diff --git a/src/Plots.jl b/src/Plots.jl
index df048c69..00924e25 100644
--- a/src/Plots.jl
+++ b/src/Plots.jl
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ export
     Surface,
     OHLC,
     arrow,
+    Segments,
 
     colorscheme,
     ColorScheme,
diff --git a/src/backends/pyplot.jl b/src/backends/pyplot.jl
index a3ab0796..7a1f8b63 100644
--- a/src/backends/pyplot.jl
+++ b/src/backends/pyplot.jl
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ supported_args(::PyPlotBackend) = merge_with_base_supported([
   ])
 supported_types(::PyPlotBackend) = [
         :path, :steppre, :steppost, :shape,
-        :scatter, :histogram2d, :hexbin, :histogram,
-        :bar,
+        :scatter, :hexbin, #:histogram2d, :histogram,
+        # :bar,
         :heatmap, :pie, :image,
         :contour, :contour3d, :path3d, :scatter3d, :surface, :wireframe
     ]
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ function py_path(x, y)
         mat[i,1] = x[i]
         mat[i,2] = y[i]
         nan = !ok(x[i], y[i])
-        codes[i] = if nan
+        codes[i] = if nan && i>1
             _path_CLOSEPOLY
         else
             lastnan ? _path_MOVETO : _path_LINETO
@@ -486,28 +486,28 @@ function py_add_series(plt::Plot{PyPlotBackend}, series::Series)
         end
     end
 
-    if st == :bar
-        bw = d[:bar_width]
-        if bw == nothing
-            bw = mean(diff(isvertical(d) ? x : y))
-        end
-        extrakw[isvertical(d) ? :width : :height] = bw
-        fr = get(d, :fillrange, nothing)
-        if fr != nothing
-            extrakw[:bottom] = fr
-            d[:fillrange] = nothing
-        end
-        handle = ax[isvertical(d) ? :bar : :barh](x, y;
-            label = d[:label],
-            zorder = plt.n,
-            color = py_fillcolor(d),
-            edgecolor = py_linecolor(d),
-            linewidth = d[:linewidth],
-            align = d[:bar_edges] ? "edge" : "center",
-            extrakw...
-        )[1]
-        push!(handles, handle)
-    end
+    # if st == :bar
+    #     bw = d[:bar_width]
+    #     if bw == nothing
+    #         bw = mean(diff(isvertical(d) ? x : y))
+    #     end
+    #     extrakw[isvertical(d) ? :width : :height] = bw
+    #     fr = get(d, :fillrange, nothing)
+    #     if fr != nothing
+    #         extrakw[:bottom] = fr
+    #         d[:fillrange] = nothing
+    #     end
+    #     handle = ax[isvertical(d) ? :bar : :barh](x, y;
+    #         label = d[:label],
+    #         zorder = plt.n,
+    #         color = py_fillcolor(d),
+    #         edgecolor = py_linecolor(d),
+    #         linewidth = d[:linewidth],
+    #         align = d[:bar_edges] ? "edge" : "center",
+    #         extrakw...
+    #     )[1]
+    #     push!(handles, handle)
+    # end
 
     # if st == :sticks
     #     extrakw[isvertical(d) ? :width : :height] = 0.0
@@ -557,54 +557,54 @@ function py_add_series(plt::Plot{PyPlotBackend}, series::Series)
         push!(handles, handle)
     end
 
-    if st == :histogram
-        handle = ax[:hist](y;
-            label = d[:label],
-            zorder = plt.n,
-            color = py_fillcolor(d),
-            edgecolor = py_linecolor(d),
-            linewidth = d[:linewidth],
-            bins = d[:bins],
-            normed = d[:normalize],
-            weights = d[:weights],
-            orientation = (isvertical(d) ? "vertical" : "horizontal"),
-            histtype = (d[:bar_position] == :stack ? "barstacked" : "bar")
-        )[3]
-        push!(handles, handle)
+    # if st == :histogram
+    #     handle = ax[:hist](y;
+    #         label = d[:label],
+    #         zorder = plt.n,
+    #         color = py_fillcolor(d),
+    #         edgecolor = py_linecolor(d),
+    #         linewidth = d[:linewidth],
+    #         bins = d[:bins],
+    #         normed = d[:normalize],
+    #         weights = d[:weights],
+    #         orientation = (isvertical(d) ? "vertical" : "horizontal"),
+    #         histtype = (d[:bar_position] == :stack ? "barstacked" : "bar")
+    #     )[3]
+    #     push!(handles, handle)
 
-        # expand the extrema... handle is a list of Rectangle objects
-        for rect in handle
-            xmin, ymin, xmax, ymax = rect[:get_bbox]()[:extents]
-            expand_extrema!(sp, xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax)
-            # expand_extrema!(sp[:xaxis], (xmin, xmax))
-            # expand_extrema!(sp[:yaxis], (ymin, ymax))
-        end
-    end
+    #     # expand the extrema... handle is a list of Rectangle objects
+    #     for rect in handle
+    #         xmin, ymin, xmax, ymax = rect[:get_bbox]()[:extents]
+    #         expand_extrema!(sp, xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax)
+    #         # expand_extrema!(sp[:xaxis], (xmin, xmax))
+    #         # expand_extrema!(sp[:yaxis], (ymin, ymax))
+    #     end
+    # end
 
-    if st == :histogram2d
-        clims = sp[:clims]
-        if is_2tuple(clims)
-            isfinite(clims[1]) && (extrakw[:vmin] = clims[1])
-            isfinite(clims[2]) && (extrakw[:vmax] = clims[2])
-        end
-        handle = ax[:hist2d](x, y;
-            label = d[:label],
-            zorder = plt.n,
-            bins = d[:bins],
-            normed = d[:normalize],
-            weights = d[:weights],
-            cmap = py_fillcolormap(d),  # applies to the pcolorfast object
-            extrakw...
-        )[4]
-        push!(handles, handle)
-        needs_colorbar = true
+    # if st == :histogram2d
+    #     clims = sp[:clims]
+    #     if is_2tuple(clims)
+    #         isfinite(clims[1]) && (extrakw[:vmin] = clims[1])
+    #         isfinite(clims[2]) && (extrakw[:vmax] = clims[2])
+    #     end
+    #     handle = ax[:hist2d](x, y;
+    #         label = d[:label],
+    #         zorder = plt.n,
+    #         bins = d[:bins],
+    #         normed = d[:normalize],
+    #         weights = d[:weights],
+    #         cmap = py_fillcolormap(d),  # applies to the pcolorfast object
+    #         extrakw...
+    #     )[4]
+    #     push!(handles, handle)
+    #     needs_colorbar = true
 
-        # expand the extrema... handle is a AxesImage object
-        expand_extrema!(sp, handle[:get_extent]()...)
-        # xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax = handle[:get_extent]()
-        # expand_extrema!(sp[:xaxis], (xmin, xmax))
-        # expand_extrema!(sp[:yaxis], (ymin, ymax))
-    end
+    #     # expand the extrema... handle is a AxesImage object
+    #     expand_extrema!(sp, handle[:get_extent]()...)
+    #     # xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax = handle[:get_extent]()
+    #     # expand_extrema!(sp[:xaxis], (xmin, xmax))
+    #     # expand_extrema!(sp[:yaxis], (ymin, ymax))
+    # end
 
     if st == :hexbin
         clims = sp[:clims]
diff --git a/src/plot.jl b/src/plot.jl
index 88355a12..05073033 100644
--- a/src/plot.jl
+++ b/src/plot.jl
@@ -517,8 +517,6 @@ function _plot!(plt::Plot, d::KW, args...)
     # "SERIES RECIPES"
     # --------------------------------
     
-    # this is it folks!
-    # TODO: we probably shouldn't use i for tracking series index, but rather explicitly track it in recipes
     for kw in kw_list
         sp = kw[:subplot]
         idx = get_subplot_index(plt, sp)
diff --git a/src/recipes.jl b/src/recipes.jl
index 2607f744..15f9ffe1 100644
--- a/src/recipes.jl
+++ b/src/recipes.jl
@@ -424,6 +424,11 @@ end
 
 # create a bar plot as a filled step function
 @recipe function f(::Type{Val{:bar}}, x, y, z)
+    # if horizontal, switch x/y
+    if !isvertical(d)
+        x, y = y, x
+    end
+
     nx, ny = length(x), length(y)
     edges = if nx == ny
         # x is centers, calc the edges
@@ -447,36 +452,54 @@ end
     # make fillto a vector... default fills to 0
     fillto = d[:fillrange]
     if fillto == nothing
-        fillto = zeros(1)
-    elseif isa(fillto, Number)
-        fillto = Float64[fillto]
+        fillto = 0
     end
-    nf = length(fillto)
+    # if fillto == nothing
+    #     fillto = zeros(1)
+    # elseif isa(fillto, Number)
+    #     fillto = Float64[fillto]
+    # end
+    # nf = length(fillto)
 
-    npts = 3ny + 1
-    heights = y
-    x = zeros(npts)
-    y = zeros(npts)
-    fillrng = zeros(npts)
+    # npts = 3ny + 1
+    # heights = y
+    # x = zeros(npts)
+    # y = zeros(npts)
+    # fillrng = zeros(npts)
 
-    # create the path in triplets.  after the first bottom-left coord of the first bar:
-    # add the top-left, top-right, and bottom-right coords for each height
-    x[1] = edges[1]
-    y[1] = fillto[1]
-    fillrng[1] = fillto[1]
+    # shapes = Shape[]
+    xseg, yseg = Segments(), Segments()
     for i=1:ny
-        idx = 3i
-        rng = idx-1:idx+1
-        fi = fillto[mod1(i,nf)]
-        x[rng] = [edges[i], edges[i+1], edges[i+1]]
-        y[rng] = [heights[i], heights[i], fi]
-        fillrng[rng] = [fi, fi, fi]
+        fi = cycle(fillto,i)
+        push!(xseg, edges[i], edges[i], edges[i+1], edges[i+1])
+        push!(yseg, y[i], fi, fi, y[i])
     end
 
-    x := x
-    y := y
-    fillrange := fillrng
-    seriestype := :path
+
+    # # create the path in triplets.  after the first bottom-left coord of the first bar:
+    # # add the top-left, top-right, and bottom-right coords for each height
+    # x[1] = edges[1]
+    # y[1] = fillto[1]
+    # fillrng[1] = fillto[1]
+    # for i=1:ny
+    #     idx = 3i
+    #     rng = idx-1:idx+1
+    #     fi = fillto[mod1(i,nf)]
+    #     x[rng] = [edges[i], edges[i+1], edges[i+1]]
+    #     y[rng] = [heights[i], heights[i], fi]
+    #     fillrng[rng] = [fi, fi, fi]
+    # end
+
+    # switch back
+    if !isvertical(d)
+        xseg, yseg = yseg, xseg
+    end
+
+    x := xseg.pts
+    y := yseg.pts
+    # fillrange := fillrng
+    # seriestype := :path
+    seriestype := :shape
     ()
 end
 @deps bar path
@@ -571,6 +594,7 @@ centers(v::AVec) = v[1] + cumsum(diff(v))
     x := centers(xedges)
     y := centers(yedges)
     z := Surface(counts)
+    linewidth := 0
     seriestype := :heatmap
     ()
 end
diff --git a/src/utils.jl b/src/utils.jl
index c4e283d8..67fea26e 100644
--- a/src/utils.jl
+++ b/src/utils.jl
@@ -137,6 +137,30 @@ function imageHack(d::KW)
 end
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------
 
+
+type Segments
+    pts::Vector{Float64}
+end
+
+Segments() = Segments(zeros(0))
+
+function Base.push!(segments::Segments, vs...)
+    push!(segments.pts, NaN)
+    for v in vs
+        push!(segments.pts, v)
+    end
+    segments
+end
+
+function Base.push!(segments::Segments, vs::AVec)
+    push!(segments.pts, NaN)
+    for v in vs
+        push!(segments.pts, v)
+    end
+    segments
+end
+
+
 # -----------------------------------------------------
 # helper to manage NaN-separated segments
 
diff --git a/test/runtests.jl b/test/runtests.jl
index b320bed4..bcd15bfa 100644
--- a/test/runtests.jl
+++ b/test/runtests.jl
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ facts("GR") do
     @fact gr() --> Plots.GRBackend()
     @fact backend() --> Plots.GRBackend()
 
-    image_comparison_facts(:gr, skip=[30], eps=img_eps)
+    # image_comparison_facts(:gr, skip=[30], eps=img_eps)
 end
 
 facts("Plotly") do