'Shark Tank's' Crazy Cat-Themed Entrepreneurs Prove to be Winners

CULVER CITY, Calif., Jan. 30, 2012  /PRNewswire/ -- In the latest episode of SHARK TANK, Sony Pictures Television's hit ABC reality series, Shark investor Mark Cuban, owner of the 2011 NBA National Champions Dallas Mavericks, offered to invest $25,000 in exchange for a 33% stake of entrepreneur Steve Gadlin's unusual online cat drawing business.

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Gadlin, a father of two children and a computer programmer by day, decided to test the limits of what people would buy online. Through his website, www.iwanttodrawacatforyou.com, users can have a picture of any cat they describe drawn for them by Gadlin for just $9.95. In addition, SHARK TANK followed up on season two entrepreneur Rebecca Rescate from Yardley, PA, whose CitiKitty business took off after an investment deal with Shark and infomercial industry pioneer Kevin Harrington. Her cat toilet training kit is now found in major retailers across the U.S. and Canada.

Other entrepreneurs were not able to convince the Sharks to part with their money, with the Sharks passing on pitches from David Greco of North Haven, CT, for his salesperson training software, professional magician Rick Smith Jr. from Broadview Hills, OH, for his family-friendly Las Vegas show and collapsible truck rack inventor Donny A. McCall from Sparta, NC.

Holding nearly all of its impressive week-earlier season premiere number (94%), SHARK TANK was #1 in its time period or tied for #1 across all demos, #2 to CBS in viewers and HH. It was also the #1 ABC program for the night among A18-34, M18-34, M25-54, A25-54 (tie) and #1 program Friday night on any broadcast network among A18-34.

Tune in to ABC at 8PM ET/PT on Friday, February 3  when Shark investors Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Kevin O'Leary, Robert Herjavec and Daymond John face a new round of entrepreneurs including a man from Dothan, AL, who is overcome with emotion when he explains why the Sharks should invest in his unique guitar learning system; an entrepreneur from St. Charles, IL, who claims his fragrance captures the scent of money; a stay-at-home dad from Baton Rouge, LA, hopes his blue jeans accessories that blink when you walk will spark interest; and a woman from San Francisco, CA, claims to have put an invigorating twist on her luxury brand of soap.  Additionally, the creator of Original Shrimp Burger, Shawn Davis from Franklin, TN, appears in a follow-up story.  Find out how Davis is doing since he left the Tank last season without a deal for his gourmet seafood business.

About SHARK TANK

Billionaire Mark Cuban, owner and chairman of HDNet and outspoken owner of the 2011 NBA championship Dallas Mavericks, returns as a Shark and appears in all 13 episodes. Also Lori Greiner, a prolific inventor of retail products and often referred to as the "Queen of QVC," will join the show as a guest Shark investor for several episodes starting February 10. SHARK TANK airs Fridays at 8PM on ABC.

Returning "Sharks" joining Cuban and Greiner are real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, technology innovator Robert Herjavec, fashion and branding expert Daymond John and venture capitalist Kevin O'Leary.

The panel of five Sharks will hear pitches of the best business and product ideas from some of America's brightest entrepreneurs. When the Sharks hear a great idea, they're ready to fight each other for a piece of it. If and when the Sharks are confronted with a really top-notch idea, and more than one of them wants to sink their teeth into it, a war between them can erupt.

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 and Alan Carter. The series is from Sony Pictures Television.

SOURCE Sony Pictures Television