Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary was poised to be one of many present’s most intimidating Sharks from the very starting.
“I went to see [producer Mark Burnett] at a restaurant [in a] resort known as Shutters at first, earlier than the pilot, and he mentioned, ‘We’re in search of an actual a-hole and also you’re it,’” O’Leary solely instructed Us Weekly on Monday, September 25, whereas selling Shark Tank’s milestone fifteenth season — which premieres on Friday, September 29.
Being one of many ABC sequence’ most formidable Sharks is a job O’Leary mentioned he’s glad to tackle. He joked: “I’ve gained the Most Villainous Man on TV [award] twice. I’m so happy with that. Positive, we’ve gained just a few Emmys, however successful the award because the Most Hated Man, that’s exhausting to do. I’m so happy with it.”
Earlier than Shark Tank’s premiere in 2009, he and costar Robert Herjavec labored collectively on the present’s U.Ok. counterpart, Dragon’s Den. Similar to O’Leary, Herjavec, 61, was contacted by Burnett, 63, to hitch the sequence — solely on a lot shorter discover.
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“They had been already beginning to shoot and so they had any individual else that was going to be me — any individual who was really fairly well-known, we are able to’t say — after which it didn’t work out,” the Canadian businessman defined to Us. “So, Mark known as me. I used to be really snowboarding, and he mentioned, ‘We’re doing this present known as Shark Tank with Kevin. You must come and do it.’ And I mentioned, ‘Nice. The place do you shoot?’ He mentioned, ‘California. Are you able to be right here by tomorrow?’ And we received a visa in 24 hours. It was unbelievable.”
Regardless of his earlier expertise on Dragon’s Den, Herjavec thought Shark Tank could be a “exhausting idea to get off the bottom” for American audiences. “Within the first season, I bear in mind we had dinner and we had been all like, ‘Wow, that was nice. We’ll by no means see you once more,’” she shared.
O’Leary agreed, including, “The premise was for actuality TV, for those who received 5 years, that was an enormous run. And for the primary few years it struggled, however then it captured the creativeness of all people that had inspiration to be an entrepreneur in America, and that’s all people.”
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Now 15 seasons in, the present’s success “stunned all people concerned in it,” in accordance with O’Leary. “It turned a household present on the identical time, it went geometric in its fourth 12 months and we’ve by no means seemed again,” he added.
The pair have grown shut with their fellow Sharks Daymond John, Barbara Corcoran, Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner over time, a lot in order that they aren’t afraid to poke enjoyable at one another.
Barbara Corcoran, Daymond John, Mark Cuban, Robert Herjavec, Kevin O’Leary, and Lori Greiner ABC/Christopher Willard
“We’ve been working collectively for 15 years and I’ll say this — and this simply exhibits you ways a lot we like one another — I purchase [Barbara] a brand new broom yearly so she will be able to make it to California,” O’Leary quipped, to which Herjavec replied, “You’re so imply to her.”
O’Leary, for his half, said that he’s “not imply in any respect,” earlier than stating, “I consider her like my great-grandmother, very lovingly.”
Shark Tank season 15 premieres on ABC Friday, September 29, at 8 p.m. ET.
With reporting by Christina Garibaldi
