Because it’s been so popular for so long, it’s easy to forget that “Shark Tank” struggled like a fish out of water during its debut season.
The show’s premise seemed clear enough, but that title initially fooled people. Some viewers assumed it really was a program about ocean predators with a distinctive fin.
“Anytime you mentioned it, it was, ‘Oh, it’s about sharks,’’’ award-winning producer Yun Lingner said. “It’s funny. I even remember we did a focus group test after the season and somebody said something like, ‘Oh, I love sharks!’ Like they clearly didn’t watch the show.”
Flash forward to now – Season 18 is in full swing – and there’s no mistaking the “Shark Tank” legacy. The ABC series, featuring self-made business tycoons offering to invest in others chasing the American Dream, has transformed the media landscape.
“Shark Tank” is one of the rare shows that entertains, educates – and inspires. The setup is straightforward: People from all walks of life pitch their business or product to a panel of shrewd and fiercely competitive angel investors (i.e., the Sharks) and hope that one of them bites.
The brilliance is in the authenticity. These are real deals made in real-time. No manufactured antics, just genuine triumph or heartbreak.
Why Shark Tank Has Lasted So Long
“I think the reason that ‘Shark Tank’ has been around for so long, and that it has made an impact, is that it really is so universal,’’ Lingner said. “There’s ‘American Idol’ or ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ where you can watch it from afar and see that talent.
“But entrepreneurship is so universal. We’ve had 8-year-olds on the show and we’ve had 80-year-olds on the show. We’ve had high-school dropouts and Harvard MBAs and Silicon Valley Series-A founders and everything in between.”
Lingner should know. She has been a pivotal part of the show since its 2009 pilot episode and currently serves as Executive Producer and co-Showrunner.
From Fine Arts to Reality TV
At first glance, Lingner might seem like an unlikely figure to emerge as a creative force behind ABC’s landmark business series. Born in Seoul and raised in the Los Angeles suburb of Agoura Hills, she studied Fine Arts – not finance – at UCLA.
“I loved art, especially in high school. I was a painter, and being creative was really important to me,’’ Lingner said. “But I don’t think I ever intended on being an artist. I knew I had this finite amount of time in college where I could immerse myself in studying anything I wanted. So why not do that?”
Deep down, she always knew her true calling was entertainment. Because Lingner grew up in the shadow of Hollywood, breaking into the business felt within reach even at an early age.
Her UCLA degree paved the way for her first television job: finding art for A&E and History Channel documentaries. Lingner blossomed there as a producer, working on such series as “Biography,” “Ancient Mysteries,” and “In Search of History.”
Lingner spent seven years in that role. “But it was the heyday of a ton of reality TV,’’ she said, “and you know I wanted to do bigger things and different things.”
She went on to produce numerous hit reality programs, including ABC’s “The Mole” and “American Inventor,” VH1’s “The Shot,” Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen,” and CBS’s “Big Brother.”
All of this, of course, led to Lingner’s career-defining stop: swimming with the Sharks. For her work on “Shark Tank,” she has received 15 Emmy Award nominations, including five wins; 13 Critics Choice Award wins; seven NAACP Image Award nominations; and four Producers Guild Award nominations.
“I’m really proud that Shark Tank is completely part of the cultural zeitgeist,’’ Lingner said. “When anybody has an idea for a business or a kid has an invention or whatever, people say, ‘You should go on Shark Tank!’ The show has become synonymous with entrepreneurship, and that’s amazing.”
Making a TV Audience Do Math
The show’s origin story began in 2001, in Japan, where it was called “The Tigers of Money.” As it emerged elsewhere, such as in the UK and Canada, it became known as “The Dragon’s Den.”
The American version, with its ominous “Jaws”-like title, became a massive hit. But not right away. The show was picked up for a second season, but only for eight episodes – half of its first season run.
“So it was like, ‘Oh, OK, they didn’t give up on the show,’’’ Lingner said. “But people didn’t really get it, you know?”
An early concern centered around how deep in the weeds they could get with the economics. After all, the show is about high-stakes investments. Were audiences ready for intense discussion about profit margins, equity security and intrinsic values?
“I remember very clearly when the Sharks started talking about valuation. We’re like, ‘Oh man, we’re gonna make a TV audience do math?!’’’ Lingner recalled. “But we did it. And as the seasons have progressed, we have really leaned into that. The audience wants to learn, and they aren’t afraid of these things.”
The stars of the show are the charismatic Sharks, whose wildly varying personalities propel the action with Shakespearean flair.
They are real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran; prolific inventor and entrepreneur, acclaimed brand builder and humanitarian Lori Greiner; cybersecurity technology innovator Robert Herjavec; fashion and branding expert Daymond John; social entrepreneur, investor and civic leader Daniel Lubetzky; venture capitalist Kevin O’Leary; philanthropist, bestselling author, and executive chairwoman and chief visionary officer of the eponymous lifestyle brand Kendra Scott; and venture capitalist and chief investment officer of Harbinger Sports Partners Rashaun Williams.
There’s no way central casting does better than that.
“It’s about having a dream,’’ Lingner said, “and then the deliberation and negotiation of whether you’re going to get that help and get an investment. It’s natural, built-in drama. The educational part was just something that kind of came along with it.”
If They Can See It, They Can Be It
To Lingner’s delight, the show has served as a springboard to success for people who might not have otherwise found angel investors. That includes people like Allison Ellsworth, who co-founded a prebiotic soda called Poppi with her husband Stephen.
Allison’s journey began when she sold apple cider vinegar-based health drinks at farmers’ markets.
“I think it’s great that there are so many women that have been on the show that we’ve shown to be successful,’’ Lingner said. “One of the greatest Cinderella stories is the founder of the soft drink company Poppi. I remember her very, very clearly. And also because she was a mom. So this was a side hustle. This is not somebody who was like, ‘I’m going to become a founder of a multi-million-dollar company.’
“She had a problem. She had all these gut issues, and she made this apple cider vinegar soda in her home, and then she bottled it and sold it. She’s one of those people who come on the show that, no matter what, they’re going to be successful.’’’
Allison’s success stands out, but she is hardly alone. Geena Davis, the founder and co-chair of the Geena Davis Institute, likes to say, “If they can see it, they can be it.”
That fits in with the ethos of “Shark Tank,” which served as a launching pad for many female entrepreneurs.
“I think it’s incredible,’’ Lingner said. “We sometimes meet with hundreds of entrepreneurs together. And when women – definitely I’ve seen Asian women – see that I’m in this position, they kind of light up. Like, it makes a difference, right? It makes a difference who’s in the leadership.
“And as far as opportunities for women, the American dream is a big part of what ‘Shark Tank’ is. We talk about it a lot. It’s a belief that you could come from anywhere – can have any kind of background – and if you have an idea, you can change your life.”
“Shark Tank” now has company founders who appear on the show and credit the Sharks for inspiring them to start their business.
It’s become a legacy show. Thousands of teachers, mentors, coaches, and parents use Shark Tank to teach and inspire K-12, college, and graduate school students to think entrepreneurially and to pursue their dreams.
Real Stories, No Scripts
The best part of all, Lingner said, is that these are fairy tales with no scripts. Unlike other reality shows, there is no need to inject the proceedings with phony tension or tricked-up plot lines. This is a gimmick-free zone.
“We could have a bunch of crazy, wacky ideas and have a bunch of train wrecks on the show,’’ Lingner said. “We could cast specifically for that and make fun of people. We could cast for drama or infighting. Or the Sharks could hate each other.
“But for me, it’s about keeping the integrity of what the show is, which is real-life stories of people trying to take destiny into their own hands. It’s about the great ideas it takes to start a business, and having people believe in them.’’
Now there’s an idea worth investing in.
You can watch new episodes of “Shark Tank” on Wednesdays at 10:00pm ET/PT on ABC and stream on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.