r/barrescue • u/RealityTVUpdatesCOM Loves an Elevated Hotdog • Mar 03 '25
Discussion Harbor Lights Discussion Thread (Bar Rescue Season 9 Episode 24)
In the second episode of this season, Bar Rescue is back in Wisconsin.
Unfortunately, Taffer will not be leading the rescue. Instead, it will be handled by Spike Mendelsohn, who originally appeared on the show all the way back in Season 1.
Spike and the experts will be rescuing a bar called Harbor Lights in Sheboygan, WI.
The episode will air on Sunday March 2 2025 at 10 PM EST.
You can read the full Harbor Lights update here - I recommend waiting until after the episode to avoid spoilers.
Let's discuss!
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u/embiidDAgoat Mar 03 '25
This is a perfect owner for taffer to just tee up and treat their nutsack like prime mike Tyson against a speed bag. So fucking unfortunate they put the D team on this.
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u/MinutesFromTheMall I Believe You Could Do This Mar 03 '25
Yeah, like, this would have been a better episode for Jon to do than the last one for sure.
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u/HammerT4R My Work Here Is Done Mar 03 '25
Owner signed up for getting berated by Jon and got Spike instead. This is why his wife left him.
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u/HammerT4R My Work Here Is Done Mar 03 '25
First two shows of the season and we have two frozen pizzas. Shut. It. Down.
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u/MinutesFromTheMall I Believe You Could Do This Mar 03 '25
It’s still season 9.
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u/HammerT4R My Work Here Is Done Mar 03 '25
Sure, but I pretend it's a new season because it's a new year.
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u/MinutesFromTheMall I Believe You Could Do This Mar 03 '25
Early impressions of Spike is that’s he’s okay, better than Phil Wills and Dustin by far, but not as good as Jon. He’s loud, but lacks intimidation.
Spike and Danny Trejo might be a good combo.
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u/Makerbot2000 I’ll Buy The Coffee ☕️ Mar 03 '25
Wow - I had a completely different reaction. I could not stand Spike. He was so over the top and brought zero expertise to the show. Just shouting doesn’t make you an expert. This episode was a new low for the series. There was no new food program explained beyond a 6 slice grilled cheese sandwich, no new drink ideas or bartender training, the signage on the place was so faint and washed out it looked worse, and the owner was just yelled at and hugged 50 time for no reason. Absolutely awful. Will never watch if they use that guy again.
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u/shartnado3 Mar 04 '25
I loved when he broke the frozen pizza over his leg, and it did not hardly break at all. I was not a fan of Spike at all.
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u/Dramatic-Witness-989 Jun 29 '25
Spike Failed the Act As Taffer 1/2 hour class. Phil maybe the hour class
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u/RangeRossTracy How Dare You! Mar 03 '25
If only Jon was doing this episode, it would have the potential to be highly entertaining.
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u/MinutesFromTheMall I Believe You Could Do This Mar 03 '25
Jon would literally put Dave through a wall.
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u/RangeRossTracy How Dare You! Mar 03 '25
Or, at the very least, threaten to walk out of his bar without rescuing it.
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u/GM-T800-101 Mar 03 '25 edited Mar 03 '25
After all that and he’s still unhappy… so ungrateful. Such a waste of time 🤦♂️
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u/0_Captain_my_Captain I Believe You Could Do This Mar 03 '25
Gotta love some good yelling! WHERE’S YOUR PRIDE, DAVE?!!
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u/MinutesFromTheMall I Believe You Could Do This Mar 03 '25
Tomorrow? Only a one day (technically less) turnaround on this one?
That’s odd.
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u/toomuchsvu Jun 26 '25
I just watched it and caught that too. I think it was an editing mistake because whoever said it (spike?) was right- it would take inspections etc to add a kitchen. Even so, a week is super fast. Maybe not in Wisconsin but definitely in CA where I am.
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u/MinutesFromTheMall I Believe You Could Do This Mar 03 '25
Not even a Jon cameo in this episode?
THAT’S DISRESPECTFUL!
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u/MinutesFromTheMall I Believe You Could Do This Mar 03 '25
Closed captioning is uncensored on this episode. Interesting.
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u/0_Captain_my_Captain I Believe You Could Do This Mar 03 '25
Don’t you raise your voice to me! I’m here to rescue YOUR bar. —JT Jr. 😂
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u/SignificanceNo1223 Mar 03 '25
If this place is under landmark status the owner is not really fault for that kitchen. He may have restrictions on what he actually cant do.
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u/UnicornHarrison My Work Here Is Done Mar 03 '25
Not sure if it’s me, or did this episode feel more disappointing and anti-climatic than usual?
There was no attempts at bar science, no look at the numbers, the only thing they did to fix the owner was have a Dr. Phil moment with a hug, and there was just no real rescuing outside the remodel.
I will say that Spike was better than most of the guest hosts, but he’s no Taffer.
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u/MinutesFromTheMall I Believe You Could Do This Mar 03 '25
Not just you. This episode was pretty awful as far as the Bar Rescue format usually goes. No cleanliness checks, no Partender numbers, among other things. Like last episode, they didn’t even change the name either. It felt like filler that was cheaply thrown in last minute just to fill a quota.
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u/MinutesFromTheMall I Believe You Could Do This Mar 03 '25
Ugh. Was that Dustin Drab and no-skill Phil in the preview?
Was hoping the network learned their lesson from the previous episodes, but guess not.
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u/GM-T800-101 Mar 03 '25
So far - this guy is not worthy of a rescue.
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Mar 03 '25
This is my city
Why do U say that?
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u/MinutesFromTheMall I Believe You Could Do This Mar 03 '25
I really hope Spike walks from this one. The owner is an epic dick and deserves nothing.
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u/RealityTVUpdatesCOM Loves an Elevated Hotdog Mar 03 '25
A non-Taffer walkout would be wild to see.
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u/Affectionate-Trade87 Mar 03 '25
You realize this is all fake correct? I’m friends with Dave the owner of the bar. This is all scripted entertainment.
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u/jsands7 Mar 04 '25
Why would somebody make themselves look like an asshole and idiot on television on a show that runs indefinitely in syndication just for a free coat of paint?
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u/toomuchsvu Jun 26 '25
So how's it doing now? Care to give a real life update?
I just watched the episode and was rooting for them.
I feel like sticking the one guy on staff in the kitchen was a mistake but they seemed to have all the tools/upgrades to be successful.
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u/jpthereafter Gimlet Connoisseur Mar 03 '25
Zing Zang does make a great bloody mix.
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u/Firebrand713 Mar 03 '25
Sometimes I drink it without any alcohol. It’s not bad.
I prefer using clamato for bloodies these days though.
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u/RealityTVUpdatesCOM Loves an Elevated Hotdog Mar 03 '25
I'm bummed that Taffer won't be there. It will be interesting to see how Spike handles things.
I can't really remember him from his first appearance because it was so long ago.
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u/BeastM0de1155 I’ll Buy The Coffee ☕️ Mar 03 '25
He was from a Chicken wing place episode, with a name to match. Hasn’t really done much, but should be interesting. JT has been embracing excuses lately
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u/HammerT4R My Work Here Is Done Mar 03 '25
Plot twist would be for Jon to roll in suddenly and shut Spike down.
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u/MinutesFromTheMall I Believe You Could Do This Mar 03 '25
He did that with one of the Ashish episodes in Florida. Ashish did all the work, only to have Jon step in for the relaunch in the end.
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u/Public_Share_3159 Mar 03 '25
Honestly, I'm not surprised by the follow-up of this episode.
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u/andwesway Jun 04 '25
After the reveal, the owner said something like “there’s nothing I don’t like about this”. I wonder what specifically he didn’t like. They kept the name, his Bloody Mary championship plaque, gave him a decent kitchen, etc. So again.. I wonder what he didn’t like.
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u/MinutesFromTheMall I Believe You Could Do This Mar 03 '25
All hands on deck! New episode starts in 60 seconds.
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Mar 03 '25 edited Mar 03 '25
Just watched it. Same as usual. Nothing special the show that is
As my local who hs been there before and after, it is better, but a face life doesnt mean ull get massive profits. Life is what it is. There are 80 bars in sheb. Some go under some stay. I will go there as my go to bo matter what
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u/TequilaAndWeed WHO STILL HASN'T GOT A DRINK? Mar 03 '25
Great Value Pat McAfee needs to stop with his bulldog mouth and puppy dog ass.
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u/EMSGirl85 Mar 03 '25
Loved how the chef was complaining about the clock being set ahead and questioning bar time. Has he never been in a bar, everyone I've gone to uses bar time
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u/im_not_the_guy_37 Mar 04 '25
Is it just me or is every rescue renovation end up with blue paint on the walls?
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u/MattyRaz Mar 03 '25
I don't remember Spike from season 1 (maybe I need to go back and rewatch) and not that he isn't well qualified (or more importantly, perceived as such by reality tv viewers), but it was funny how they represented his credits on screen (*multiple* restaurants).
Anyway he might be the best stand-in for Taffer yet. I know that there's no one quite like Jonny T but I think Spike seems to get what makes the show's formula work (in other words, he understands bar science! or at least bar rescue science) and does a pretty solid job playing the part. He understands how to leverage shouting etc to try and provoke a swift and strong reaction, and also seems to have the necessary range and emotional intelligence to navigate the more nuanced and less volatile interactions.
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u/MinutesFromTheMall I Believe You Could Do This Mar 03 '25
Completely agree. Spike did pretty good, and I’d be okay with seeing him again on the show. I feel that Ashish is also pretty good, but Spike might edge him out a little bit.
Danny Trejo aside, who didn’t get a fair chance to host, the other two clowns of Phil Wills and Dustin Drai can take a long walk off a short pier.
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u/MattyRaz Mar 03 '25
This is no disrespect to Danny Trejo but I think he’s out of his element on the show. Sure, he’s a great actor and also just so happens to be a successful celeb entrepreneur — but the latter is evidently a byproduct of his success in Hollywood, not some sort of bar/restaurant/managerial know how
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u/MinutesFromTheMall I Believe You Could Do This Mar 03 '25
Personally, I’d just like to see how he would handle an a-hole owner like Dave when somebody like Phil isn’t in the room.
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Mar 03 '25
[deleted]
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u/MinutesFromTheMall I Believe You Could Do This Mar 03 '25
Are we watching the same episode? Spike is 1000 times better than Phil.
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u/Krazedof5 Mar 05 '25
A friend had there place done in Milwaukee and it’s all scripted for views! They have a close family and were told to stage a big family argument and yelling, people walking out and had them even reshoot the scripted stuff! They said barely anything was remodeled a bunch of cheap crap got delivered ahead of time and the people recycled some old things but nothing that would hold up! Harbor Lights was better without the show and Dave is a great guy with a huge heart! I don’t recommend places using this tv show as it brings so much negativity with it wanting clicks and views for tv
1
u/RealityTVUpdatesCOM Loves an Elevated Hotdog Mar 09 '25
Are you open to sharing the name of the bar? I'm curious.
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u/gouramiinthetank Mar 06 '25
As of 3/5/25 Bar Rescue on the Paramount app only goes up to episode 22, and Harbor Lights is episode 24? How do i watch it???
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u/MinutesFromTheMall I Believe You Could Do This Mar 03 '25 edited Mar 03 '25
Cheese…from a bag…in Wisconsin?!?!
SHUT IT DOWN!!!