The Best Reality Shows on Television

ABC's Shark Tank

 

There’s a lot of great reality television on right now. Million Dollar Listing: Los Angeles is back on the air, CT is back on The Challenge, and Brody Jenner is just back on television period. As well, anyone who’s been following Catfish knows that it’s arguably the most suspenseful and gripping television show on right now (even more so than Breaking Bad). Further, in the coming months, we’ll see the return of longtime favorite reality programs in Pawn Stars and Top Chef. However, the two best reality shows on TV in 2013 are undisputedly Shark Tank and Bar Rescue. What’s interesting is that both shows are about the spirit of entrepreneurship in America. Although the shows have very different formats, both programs analyze the ins and outs of a small business considering both its potential and it's flaws. Although the subject matter may sound dry, these shows are intense and dramatic, but also frequently inspirational and heartwarming as well. However, despite all their similarities, I think both shows have very different outlooks on the importance of individuality in entrepreneurship.

Shark Tank

 Shark Tank is entering its fifth season this September. The show’s concept: each episode four to five different aspiring entrepreneurs make business pitches to a panel of five potential investors. The investors (aka Sharks), if they choose to, invest their own money for an equity share in the business. The entrepreneurs make the first offer to the sharks, and while the sharks may negotiate the equity share in their favor, the entrepreneurs must receive the amount of money of their original offer in order to close the deal. Shark Tank debuted in August of 2009 featuring a panel of wealthy millionaires and billionaires. Panel members included internet mogul Robert Herjavec, software tycoon Kevin O’Leary, real-estate entrepreneur Barbara Corcoran, FUBU founder Daymond John, and infomercial guru Kevin Harrington. 

 The show was interesting enough in its first two seasons, however it wasn’t until the third season that Shark Tank reached its full potential. Enter Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban and “QVC Queen” Lori Grenier. Grenier has been a nice addition to the panel and her insights on the importance that a product have mass-appeal have been noteworthy, if not a little banal. However, with Cuban, Shark Tank has reached new heights. Cuban was brought in for Season 3 to replace Kevin Harrington. While Harrington seemed business savvy enough, he lacked a certain amount of charisma and enthusiasm. Cuban brought nothing but charisma and enthusiasm to the panel, with his outspoken personality and bombastic attitude.

All of the Sharks pretty much have character roles on the panel. O’Leary is the cold hearted and ruthless tycoon (think Scrooge or Mr. Burns), Herjavec and Corcoran are the sensitive investors, while John and Cuban are the young and hip ones. However, what Cuban brings to Shark Tank more than any other panel member is an unflinching enthusiasm for entrepreneurship. In fact, Cuban’s investments are often more influenced by the entrepreneurs themselves rather than their product. Cuban loves hearing pitches from people who “eat, drink, and sleep their business.” Those who work tirelessly and make sacrifices just to see their vision succeed. One of Cuban’s best moments on the show came while hearing a pitch for a store that allows customers to personalize their own clothes. While discussing the entrepreneur’s business plan, the subject of whether or not the entrepreneur should take a salary came up. The entrepreneur claimed that while growing the business he could live off no less than $100k a year, Cuban replied with “I want you to live off of Mac and Cheese.” Cuban’s other greatest moment came when he became interested in an entrepreneur’s adjustable belt business, after the entrepreneur had mentioned that the night he arrived in LA to film Shark Tank he spent his time selling his adjustable belts door to door. The look of admiration and joy on Cuban’s face after hearing that was priceless. He understood this guy. You get the impression that Cuban has to be his own boss, otherwise his drive and passion for life would falter.

The negotiations between the entrepreneurs and Sharks are thrilling moments of drama. These people have often spent years developing their businesses and an investment from a shark will often give them an opportunity to see their business reach its full potential. The Sharks ask detailed questions and try to poke holes in their business strategy as much as possible. However, the entrepreneurs who remain articulate and composed are often the ones who leave with an investment. This often proves a difficult taskk, considering what’s at stake. These Sharks can makes these individuals’ financial dreams come true. However, what Sharks Tank illustrates is that it’s not just about getting rich for the entrepreneurs. Of course they want to be successful, but mostly they want a business they can both call their own and be proud of 

 Although occasionally entrepreneurs are scolded by the Sharks for having a bad idea or business strategy, most frequently by O’Leary, the general theme of the show is optimistic. Shark Tank celebrates the important role small business plays in our capitalistic society. Even in our dire economic times, the American Dream still lives on in the ideas and aspirations of these entrepreneurs. Not everyone leaves with an investment from the Sharks, but very few leave with their spirit crushed.  These are the people who want nothing more than their own business to succeed and work effortlessly to see this through, it’s an inspiring thing.

Bar Rescue

Spike TV’s Bar Rescue is currently in the middle of its third season. The show’s concept is not original and you can probably guess the gist of it simply from its name. Basically the show’s star and host Jon Taffer goes to failing bars and fixes them. He usually starts by reading Yelp reviews of the bar and sending in undercover associates to do recon work. Taffer then meets with the owner and the rest of staff. He points out it’s obvious problemss with the staff and management, and usually looks into the bookkeeping to uncover latent defects. Taffer brings in experts to train the staff and then comes up with a new concept for the bar. Taffer then revamps the décor and menu of the bar, and subsequently packs it for a relaunch.  If all goes to plan, Taffer will declare the bar rescued and leaves town.

Bar Rescue would not work without Taffer. Taffer’s a long time bar and night-club consultant, who has helped launch over 800 bars and clubs worldwide. Taffer’s a physically intimidating presence.  At six foot 3, Taffer towers over most of the bar owners he helps and is built like a former NFL tight end. Further, he has an intense personality and can shout with the best of them. However, what makes Bar Rescue such great television is that underneath Taffer’s daunting demeanor is an intelligent and compassionate man who prides himself on helping others. Taffer’s at his happiest when he sees others succeed, whether it be observing the owners’ capably manage their employees or a watching  hard-working bar back prove himself a capable bartender when given the opportunity. Taffer is passionate about the bar business and when he sees someone else display that same passion; he takes it upon himself to make them successful. Through the use of his experts coupled with the guidance he himself provides, Taffer never leaves town without giving the owners and employees  the tools necessary to see their career dreams succeed. During these moments, Bar Rescue proves itself the most heartwarming show on TV since Friday Night Lights.

 Bar Rescue sends Taffer to a struggling bar to fix a problem. However, that problem usually lies with the owners themselves. Sometimes it’s mismanagement of the employees or negligent upkeep of the bar. In these instances, Taffer’s”fixing” of the bar usually isn’t met with much opposition from the owners considering Taffer isn’t attacking their creative ideas or business model for the bar. However, most episodes of Bar Resuce end with Taffer changing the concept of the bar. Taffer’s philosophy while bar consulting is always guided by a bar’s location and its’ demographics.  Taffer makes himself keenly aware of the history, average age, wealth, diversity, industries, and social habits of the town the bar is located in and the people who reside there. One of Bar Rescue’s most talked about episodes came when Taffer attempted to rescue Piratz Tavern, a “Pirate Bar” located in Silver Spring, Maryland owned by Tracy Rebelo. By “Pirate Bar,” I mean the bar had a pirate themed menu and the entire staff both dressed and talked like swashbucklers. Taffer made his best efforts to point out to Rebelo that Silver Spring has no pirate related history, so a pirate themed bar there made no sense. Additionally, Taffer made note that since Silver Spring was a popular commuter destination, that Piratz Tavern should instead ditch the pirate theme and try to cater to the local business community. Bascially, Taffer wanted to give the bar a corporate theme and focus on their lunch and happy hour business. Taffer relaunched the bar with the new corporate theme, but as soon as he left Rebelo quickly changed it back. It was her idea to have a pirate bar and by Taffer telling her a pirate bar made no sense in Silver Spring, she took it as Taffer informing her that her idea sucked. Really, she had every right to feel that way. Why should she have to fold on her dream? After all a pirate bar is a pretty original concept and it was something she was passionate about, it just made no financial sense. Rebelo remains an outlier for Bar Rescue, with most owners eventually accepting Taffer’s advice that their bar concept either makes no demographic sense or is just plain bad.

The key difference between Bar Rescue and Shark Tank is that Shark Tank generally celebrates an entreprenuer’s idea, while Bar Rescue fiercely criticizes it. Of course, the entrepreneurs on Shark Tank typically run growing businesses, while on Bar Rescue the entrepreneurs’ businesses’ are always failing. Why should Taffer celebrate an owner’s idea if it doesn’t make money? However, while Shark Tank leaves me feeling inspired, the end of each Bar Rescue episode always feels a little bittersweet. These bar owners are now left with a business concept that will be successful, but it wasn’t their concept. Yes they’ll be able to pull themselves out of debt and make money, but shouldn’t they feel a little defeated? After all, their idea was a failure. Of course, admitting failure is a part of life and not all business ideas are created equal. Taffer and Bar Rescue are perhaps doing a noble service, showing the shortcomings of an entrepreneur’s ideas and inspirations. Individuality and creativity are the driving forces of entrepreneurship, but as Bar Rescue shows, that’s what makes it so risky.

 

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