Debbie Shields, the owner of Confessions Bar in Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuy neighborhood, returned to Subway Takes for an episode centered on her sharp opinions and unmistakable New York humor. Shields first drew attention after stealing the spotlight during Conan O’Brien’s appearance on the show.
Her first subject was closing time. Shields insisted that “last call means last call,” criticizing customers who remain at the bar while slowly drinking the same beverage long after service has ended. Host Kareem Rahma agreed and suggested playing Semisonic’s “Closing Time,” but Shields quickly dismissed his singing with a joke about staying in his current career.
Shields then addressed subway etiquette, objecting to passengers who attempt to board before riders have exited. Rahma offered his own complaint: passengers wearing backpacks on the train, whom he nicknamed “turtles.” Shields said she rarely takes the subway because of the “coughers, sneezers, and squeezers,” a phrase the pair turned into an improvised song over a trap beat.
After switching trains, Rahma asked what had happened since Shields’ original appearance went viral. She mentioned receiving numerous interview and improv requests before announcing that she is launching her own podcast, Confession Sessions.
The conversation continued with personal confessions and a series of opinions. Shields agreed that summer is the worst month, but rejected the idea that dreaming about a partner’s infidelity constitutes cheating. She also dismissed the notion that space is humanity’s concern, framing her response around whether people can breathe, twerk and drink there.
The episode ended with Rahma suggesting that they stay on Earth and visit Confessions. Shields noted that she could legally begin serving drinks at noon, providing a fitting transition from the subway conversation to the start of the day at her bar.
Sources: Consequence.