ABC and Mark Burnett team up for Shark Tank

ABC has teamed up with reality television guru Mark Burnett to launch a show that features entrepeurs pitching their ideas for venture capital.

The show, titled Shark Tank, is patterned after the sucessful BBC reality competition show Dragon’s Den. Each week a group of entrpeneurs will pitch their business ideas to five wealthy venture capitalists, with the goal of  convincing them to invest in their dreams.

Dragon’s Den marks the first collaboration between ABC and Burnett. Mark Burnett can be credited for the reality tv hits Survivor and the Apprentice.

Rodeo meets reality tv on Spike’s Toughest Cowboy

Reality tv guru Mark Burnett has come up with a new reality competition show that pits rodeo cowboys against each other in Toughest Cowboy on Spike TV:

In the new reality series, which will debut on January 29th at 11pm,  cowboys from all over the country will compete in typical rodeo events, like bareback riding,  saddleback riding and bull riding, with one elimination each week being decided by the outcome of a bull riding match.

“The athletes on ‘Toughest Cowboy’ are living icons who take unbelievable risks every time they enter the arena,” said Mark Burnett, President of Mark Burnett Productions. “We are excited to bring their stories to the Spike audience as they fight to secure their American dream in a competition that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.”

The Sacramento Kings Get their own reality show

As the once-mighty Sacramento Kings work to regain their dominant rule of the court, Mark Burnett Productions and Maloof Television today announced they are joining forces on a new unscripted drama following the basketball team’s restructuring. “Rebuilding the Kingdom” will focus on the franchise as it undergoes a complete reformation.

In the vein of “The Restaurant,” this look at a high-stakes, high-pressure work environment will not only profile a team of talented players and coaches on the comeback trail, but will delve into the unique everyday challenges inherent in running an NBA franchise. Viewers will be given unprecedented access as executives rebrand the Kings, strategize on how to keep the 17,000-seat Arco Arena full, and keep the Sacramento community engaged while the team develops.

 

“We are thrilled to continue our expansion into television with the King of Reality TV,” said Maloof Television Chairman/CEO Phil Maloof. “We are honored at the opportunity to be a part of Mark Burnett’s family of hits.”

 “This project will be a unique experience for the television viewer,” said Mark Burnett, President of Mark Burnett Productions. “We are committed to creating fun and innovative programming and with the Maloofs allowing this type of access to their organization, this is a great fit.”

 Mark Burnett will serve as executive producer for Mark Burnett Productions, and Phil Maloof and Andrew Jameson will be among the executive producers for Maloof Television. This is the first joint venture between the two companies.

Mark Burnett’s “Jingles” Show Shelved by CBS

Remember the ad agency reality show that I wrote about back in October? Sure, you do. You remember: the one developed by Mark Burnett, where contestants would be making up jingles for real and imagined products for a cash prize and a job at an ad agency? Now, do you remember? No? Well, that’s what CBS was afraid of.

“Jingles” was supposed to hit the airwaves on July 27, but CBS has decided to postpone it indefinitely because they didn’t have enough time to promote it. The question is: If they knew they were planning to air it on the 27th, what stopped them from promoting it?

To read more about it, click here.