by Gina Scarpa

If you thought the summer reality season was coming to an end, think again.  Tonight, ABC premiered its latest project: Shark Tank.  Five investors, worth billions, will decide whether or not to invest in the ideas of hopeful entrepreneurs.  These investors are using their own money and believe me, nobody’s getting anything without a fight.  Only one shark can invest in an idea and if it’s good, they’ll all want a piece of it.  The sharks are: Barbara, Robert, Kevin H., Daymond, and Kevin O and together, they’re worth billions.  Damn, I’ve got a few ideas I’d like to run by them!

First up in the tank is Tod Wilson, from Somerset, NJ.  He owns Mr. Tod’s Pie Factory and though business is good, he needs help to increase productivity.  He’s asking for $460K in exchange for a 10% stake in his company.  If you can believe it, the guy sells about $1 million a year in pies and supposedly, McDonald’s is interested in carrying his product.  Though it sounds like a promising company, $460K is asking a bit too much and, one by one, the sharks politely decline investing in Mr. Tod’s Pie Factory.  Barbara and Daymond stay in but want 50% of the company.  I guess Tod needed the money because he walked in only willing to give up 10% of his company and left giving up half of the control.  He’s $460K richer, though.

Next up is Darrin Johnson, who has invented a product called the ionic ear.  He wants $1 million for a 15% stake.  Basically, the iconic ear is an implantable Bluetooth device.  Darrin is not a great speaker and apparently, this device is SURGICALLY implanted into your ear.  No thanks.  I’m out right away and so are the sharks.  It’s no surprise that he leaves with nothing.  That was creeptastic.

The next hopeful is Kevin Flannery, a North Carolina native, who needs help with his wireless internet company.  A former foster kid, Kevin is looking to provide the stability for his family that he never had growing up.  He’s seeking $1.2 million for a 10% stake in his company.  His company WiSpots provides wireless pads for patients in doctor’s offices to go on while waiting for their appointments.  The costs for these are pretty steep: $9K for the 5 wireless pads in the office.  When the sharks find out how much of his own money he’s invested, they’re shocked.  Everyone passes, feeling that he’s risking his entire life for an idea that isn’t going to pan out in the long run and Kevin is encouraged to quit his business venture.

Tiffany Krumins hits the tank next.  This Georgia native is looking for a $50K investment for a 15% stake in her company.  She’s come up with a little elephant to help deliver medicine to a difficult child.  She has no patent, no mold, and nothing to really get this thing going.  She has a long way to go, that’s for sure.  Tiffany has an idea, not a business.  Barbara offers her mentorship and Tiffany takes it.  Smart girl.

Nick Friedman and Omar Solomon are the last to face the sharks tonight.  They have a packing business, College Foxes Moving Boxes, where they send good looking girls (sort of) to help out on moving day.  They have another business where the also send good looking guys out as well, College Hunks Hauling Junk.  Nick and Omar are only putting the business with the girls on the table but the one with the guys is already a huge success!  These sharks want both and I don’t blame them.  The boys wants $1 million for a 10% stake in both companies and are laughed at.  Everyone opts out, with the exception of Robert who counters: $250K for a 10% stake in the hunks business and 50% in the foxes business.  Nick and Omar pass... idiots.


Shark Tank airs Sunday nights at 8pm ET on ABC.

(Image courtesy of ABC)

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