Shark Tank

What a let down this has become. I don't know if deals are real or questionable as some have pointed out.

I do know however that it used to be most about the presentation and offers.

Now like almost everything on tv it has become what I call the " cancer" effect.

That's the label I use to describe how it has become mandatory for shows to outdo every other show by having the drama of the contestants ( sometimes host also) be the big story. They tell their personal sad stories to the folks watching who sit at home saying " so sad, inspiring etc etc.

Yuk. Not saying these are made up but to make it such a critical part of the show is becoming so overdone by everyone I'm finding less shows I can watch.

When will enough be enough? I'm reminded of a comedy sketch on SNL where there is a Japanese game show that if they get the wrong answer they have to have a finger cut off. Chris Farley plays a hilarious tourist from Green Bay who is called down from the audience to play. This sketch is old and there is a crime / horror movie of the same era that takes on this theme of glorifying violence for media.

Reality tv has become like these examples. It's become out of hand.

I am absolutely appalled that Shark Tank is allowing Maria Shriver to be on the show. I looked up her net worth and it is $200 million. She doesn't need a shark to invest in her company. I've watched Shark Tank since its inception and I love the premise that the sharks are giving the average Joe a shot at the American Dream. This goes against everything Shark Tank stands for. People watch this for the possibility of making it big, not for rich people to get exposure for their products. With one phone call, Maria Shriver could be on any talk show or news platform. She doesn't need to take airtime and opportunity away from those who are just trying to get their company off the ground. The ONLY multimillionaires that should be on the show is the SHARKS!

I love this show. Robert is my favorite. He's such a sweetheart without sacrificing his business-focused mindset, Mark Cuban is the GOAT, and I'd respect Kevin more if he would let other people finish and didn't pride himself on being a jerk. His accomplishments are so impressive but he's so abrasive and rude that I don't care about what he's accomplished because he's not someone I want to know or trust with my business. Just because you're successful doesn't mean you get a pass to be an insufferable butthead.

As an entrepreneur myself, I've dealt with investors and VC's, and I can honestly say that the Sharks are a great representation of real-life. They come across as harsh, money-grubbing, and greedy most of the time. But the kicker is that in the world of investing, you have to be this way and more, or else you get railroaded by the guys willing to go the extra mile. Often times I feel the Sharks do a great job of rooting out the good businesses from the ones that likely will crash and burn. I've observed that they'll usually ask for a majority percentage in the company if the presenter is somebody who hasn't really proved themselves in the wide market. To me this is absolutely fair, because the return is that the presenter has the opportunity to work with a partner who's made millions or billions of dollars, and provides a wealth of knowledge and experience. In short, if you're a start-up or recent start-up, you might not want to go on this show, because you'll likely give up more of your company than you want to. If you have a tried and true product, and need extra cash to expand or market yourself, this is a great opportunity. For viewers with interests in business or who want to learn more about business, I highly recommend Shark Tank. It's educational, smart, creative, and ultimately worthy of your time.

For British viewers, this show is basically Dragon's Den. Identical concept, almost identical execution.

The things that are different are all improvements; the title is better - makes more sense to westerners. There is no annoying presenter doing pieces to camera. The dragons... sorry, sharks are billionaires, and every investment that they make results in multi-million dollar revenue for the entrepreneurs, and the amounts that they invest are often way bigger too, making the whole thing a higher stakes proposition than the humbler British version, and thus more entertaining.

Also, the sharks switch around, so it's not always the same five, but over the course of a season you get to know them all, so it's still comfortably familiar. And they're mostly likeable (like the British ones) but way ruder and a bit funnier.

Overall, it's Dragon's Den, but better.