Shark Tank is taking filming precautions in the time of COVID seriously, and the process that they are going through for production is absolutely wild. While ABC has gone to extremes with some of its other shows, including The Bachelorette and Dancing with the Stars, it took a dip on the aggressive side when it came time for Shark Week.
First up, let’s get into the quarantine for the show’s upcoming twelfth season. Page Six reports that those involved in production were subjected to 10 days of solitary confinement in hotel rooms. If that sounds awful, take heart. Like The Bachelorette, they are in top-notch accommodations via the Palazzo suites at Venetian Las Vegas hotel. Shark Tank took five floors of the building to house its cast, crew, and contestants.
From there, things get a little more uncomfortable. The rigorous COVID-19 testing that led to one ABC show suspending production is in full-force on the competition series. Shark Tank is testing contestants, cast, and crew before they leave for Vegas. If the COVID test comes back negative, they can proceed.
Contestants’ time getting the COVID swab is not over yet after that step. Before they can start filming Shark Tank to make moving pitches for their inventions, they have to test negative a total of three times. Man! Pitching on Shark Tank is challenging enough. Can you imagine believing in your invention so much, you would go through all of this to pitch it to the sharks?
More power to them. I have to imagine that Shark Tank contemplated the idea of having virtual pitches from home. Sort of how Kelly Clarkson is doing her talk show with her at-home audience, while she is in studio. Then there is American Idol, which is planning to keep doing auditions virtually for its upcoming season on ABC. Shark Tank has explored dangerous water with Shark Week, but having to film during the coronavirus is a whole other challenge.
The good news is that Shark Tank fans will be getting a new season of the show this fall, at a time when fans of some other shows are having to go without their favorites. Thankfully, the sharks will be circling with the chance to make someone’s dreams come true and get in on a sweet deal in the process.
Mark Cuban will undoubtedly be ready to take down any scammers, although I think he has less reason to worry this season. Would a con artist go through a 10-day quarantine and three nose swabs to pull a fast one? I doubt it, but you never know. Shark Tank will return for Season 12 on Friday, October 16, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. The competition series is one of this fall’s premieres.
