Shark Tank recently continued its 14th Season, although no 15th run has been commissioned for 2023 as of this writing. Although the status of the show is up in the air currently, Shark Tank continues to be one of the most popular outings for the business reality genre of all time, alongside The Apprentice.
Shark Tank will have a hardcore fan following and has ushered in an array of success stories. But upon a rewatch of the storied history of this reality series, a few harsh realities are certainly evident, that threaten to change how audiences view the series as a whole, especially when compared to international incarnations.
Could Have More Cast Variation
Although the series relies upon guest Sharks throughout its run, which will be touched upon further later, the core cast of investors consists of six main Sharks. That list includes Daymond John, Barbara Corcoran, Robert Herjavec, Kevin O’Leary, Mark Cuban, and Lori Greiner.
Kevin Harrington did appear in the first two seasons but hasn’t returned permanently since. Other incarnations of the show have been more consistent in their changing of the guard. Having the same Sharks constantly for so long results in the same voices getting aired without innovation within the format of the show taking Shark Tank in new directions.
Guest Sharks Can Derail The Process
Indeed, while the Sharks are perhaps too consistent, what can derail the whole process is once a guest Shark enters the fray. They are not around enough for the viewer to get a sense of how they think, or what business might appeal to them, and they often add a layer of chaos to proceedings.
The standard set by the existing Sharks might not be followed, meaning those looking for investments from the Tank might discover that the goalposts have been moved once more. The harsh reality is though that this unexpected and erratic element does at least add some further realism to Shark Tank as business owners won’t always get the lay of the land with potential investors.
Other Versions Have Perfected The Format
The version of Shark Tank that airs in the United States isn’t the original incarnation of the concept. The series was first debuted as Money Tigers in Japan in 2001 before the United Kingdom founded Dragon’s Den in 2005. It wasn’t until 2009 that Shark Tank was launched which some have deemed to be a faker iteration.
Upon a rewatch of those other variations, the harsh reality is that they have seemingly mastered the format in a way the American series hasn’t quite grasped. For other countries, this concept is primetime viewing, with longer success, a wider range of ‘Sharks’, and a huge list of successful businesses. Shark Tank is still much-loved but somehow doesn’t compare.
Inconsistency With Business Decisions
Although inconsistencies can arise due to the arrival of incoming guest Sharks, even among the regulars some decisions still don’t match what the crew had historically stuck to. The types of offers for instance can vary drastically and sometimes seem a little unfair.
The economic climate at the time of recording is one harsh reality that has to be accounted for, considering the Sharks will have different financial opportunities during different periods. But continuing to binge-watch most seasons will demonstrate the sheer range of unexpected offers that have been made and the interest the Sharks would receive.
Further Follow-Ups Needed
Follow-up shows have been recorded in the past, catching up with those businesses that have succeeded after getting investments from the Sharks. But the harsh reality is that unless the audience is willing to do some in-depth research, Shark Tank doesn’t often go back to previous cases.
It’s a shame as the viewer will form a connection with those business owners and will want to know whether they have made it. It would also be honest of the series to demonstrate when a business didn’t work out, to showcase the stakes for future seasons. This kind of programming is limited from the line.
Miss Out On Good Opportunities
There have been some truly expensive deals made in Shark Tank’s history, but when watching through past seasons, fans may recognize business opportunities that the Sharks never took advantage of, which eventually went on to become worth a lot more.
It’s the nature of the concept. Not every good idea can be invested in due to financial limits and in truth, the Sharks can get it wrong. There’s a list of products and business ideas that continue to maintain their well-respected positions that the Sharks might have benefited from had they made a different choice.
Copied Products
Copyright law is a tricky field to understand and Shark Tank will occasionally cover aspects of the topic to comprehend whether they would be receiving an element of exclusivity. But some products and business models that are taken onto the show, are copied from elsewhere.
With no proper copyright in place or barriers to prevent contestants from stealing their ideas from elsewhere, it’s entirely plausible that the Sharks could invest in something extremely familiar. Even through the show itself, similar premises have emerged and are successful again and again, showing consistency in the evolution of design.
Not The Best Experience For Everyone To Thrive
Business is a harsh environment in its own right. But entering the Shark Tank is another experience entirely. Someone might have the best invention in the world, but unless they thrive under this kind of televised pressure, they might not be able to make the most of the moment. There have been some terrible pitches because of the contestant’s nerves.
That’s a shame, but the harsh reality is that some people can fold under the intensity of the situation, even though they deserve that investment and could become a financially viable platform for the Sharks to develop further. That can lead to those characters and concepts being deemed to be ‘the ones that got away.’
Some Are Taken Advantage Of
The criticism has often been levied at Shark Tank that the series does not benefit smaller businesses. In fact, in the bright lights of the famous and surrounded by those that supposedly have a much better understanding of financial victory, some contestants could be taken advantage of.
The Sharks might smell blood in the water and essentially understand that they can rip off these out-of-their-depth business owners, getting a lot more bang for their buck than they might traditionally have earned. That’s a cynical point of view but it becomes a harsh reality once paying attention to past episodes.
Features Businesses That Don’t Need Backing
One of the harsh realities of rewatching Shark Tank is that some businesses enter the scene when they don’t need the opportunity at all. Multiple platforms have attempted to make their way onto the show despite absolutely thriving. These big firms perhaps shouldn’t be given the same chance as start-ups.
Nonetheless, they have enjoyed great success on the show, with the Sharks favoring a tried and tested model that they are sure to make their investment back on. It might be logical from their perspective, but it does somewhat ruin the spirit of the show itself.