Review: 'Bar Hunters'

Even TV critics sometimes have a bit of difficulty figuring out the premise of a new show based just on its title. The problem is that while some show titles are provocative enough to convince someone to stop and watch, there's a difference between titillating and informative. That's somewhat the case with "Bar Hunters," the new half-hour series from Discovery that premieres on Monday night. Based on the name, it's difficult to determine the premise of the show ahead of time. Is it a bunch of thirsty people looking for their next favorite watering hole? A bunch of businessmen looking for the next hot bar franchise idea? No, but you're getting warmer...

If you've spent any time at all flipping through a bunch of cable TV channels, you're probably familiar with the uber-iconic HGTV series "House Hunters," a show so successful it spun off not just an international version, but specials covering everything from RVs to vacation homes. Now imagine the format of "House Hunters," except that instead of people searching for a new home, they're searching for the perfect location for their dream bar business. And instead of a real estate agent, they have an experienced bar owner and industry expert to offer advice along the way.

Congratulations, you're now up to speed with "Bar Hunters," a breezy and fun little show that's a bit of a departure for Discovery. Host Tom Powers picks three potential bar spaces based on the vision of the budding owners and his best guess on what will work best for their vision. He walks them through each space, highlighting a few points they might have missed before letting them choose the one they think best works for their budget and concept. The potential owners make the choice by talking through the options ala a scene out of "House Hunters," which is both comfortably familiar and a bit disconcerting. But before the decision is announced, Powers also offers his suggestion for the location he would pick if the decision was up to him, giving each location a score between 0 and 10. At the end there's a quick update, though based on the track record of similar shows, a snapshot of a new business four or six months in probably isn't going to provide much clarity.

There's nothing especially groundbreaking about "Bar Hunters," but it's a well-made, slick and entertaining little show. Powers does a nice job explaining his rationale for picking the locations he presents and like all bar and restaurant owners, the ones shown in the show's first two episodes are an interesting mix of ambition, imagination and delusion.

One thing that helps the show is that the potential owners aren't buffoons. They might be a bit captivated by the idea of hanging out in their own bar, but their bar concepts are smart and a good fit for the area. Putting a country dance bar in the heart of college town Tempe, AZ. is a great idea and while the reasoning for a California-style bar in Dallas is a bit scarier, it's also an imaginative and potentially lucrative concept.

Each episode of "Bar Hunters" flies by and I mean that as a compliment. It's a fun way to spend a half hour and if watching it inspired me to go grab a beer at my favorite watering hole, well, that's a side effect I can live with after watching TV.

"Bar Hunters" premieres on Discovery on Monday, October 21st, 2013.