ABC is getting down to business. This week, the network announced they are teaming with Steve Harvey and Mark Burnett for a new business reality series.
Burnett produces ABC’s Shark Tank, Beyond the Tank, and 500 Questions. UPDATE 8/17/2016: The new series is called Steve Harvey’s Funderdome. Casting has begun. Learn how to apply.
Like Shark Tank, the untitled reality series will feature entrepreneurs pitching their ideas. However, instead of pitching them to business executives, the contestants will be presenting their ideas to a live audience who will then vote for their favorite proposal. Harvey will host.
The series is expected to air sometime later this year.
From Harvey:
I’m thrilled to have another passion project on the ABC schedule. This is just the type of show that gives folks a vehicle to breathe life into their dreams.”
Read below for the full details:
Mark Burnett, Emmy Award-winning executive producer of the critically acclaimed ABC hit series “Shark Tank,” and Steve Harvey, executive producer and star of primetime hit series “Celebrity Family Feud” and “Little Big Shots,” collaborate to deliver a 13-episode seed-funding business series to ABC to air in 2016.
The show brings together sets of rival entrepreneurs who competitively pitch their ideas head to head in front of a live studio audience. The audience will then vote on which entrepreneur will receive funding for their idea. Steve Harvey will become the “funder of dreams,” as he brings his personal business experience and encouraging comedy as the host.
This marks the fourth collaboration between Burnett and ABC, adding to successful programming, including “Shark Tank,” “Beyond the Tank” and “500 Questions.”
“My dream has been to work with Steve, and this is the perfect project for us to do together,” said executive producer Mark Burnett. “He is an amazing talent and has an enormous heart for entrepreneurs, some of whom will get their business jump-started because of him.”
Steve Harvey said, “I’m thrilled to have another passion project on the ABC schedule. This is just the type of show that gives folks a vehicle to breathe life into their dreams.”
The series will be produced by MGM Television and internationally distributed by MGM. Steve Harvey is represented by WME.”
What do you think? Are you a fan of Steve Harvey and/or Mark Burnett’s other reality series? Will you watch this one?
Congratulations Steve, ABC and MGM. I hear this to be entrepreneurs pitching in front of a live audience. Does this include social entrepreneurs? These are trendsetters whose passions and talents are directed toward the common good. What happens when there is no product to be sold, nor a profit to be generated,? Yet the entrepreneur has carried on, proven concept and reached the pinnacle of their abilities to outwardly benefit, held back buy only a lack of sustainable funding. This type of entrepreneur has only the universal, social good in mind; the outward benefit to planet and societies and humanity… Read more »