Tim & Eric might be the ones behind a “Dumb Starbucks” coffee shop in L.A.
A coffee store named “Dumb Starbucks Coffee” opened in Los Angeles last Friday, and it is indeed just like a Starbucks shop with added dumbness. The parody store’s menu mirrors that of the real Starbucks, right down to the choice of typeface, except that the word “dumb” has been placed before every item. Also, Dumb Starbucks gives away coffee for free, which is at least foolish if not dumb.
As word of Dumb Starbucks spread through various cellphone tweets and web instant-grams, people looked at the pictures and laughed. But this mere enjoyment of comedy was not enough for the insatiable members of the Internet-connected public. They demanded not just to laugh but also to know why they were laughing. Is Dumb Starbucks a publicity stunt, performance art, or the transgressive act of a crafty businessperson?
If online sleuths are correct—and when have they ever been wrong?—the answer could be “all of the above.” The Associated Press has been looking into L’affaire Starbucks Stupide, and that reportorial effort has turned up filming permits for the Dumb Starbucks location that were filed three weeks ago on behalf of Abso Lutely Productions—Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim’s production company. So the store now looks to be some sort of Tim & Eric prank.
Among the choice programs on Abso Lutely’s slate is a reality series called Nathan For You in which Nathan Fielder “helps” struggling small businesses by giving them terrible ideas. In one episode of the show’s first season, Fielder had the proprietor of a frozen-yogurt store unveil a new shit-flavored variety, and in another, he made business boom at a gas station by lowering prices with an impossible-to-obtain rebate. With that kind of precedent in mind, a Hacker News commenter was among the first to float the theory that this store is another inspired Nathan For You setup.