The successful surge of reality TV shows over the last decade that has brought us CBS’s Survivor, ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, Fox’s American Idol, NBC’s America’s Got Talent and most recently Lifetime Channel’s Dancing Mom’s brings one more reality TV show to add to the 100+ channel of favorites, “The Big Fix” on CNBC.
Turnaround business king, Marcus Lemonis, will star and jumped start small business on the one-of-a-kind reality show. He’s so confident he’s putting his money ($2 million) where his mouth is.
The Hochberg Ebersol Company made it official this week announcing casting calls for companies willing to document their business makeover and turnaround on the upcoming CNBC TV series. Visit: casting@iconiccasting.com on how to enter as a contestant.
Marcus Lemonis is CEO of NASCAR title sponsor company Camping World and veteran of hundreds of successful business turnarounds.
“Anyone can make it look like they’ve fixed a business on TV by blindly slashing jobs and overhead, but that doesn’t work for me,” said Lemonis, an Ernst & Young, “Entrepreneur of the Year winner. “It’s the art and science of reworking a business with skill, finesse and humanity, along with preserving and protecting the labor force, that keeps me in the game, and that made me excited to do ‘The Big Fix’.”
Lemonis will star in each episode, making significant cash investment of up to $500,000 in each business he takes on. The business turnaround leader guarantees to succeed with his financial investments and tactics, which could include guying out the original owners if need to increase the chances of a long- term business homerun.
And how is this show different from other reality shows like, ABC’s new Shark Tank? Marcus Lemonis is using is own money, which is not cash provided by CNBC for the sake of making an interesting reality series.”
Once the cameras are packed up and the crews leave, these businesses seeking help will not be left to sort things out on their own.Lemonis will be with them moving forward, as he will be investing in their company and becoming a business partner for the sake of saving the company.
Even before the production of the show began, Lemonis started investing in companies needing help. For example on the day it was schedule to Lemonis came to the rescue of the Rose’s Baker on Central Street in Evanston, IL.
"The fact that Marcus Lemonis is going to go on TV and risking more than $2 million of his own fortune is not only unique but speaks to how confident he is in his turnaround techniques,” said THE Company co-founder, Justin Hochberg.
“Marcus is the real deal - a proven entrepreneur and visionary business player who’s not afraid to get his hands dirty on the path to cleaning up a business,” explained THE Company co-founder, Charlie Ebersol.
As chairman & CEO of Camping World & Good Sam, Lemonis has been recognized as 2007 “Newsmaker of the Year” by RV Business Magazine; was named one of Crain’s Chicago “40 under 40” in 2005; and the 2008 Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year.”
According to the info provided, of all his accomplishments, his most rewarding pertains to his charity and community involvement. Lemonis was featured on ABC’s “Secret Millionaire” (August 2012) and has also appeared on NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice” (March 2011), which helped to raise more than $1 million for St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital. He also appeared in this season’s run of “Celebrity Apprentice” (2012).
The title might change and also the premiere date is yet to be announce this Spring, as well as the length of the series, but so far the business mogul plans to have a half dozen episodes. There's is Restaurant Impossible realility TV show and now there's a
Business Impossible.
“If Mark Zuckenberg and Jerry Weintraub launched a TV company this is what it would be,” said Justin Hochberg. And for small business it also sounds like a deal you can’t refuse.
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