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Today's cuppa: Coffeeshop coffee

Before tomorrow's turkey stupor, I'll give thanks for things in my life and the world at large. Today, though, it's all about the TV.

Here's what I'm thankful for right now ...

* That Discovery and Science Channel are simulcasting "Punkin Chunkin 2010 " tomorrow, on Thanksgiving Day. Ever since "Junkyard Wars" days, there's hardly been anything better than watching an unsuspecting gourd flung through the ether to its eventual splat-tastic demise -- except when you add in Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage of "Mythbusters" as hosts. (BTW, it starts tonight on Science Channel with "The Road to Punkin Chunkin.")

* That no more Bristol Palin-hating wingnuts did anything abominably stupid during the "Dancing With the Stars" finale on Tuesday (at least as far as I know). Getting drunk and shooting your TV? Sending a threatening letter with white powder that just scared the heck out of a bunch of innocent people at CBS Television City, where ABC's "Dancing" is filmed (and "The Price Is Right," why the hate for Drew Carey)? And, death threats? DEATH THREATS? Someone needs a reality check. Reminds me of what I was taught as a kid, that how you treat others says nothing about them, but it says everything about you.

* That we didn't have any entertainment-industry strikes by any of the many alphabet-soup unions, whether it's the WGA, the DGA, SAG or AFTRA. Yes, there was a labor dispute at NBC's "The Biggest Loser," but that was settled in what seemed like a reasonable amount of time, and nobody got hurt. With any luck, none of the contestants gained any stress weight either.

* That Thom Beers keeps making TV shows. Yes, I do watch History's "IRT: Deadliest Roads" -- in which North American truckers navigate terrifying mountain byways in Northern India -- while curled in a fetal position and through my fingers, but It's the most fun you can have behind the wheel while not actually getting behind the wheel (or risking a hideous death plunging off a cliff, as often depicted in the Thom Beers Graphics of Doom).

* That, after a bruising fall season, midseason is charging in to save us, armed with such returning goodies as FX's "Justfied," Fox's "Kitchen Nightmares," NBC's "Parks and Recreation," and ABC's "Shark Tank," "Wipeout" (the winter edition) and "V."

There is also a bunch of promising new shows, such as NBC's "Love Bites," "Harry's Law" and "The Cape"; and Fox's "Bob's Burgers" and "The Chicago Code" (formerly known as "Ride-Along," from "The Shield" executive producer Shawn Ryan).

* That, on Dec. 1, "Celebrity Rehab" is coming back on VH1. 'Nuff said.

* Finally, and most importantly, that America's first responders and armed forces keep watch on the holiday, protecting our homes and lives, along with the liberty that allows me to not only watch good TV, but to complain when TV isn't so good. God bless and keep safe.   

Today's cuppa; Mystic Monk chocolate mint coffee, to ward off the chill in rainy Los Angeles

Currently airing Fridays on ABC (with repeats on Saturday afternoons in participating local markets), the investment reality show "Shark Tank" continues to provide entrepreneurs and inventors with an opportunity to get financing -- right out of the pockets of the business moguls on the show.

But first they have to talk them into handing the money over. Some succeed; others get eaten.

I recently talked with two of those moguls -- infomercial-industry leader Kevin Harrington (left) and fashion retailer Daymond John (below, right) -- and here are their views on a selection of hot topics...

On why venture capital isn't just for tech firms anymore:

Harrington: "It isn't. Really, venture capital is for everything now, because banks aren't lending. People come to us because we are. ... It's far more challenging for the financial in venture capital (these days). That makes shows like 'Shark Tank' very important, because we give most of these VC opportunities more than they would get from a typical VC. We give them marketing. We give them an audience. We give them attributes that they could never get just taking money from friends and family. We give them a platform."

John: "We also give people who are potentially looking to be acquired the information on what a VC needs, so it cuts out 50 percent of their work. Most of the guys now, the VCs I know, say, 'Listen, go watch "Shark Tank" before you present to us.'"

On how "Shark Tank" helps those seeking investment avoid looking stupid when they ask for cash:

Harrington: "You can't come into the 'Shark Tank' without your numbers. You'll get eaten alive. You've got to understand what works in your business model and be able to articulate it. If you don't know that, bring somebody that does. There's nothing more frustrating than having a great idea presented to you by somebody who can't tell you what the gross margins are or what the break-even unit volume is. I just want to get out there and strangle them."

John: "What's incredible is that the producers say to them, 'Listen, I don't think you should ask for $3 million. Maybe it's more like $300,000.' And the people come in there still with obnoxious numbers."

On the upcoming NBC/Comcast deal:

Harrington: "It's content vs. pipeline. We don't know who's going to win here. You're trying to merge them together, basically. It's been tried before. The greatest non-deal in history, the most unsuccessful, was Time Warner AOL. In a way, it smacks of some of these attributes, except this time it's focused on cash flow, and I think that's going to be much more successful. Only time will tell for shareholders of Comcast how this is going to work out."

On how Comcast subscribers feel:

Harrington: "Here's the question: 'Why can't we buy content a la carte? Why do I have to pay $39 a month for a whole bunch of stuff I never watch?' I'm the consumer, and I want what I want. I'm willing to pay for first-release films on cable. Want to charge me $100? Done deal, because I have to hire a babysitter, sit beside some snot-nosed kid in a theater. Send it to my digital screen, I'll give you $100. I only watch seven channels, I only want to buy those. I want what I want, and I'm going to get it. If this deal can get me that, I'm all for it. If it doesn't do that, it can just fail."

On government bailouts and small business:

Harrington: "Sure, we've taken care of Chrysler and General Motors and most large financial institutions, but ask some guy in back-street Boston right now if he can raise $100,000 from his bank, and the answer is no. That's a travesty. It's a huge mistake, and we're going to pay for it in the years ahead."

John: "My business is actually 40 percent down because of this, because even if the regular consumer off the street wants the product ... the stores don't have the kind of credit to bring the product in. I have my speciality-store guys who were borrowing from Peter to pay Paul and borrowing money on Amex. They were making the money and paying it back. Those guys are almost dead altogether. Then I have my mid-tier guys who can't clear credit, because the credit is drying up in the market. These guys have been doing business for 20 years. So it's the small guy who's hurting the most."

On how small businesses can survive the recession:

Harrington: "My attitude is, now is the time to survive. Do whatever you can to stay alive, because everything you do now is going to make you a springboard when things turn around. If you can get through these times right now, you are going to be a monster success in two years.

"It takes whatever it takes. If you have to beg and borrow from family, you do it. You do whatever you have to. Sometimes you have to cut your costs. What I find extraordinary is some of these people say, 'I've hired my sister or my brother or my mother.' Fire them if you have to. What matters is the business. You have got to be a Viking to survive."

John: "You have to go lean and mean. You have to cut your inventory, not put on any extra expenses. Don't look at the big profit; look at it as survival. Right now, 50 percent of your competition's going to fall by the wayside. The customers are going to be used to dealing with just you after the next two, three years. You're going to have a better rapport and relationship, and you are going to springboard."

On launching a business in a recession:

Harrington: "At the end of the day, this is still America. You have to do what you have to do to survive, because over and over again, it's proven to be the best place to launch a business on Earth. Let's not forget that. That's why guys who launch during a recession learn they have to live on scraps, and they get a culture of success. It's very important. I love to invest in businesses now. This is the time."

John: "I launched in a recession, actually, in '92."

And finally, John, creator of the FUBU clothing line, on the one celebrity he'd like to dress:

"Lady Gaga is the hottest thing right now. She's amazing. Her A&R has worked her like artists when we were kids. They really have developed this person global with two or three songs. She's the only one. We've had some opportunities to work with her, and I will have some other ones, too."

Today's cuppa: Irish breakfast tea chased with office coffee

Back on Sept. 13, Washington, D.C., insiders Heath Hall and Brett Thompson went into ABC's "Shark Tank" -- new episodes air Tuesday -- in search of funding for their company, Pork Barrel BBQ. They were seeking $50,000 for 10 percent of their barbecue sauce and rub business, but in the end, after some tough negotiations, they got the cash from "Shark" and real-estate mogul Barbara Corcoran -- in exchange for 50% of the business.

Corcoran even said to Hall, "I can't look at you without picturing you in a pig costume."

But the boys survived and persevered (even catching the attention of the U.K. Telegraph)  -- and here's a Q&A update on the post-"Shark Tank" progress...

Q: What's happened to your business since the influx of cash from Barbara?

Heath (in red T-shirt below) - Since getting our deal with Barbara on "Shark Tank," we've been able to prove that the free market is alive and well. Pork Barrel BBQ products are now available in over 130 stores, we've announced the opening of our first Pork Barrel BBQ restaurant, and we are even in talks to produce Pork Barrel BBQ frozen meals.

Brett (in blue T-shirt below) - Since we were on "Shark Tank," we've been able to take a huge step towards making Pork Barrel BBQ a nationwide brand. In addition to being picked up by major grocery store chains like Harris Teeter and Ukrops, we've had the chance to sell our products at Costco. We are proud to show that Pork Barrel BBQ, a company that isn't owned or operated by the federal government, can still succeed in these difficult economic times.

Q: What else in the way of advice or inspiration has Barbara offered?

Heath - You can't look at Barbara's story and not be inspired - she is a true American success story!  She took a $1,000 investment and turned it into a company worth billions of dollars.  In the few short months we've been working with her, I can already tell that she is a steam engine, and if you're on the track, you're going to get run over. She is a smart, savvy, and a driven business partner - exactly what Pork Barrel BBQ was looking for.

Brett - Barbara is the most savvy, hardworking businesswoman I've ever met. Her energy and "can do" attitude keeps us very focused on our goal to bring Pork Barrel BBQ's "Monumental Flavor" to the entire nation!

Q: As entrepreneurs, what would you want first from Congress if you had your druthers in terms of legislation, regulations or relaxation of regulations?

Heath - Small business is the economic engine that runs America and has made us a world leader for so many years. If Congress doesn't begin to lessen the tax burden and loosen the regulatory burden placed on so many small businesses, I fear that we'll see fewer and fewer Americans take the necessary risks associated with small-business creation. The first thing I'd like to see Congress do is repeal the death tax, which penalizes Americans for following their dreams and unduly burdens them for investing in and building successful businesses.

Brett - I am amazed at how much time we spend complying with federal, state and local regulations - it leaves almost no time to sell Pork Barrel BBQ sauce and rub!

Q: What is the entrepreneurial-funding situation out there? Was "Shark Tank" really your last resort?

Heath - In today's economy, it is very difficult to get the necessary capital it takes to start a small business. We sought funding to help get Pork Barrel BBQ off the ground from a number of sources before we found a bank that would give us a small-business loan. Without the exposure from "Shark Tank" and financial assistance from Barbara, Pork Barrel BBQ might have been a short-lived dream.

Brett - Like so many small businesses, we have a lot of our own money in the company. The combination of being on "Shark Tank" and Barbara's investment really gave us our big break. I just look at the main street in my hometown and see how businesses are struggling to keep their shops open - a chance like "Shark Tank" is really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Q: What's the favorite flavor of the folks at the Heritage Foundation?

Heath - My coworkers at The Heritage Foundation have been very bipartisan in choosing a favorite between the rub and the sauce (I think some have even stuffed the ballot box voting once for the rub and once for the sauce). It looks like we might have to take this vote to the Supreme Court and have them decide a winner.

Q: BBQ is often associated with Texas or the Deep South, but what does Missouri bring to the table in terms of BBQ culture and history?

Heath - The great thing about BBQ is just how diverse it is and how many styles there are, but if you are from Missouri, you believe that Kansas City BBQ is king. For more than 100 years many have called Kansas City the "Barbecue Capital of the World." There are well over 100 barbecue joints in the area (including legends like Gates and Sons Bar-B-Q and Arthur Bryant's), and Kansas City is host to the American Royal Barbecue Contest - one of the two biggest Barbecue contests in the world.  Kansas City BBQ has a resume that would proudly stand in the same interview line as resumes from Memphis, Texas and the Carolinas.

Q: If you become BBQ moguls, will you abandon politics?

Heath - The founding principles that have allowed this grand experiment called the United States to flourish for more than 200 years is the reason I even have a chance to become a BBQ mogul.  Other American moguls like Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Mellon stayed active in government and politics, and I plan to do the same. For the American system to continue to work, we all must be active participants or this grand experiment won't last for future generations. However, I won't be asking Congress for a bailout - that I promise!

Brett - I think Heath's answer is the most political I've ever read - which is a clear indicator that we never will - or could - abandon politics.

Q: Which political figures do you think would most enjoy a good BBQ (and which would you most like to cook for)?

Heath - I have yet to meat a politician that didn't love great BBQ.  In politics, you always have half of the people loving you and the other half hating you, but in BBQ it seems like everyone is backing you regardless of ideology. In 1769, George Washington wrote an entry into his diary saying he "went up to Alexandria to a 'barbicue.'" Our first Pork Barrel BBQ restaurant will be opening in Alexandria, Va., in the spring and I'd love to get the chance have the Father of our Country come back to Alexandria for another "barbicue."

Brett - I can't believe Heath chose George Washington - I think our BBQ has a real role to play in solving our nation's current problems. We created Pork Barrel BBQ to help bridge the partisan divide and unify our nation.  We are confident that many of our nation's problems can be solved if our elected officials would take time to talk about common sense solutions while eating Pork Barrel BBQ.

Q: Has the "pig costume" comment had any lingering effects?

Heath - Barbara's comment regarding the pig costume has generated a number of reactions.  Some thought it was mean and generated a lot of sympathy, and others thought it was funny and view it as a real improvement for me. I'm just having fun with it and have garnered a whole new level of respect for mascots - it gets hot in those suits! I'm still waiting to see if Barbara will join me at an event in a shark costume?

Brett - Heath has such a great attitude - I'm so happy to have him as my business partner, but I'm even happier that I don't have to wear a pig costume.

Today's cuppa: office coffee, chased with decaf Irish breakfast tea come evening

On Tuesday, Sept. 29, ABC's business-reality series "Shark Tank" returns to the schedule on a new night (and at  a new time, 8 p.m. ET/PT), aiming to help more hopeful entrepreneurs get some investment capital and be able to chase their piece of the American dream.

Bright and early Monday morning, I got on the phone with three of the five "sharks" (the other two are Daymond John and Kevin O'Leary): real-estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, tech innovator Robert Herjavec and infomercial pioneer Kevin Harrington. Here's a chunk of our Q&A (Corcoran is BC; Herjavec is RH; Harrington is KH. I'm KO).

KO: Did the experience of doing the show turn out as you expected?

RH: It turned out a lot better. What we're seeing are investments that really have a potential to make a lot of money. We had one investment that we ended up selling within two weeks of it airing. We've had other ones that I think are going to go all the way, potentially.

KH: I had a company that went from $8,00 a month to $80,000 a month with the capital that I invested. So that's great for me to see, that kind of growth in a company in a very short period of time.

BC: The other thing that's been surprising for me is 'Shark Tank,' each week, it's been the first forum ever created where someone with a great idea, a dream that they kept in their cookie jar or something, could actually come into the tank, pitch their idea and get a bundle of cash. That's nothing short of an entrepreneurial miracle.

RH: It's the appeal for the great American Dream. That's what we're giving people an opportunity for.

KO: Interestingly, two of the sharks possibly funding that American Dream (Herjavec and O'Leary) began their journey to success in Canada. Despite that, if O'Leary thnks someone isn't trying hard enough, he's likely to say, "That's un-American." Ironic, no?

BC: Isn't that funny?  I never thought about it that way.

RH: I'm Canadian. In (the Canadian version of the show), he says, 'That's so un-Canadian."

BC: Obviously, he's got his lines down.

KO: How do your lawyers and accountants feel about you coming on TV and tossing wads of cash at companies you'd never heard of an hour before?

BC: They think we're smokin' dope, frankly, that we're on the air, judging a business in a half-hour, 45 minutes -- which winds up being only five minutes on air -- that we're putting our hard-earned money into somebody's pocket after 45 minutes of trying to size them up. They think we're total nutjobs.

RH: I've never had a business adviser tell me to do the show. They've always said, "That's such a bad idea,' but there's a reason people are professional business advisers, and then there's a reason why I have a few million dollars in the bank. It's because I take risks, and that's what this show is about.

KH: But I'm going to say, in my business, if I hit on a certain percentage of winners, then I can make my money overall. If one out of two investments work, if that one is a big one, that can be a big thing for me. So I look at the averages and the percentages when I invest.

KO: As I've learned from watching Discovery's "Pitchmen," infomercial producers listen to thousands of sometimes very strange pitches from eager inventors. Kevin, what's this like compared to your real life?

KH: Yeah, when I leave here today, I'll be taking pitches today, right off the air. So that's my business. For me, it's a great, natural thing to just turn the cameras on and do it for ABC network, because I do it every day.

B: And it's the real deal. He doesn't do anything differently on camera than he does off-camera, so you're watching real money, real entrepreneurs, real half-baked or well-baked ideas coming to fruition.

RH: But he does wear a suit and tie. I'm not sure he does that every day.

BC: He cleans up for the show, that's for sure.

KH: I shave, also.

KO: We've heard a lot in the news about greedy financiers coming under siege for throwing a wrench into the works of the banking business, and because of that, what a tough financial climate it has become for young companies to get started. How do you feel about that?

RH: There's two parts to what you said. Absolutely what we've learned is that the typical Wall Street, $20 million a year executive who has no skin in the game -- that is under siege, and it should be.

But the small business people that made this country so great are the ones we need to foster. We need to put our money into those people. That's the beauty of our show, that we're giving people the chance.

KH: The other thing is, a lot of really good, solid companies are having trouble getting financing. So if they end up on "Shark Tank," these are good, solid opportunities for us to invest in. The banks may not lend them the money for whatever reason, but now we have the opportunity to get involved with that good, solid company.

BC: A little detail that I never hear mentioned in the press -- and it's a shame because it puts a different spin on small businesses -- for every seven jobs created this week in America, one in seven are created by businesses that are less than 60 days old. So look at the power of "Shark Tank" -- the ability to create jobs for the guy next door, not just make these entrepreneurs' dreams come true, but create jobs.

Good businesses that grow need employees, and employees beget other employees. This has a more far-reaching effect. My gosh, we certainly need it right now.

KO: Barbara, what's it like to be sitting on the set between Herjavec and O'Leary?

RH: It's impossible. She keeps talking. I never get a word in edgewise. It's incredible (KO: BTW, all during this, Corcoran is alternately trying to speak and cracking up), how can a woman talk that much?

BC: I can hardly get a word in, and that's the truth. You know what it's like? It's like somebody sent these guys 50 gallons of testosterone and poured it all over their heads, and their muscles bulge out and they're screaming and yipping and yapping.

And I'm sitting there waiting for my turn. It's preposterous.

RH: Barbara, I'm so tired of your incessant whining.

BC: They're great guys off-camera; I just hate them on the set.

KO: What one piece of advice would you give to anybody coming into the tank?

KH: I would say, make sure you value your company the proper way. Don't ask for too much money.

BC: Show the passion in your belly. I fall for it every time.

RH: Three words: sales, sales, sales.