Review of Bar Rescue

Bar Rescue is another in a long line of reality shows littering this decade of television. Each show features veteran Bar and Restaurant entrepreneur John Taffer rescue a failing establishment at the behest of it's debt-ridden owners. Amusing for the first couple of seasons, it now is merely tedious rehashing of the same basic plot: Taffer rides into town with his band of guest mixologists, chefs and "experts", does surveillance on the circus-like proceedings of the bar in question, enters the establishment, berates its owners & employees over their poor business practices, substandard equipment, lack of ethics and then storms out. In the morning, he returns with more muted criticism and we're treated to the usual array of arguments between the stubborn owner's refusal to accept change and Taffer's vision of what the bar should be. Rounding out the hour is Taffer's eventual success in "getting through" to the owner/s as he implements his changes and records the staff's enthusiastic reactions to the unveiling of their new bar.

More disturbing than anything is the realization (affirmation?) that there are some real morons in this world who own businesses and betray a public trust. Why reward them with a bailout? The show runs on the false premise that Taffer can wave a magic wand and in three days undo the rotten business practices and human failings these idiots have maintained over a lifetime.

I guess a compliment should be made for this show running into it's eighth season with a shoestring plot and little room for variation. It's also a testament to how low many people's viewing standards are today.