| Key Points |
|---|
| 1. John Oliver’s show, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, purchased kitchen equipment and furniture from the closed Miron Lane Red Lobster restaurant in Ulster, N.Y. |
| 2. Oliver announced the acquisition humorously, displaying his excitement and mistakenly identifying the location as Kingston, during the final segment of his show on Max. |
| 3. Oliver offered to give the newly acquired equipment for free to Deisings Bakery if they start selling “John Oliver Cake Bears,” showcasing his unique way of engaging audiences and highlighting corporate mishaps. |
Comedian John Oliver’s show, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, recently purchased kitchen equipment and furniture from the now-closed Miron Lane Red Lobster restaurant at an auction in the Town of Ulster, N.Y.
Oliver announced the acquisition during a final segment of his show on Sunday, aired on Max (formerly HBO), stating, “We f***ing won everything inside it.”
Oliver shared his excitement with the audience, displaying a photo of the former seafood eatery, though he mistakenly identified it as being in Kingston. The auction win signifies another quirky acquisition for the comedian, who is known for using such purchases in humorous segments on his show.
That purchase included the lobster tank.
A Unique Proposal
The frustrating thing is, it seems just about any random idiot could run a Red Lobster better than these companies have done, Oliver pronounced.But there’s really only one way to put that to the test.
Given the recent closing of the venue, this spontaneous acquisition of almost an entire restaurant by a TV show wasn’t entirely typical.
Red Lobster announced on its website in May that it had closed the Miron Lane restaurant. And while the site said that the closure was ‘temporary’, a separate site had already started auctioning the equipment. The auction ran until May 16.
Oliver’s announcement wasn’t just impactful; it showcased his unique humor and strategic planning. As he stood up from his desk and walked to a Red Lobster look-alike setting – complete with tank, booths, and hostess station – he highlighted how this wasn’t an idle jest.
An Offer Hard to Refuse
However, there’s more to this story than just Oliver’s comedic antics. Eric Deising, owner of Deisings Bakery & Restaurant in Kingston, expressed interest in buying some of this kitchen equipment. According to Deising, he left a note taped to the door of the Red Lobster requesting specific items.
In response, Oliver cleverly addressed Deising during his monologue by saying:
OK, first, with all due respect, if you wanted equipment from that Red Lobster, leaving a note on the door is a weird way to get it. The restaurant just closed down. It’s like going to a cemetery and leaving a note on a tombstone that says, ‘Hey, can I have your socks?’
He then one-upped Deising by proposing: If Deisings Bakery starts selling what he coined as “John Oliver Cake Bears,” he’d give away his newly acquired Red Lobster equipment for free.
The Unlikely Star Power
This turn of events is not entirely surprising considering John Oliver’s reputation for over-the-top stunts. His past endeavors include buying $15 million in debt before forgiving all of it and starting a humorous feud with Danbury, Connecticut, leading its mayor to rename their sewage plant after him.
A Nostalgic Nod
What we do want to do is give people the single item that they want most from Red Lobster and that is the biscuits, Oliver said.It is the only item this location will sell.
This wasn’t just another attention-seeking prank but rather indicative of his unique way of highlighting corporate mishaps while engaging his audience with comedic relief.
Here’s Everything You Need to Know About John Oliver
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | John William Oliver |
| Date of Birth | April 23, 1977 |
| Place of Birth | Erdington, Birmingham, England |
| Nationality | British-American |
| Education | Christ’s College, Cambridge University (Degree in English) |
| Occupation | Comedian, Writer, Producer, Political Commentator, Actor, TV Host |
| Spouse | Kate Norley (m. 2011) |
| Children | 2 sons |
| Parents | Carole Oliver (mother), Jim Oliver (father) |
| Notable Works | The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver |
| Awards | Multiple Primetime Emmy Awards, Writers Guild of America Awards, Peabody Awards |
| Years Active | 2001–present |
| Genres | Political Satire, Observational Comedy, Black Comedy, Sarcasm, Cringe Comedy, Self-Deprecation |
| Height | 6 ft (183 cm) |
| Early Career | Began performing stand-up comedy in the UK; appeared in “Bleak House” (1985) |
| Breakthrough | Senior British Correspondent on The Daily Show (2006-2013) |
| Current Work | Host of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (since 2014) |
| Notable Roles | Ian Duncan in Community, Zazu in The Lion King (2019) |
| Trivia | Supports Liverpool FC, dual nationality (UK and US) |
John Oliver has had a diverse career, beginning in stand-up comedy in the UK before gaining significant recognition in the United States as a correspondent and writer on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” He currently hosts “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” which has earned him widespread acclaim and numerous awards. Oliver is also known for his roles in the sitcom “Community” and the animated film “The Lion King” (2019)
Follow Us
