Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy AKPC_IDS += "2554,";

March 31, 2009 Arts, Briefly New Reality Show for Tough Times   By BRIAN STELTER; Compiled by FELICIA R. LEE   Betting that a show about venture capitalists will entice viewers in tough economic times, ABC will adapt an overseas reality show about entrepreneurship for a possible premiere next season. The program, to be called “Shark Tank,” will be modeled after “Dragon’s Den,” a BBC program that challenges entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas to multimillionaire investors. According to The Hollywood Reporter, ABC has ordered seven episodes of the series from Mark Burnett, the producer of “Survivor,” “The Apprentice” and other reality hits. The concept originated in Japan and has since blossomed in countries around the world. The investors, who will needle the contestants before deciding whether to finance the ideas, will include Barbara Corcoran, the founder of the New York real estate company the Corcoran Group. ABC has not yet set an air date for the series. AKPC_IDS += "1477,";

NY Times - Weekend Plans AKPC_IDS += "534,";

THANKSGIVING PLANS Thanksgiving is my favorite New York holiday because I pull off the same stupid surprise on my unsuspecting guests every year. Just as everyone begins to salivate over the warm pies I’ve carefully placed on the table, I rip away their plates to announce, “Ok everyone…we’ve got a surprise!” Ignoring all the moans and groans, I shuffle everyone out the door and into taxis, all the while the teenagers and old biddies complaining, “But where are we going?” We jump out in front of the Plaza hotel where Dave** and his six smiling friends from Manhattan Pedicab Company [...]

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