Shark Tank: ABC Show Not Cancelled, Coming Back for More Episodes

Though ABC’s reality series Shark Tank hasn’t been doing big business in the ratings, the network is apparently happy enough with the ratings to want additional installments.

Each episode of Shark Tank spotlights entrepreneurs and inventors who are looking for capitol to help fuel their dreams. They pitch their ideas to successful business people Robert Herjavec, Kevin O’Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Kevin Harrington, and Daymond John, otherwise known as “the Sharks.” If they’re interested, the Sharks offer to invest their own money but typically want a bigger piece of the pie than the inventor has in mind.

The series is based on a UK program called Dragons’ Den and the first of 10 episodes premiered on ABC on August 9th. The ratings weren’t anything to crow about during the summer and were expected to drop even lower opposite new fall programming. Surprisingly, the numbers have actually started to rise in the past few weeks. Though they’re still quite low, would that be enough for the network to invest in more episodes?

A couple days ago, Harrington encouraged fans to ask ABC to keep the show going. After wondering what she’d do on Tuesday nights now that the show was off the air, Corcoran wrote that a second season was still under consideration by the network.

While ABC has yet to make an official announcement, two of the Sharks themselves spilled the info this weekend. Herjavec broke the news late yesterday and wrote, “Great news – ABC has ordered more episodes of Shark Tank !!!! No air date yet – but it’s coming.”

John confirmed the news but cautioned that it was not a full season pickup. He wrote, “great news! but 5 [more episodes] is not a full season, we have to turn it up 4 them to make it a full season.” He later said that he didn’t know the airdate either and suggested they wouldn’t air at least until 2010.

UPDATE: ABC later clarified that two additional episodes would be created out of existing footage. They will be combined with three leftover installments and will be aired at a later date. There’s still no decision on a second season.

What do you think? Are you glad to hear that Shark Tank is coming back, at least for a little while?

Image courtesy ABC.

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