

The Shark Tank set has seen some recent changes and the show shows signs of staying around for a while. The set is now more personal and personable. The Sharks are at individual table that are at the same heighth as the contestants instead of the elevated long table; this gives the perception of a more intimate show, something that can only help. The proof the show is better and more engaging that critiics first thought (mainly because they felt it a cheap rip-off of the Dragon's Den, the Japanese version of the show) as the ratings for week two of the show sky-rocketed 35%.

Shark Tank airs Sundays 9/8c on ABC.