It’s been a long time in coming. ABC has finally announced that season two of Shark Tank will debut on Friday, March 25th. The alphabet network renewed the reality series for just seven episodes this time around and will air them along with a leftover installment from season one. To mix things up, entrepreneurs Mark Cuban and Jeff Foxworthy will appear separately in multiple episodes as guest sharks.

Here’s the press release from ABC…

SEASON PREMIERE
SHARK TANK INVESTORS OFFER ENTRPRENEURS A WHOPPING $10 MILLION DURING SECOND SEASON, AS MARK BURNETT’S CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED “SHARK TANK” RETURNS TO ABC FRIDAY, MARCH 25

Billionaire Entrepreneur Mark Cuban and Comedian/Self-Made Businessman Jeff Foxworthy Join Panel as Guest Sharks This Season

$4 Million Dollar Offer to an Entrepreneur in Season Opener

Season Two of “Shark Tank” promises to make TV history with the Sharks offering over $10 million in investment deals to bankroll a creative array of innovative entrepreneurs. The Season Premiere, “Episode 202,” airs FRIDAY, MARCH 25 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on ABC.

High tech billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban and successful comedian and self-made businessman Jeff Foxworthy jump into the Tank to appear separately in the show’s eight episodes.

In the Season Premiere, the air in the Shark Tank gets emotionally charged between the Sharks and a daring entrepreneur when one of the Sharks is willing to part with $4 million dollars of his own money for a business — the largest sum in the show’s history. When the Sharks all like the genius idea from a young woman who rents toys in the same way as DVDs, they fight each other for a piece of it. Also, an extreme sports enthusiast introduces a hip, new product that has the Sharks hopping; and a man shows how his “Wake ‘N Bacon” device provides an aromatic morning wake-up call. In addition, there’s an update on last season’s Granola Gourmet owner, Jeff Cohen, whom Kevin O’Leary called “radioactive.”

Last season the Sharks, using their expertise and contacts, along with their own money, made investment commitments totaling an incredible $5 million, and viewers will have the opportunity to see how those investments turned out in follow-up stories this season.

The Shark investors who will appear throughout the second season are: Mark Cuban, Jeff Foxworthy, real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, infomercial industry pioneer Kevin Harrington, technology innovator Robert Herjavec, fashion icon Daymond John and financial expert Kevin O’Leary.

Mark Burnett, Clay Newbill and Phil Gurin are the executive producers of “Shark Tank,” based on the Japanese “Dragons’ Den” format created by Nippon Television Network Corporation. The episode is directed by Ken Fuchs. The series is from Sony Pictures Television.

“Shark Tank” is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format with stereo sound. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to the airdate.

For more information on “Shark Tank,” visit ABC.com.

What do you think? Will the addition of guest “sharks” help the ratings or not make any difference? Who would you like to see as a guest “shark?”

Image courtesy ABC.