This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
The 'Dumb Starbucks' episode of 'Nathan For You' has finally aired, and it's great.
We’re sure you remember this past February when Dumb Starbucks mysteriously popped up in a strip mall in Los Feliz. The lines for the free coffee and pastries wrapped around the property and down the street. In the end, it turned out to all be an elaborate prank by Nathan Fielder for his Comedy Central show, "Nathan For You."
"Nathan For You" features Fielder providing dubious marketing advice to small businesses—like a gas station that offers extremely cheap gas, if customers will return a rebate to the top of a mountain or a frozen yogurt stand that sells a poo-flavored yogurt. For Elias Zacklin, the owner of the struggling coffeeshop Helio Cafe, Fielder suggests using "parody law" to get away with marketing a coffeeshop as "Dumb Starbucks."
The episode follows Fielder trying to figure out if "parody law" would protect him from a lawsuit from Starbucks. A lawyer, who gets tricked into signing an appearance release that says he's liable if Starbucks sues, suggests that if Fielder had a reputation as a parody artist, he might have a better chance. So, Fielder plays local open mics doing Weird Al-style parodies like, "I Can't Get No Erections" and "Shave Tonight." Zacklin joined Fielder at first but got too embarrassed.
They also produce a line of parody art, which you can purchase on Ebay. The T.G.I. Fart logo is currently at $679, but that number has been rising rapidly and there are still six days to bid. During the time of 'Dumb Starbucks,' Angelenos were selling their paper cups on Ebay, too.
Fielder uses the media attention garnered by the prank in the show:
As for the Helio Cafe, it's an actual, functioning shop at 710 N. Heliotrope Drive.
