John Oliver, the host of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, known for his deep dives into complex topics, recently made headlines by purchasing all the kitchen equipment and furniture from a Red Lobster restaurant that had recently closed its doors in Ulster, New York. This unusual acquisition was revealed on his show on Sunday, sparking a mix of amusement and local commentary.
Oliver transformed the contents of the shuttered Miron Lane Red Lobster into a makeshift replica of the restaurant, with a singular offering on the menu: Red Lobster’s famous biscuits. “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 stated on his show. He jokingly offered each biscuit for a dollar. This segment, while humorous, was pointedly aimed at highlighting the negative impacts of private equity firms on major franchises, using Red Lobster as a prime example.
The segment garnered varied reactions. While many viewers found humor in Oliver’s antic, local reactions were more nuanced. James Quigley, the Ulster Town Supervisor’s office, offered a correction with a touch of humor regarding Oliver’s location reference, noting the restaurant was actually in Ulster, not Kingston. Eric Deising, owner of Deising’s Bakery and Restaurant, also chimed in with good-natured banter, admitting he was also interested in bidding on the Red Lobster equipment. “John – He’s just beating me all over the place. Congratulations on your new store,” Deising conceded after Oliver’s winning bid.
However, the narrative took a turn when News 12 Westchester used Deising’s comments under a sensationalized headline: “Kingston business owner picks fight with HBO’s John Oliver after host buys shuttered Red Lobster”. Deising responded to this clickbait with frustration on Facebook, clarifying it was a misrepresentation of his intentions. He stated his interest was purely in purchasing equipment and not starting a feud, decrying the headline as “fake news.”
Adding another layer to the local response, some Facebook users criticized Oliver’s segment for potentially being insensitive to the Red Lobster employees who lost their jobs without warning due to the closure.
For those interested in watching the Red Lobster segment from Last Week Tonight, it is available on HBO Max and other streaming platforms. As of now, it is not available for free viewing in the US.
