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My name is Nathan Fielder,
and I graduated from one of Canada's top business schools
with really good grades.
Now I'm using my knowledge
to help struggling small business owners make it
in this competitive world.
This is "Nathan for You."
Mmm mmm mmm. Look at this food.
You want it, right?
Well, you can't have it
unless you pay a visit to Joe K's Deli Restaurant
in the small town of Vernon, California.
But lately, owner Steve Mullen has been struggling
to draw in customers from the rest of L.A. County.
People are not aware of us anymore.
So we need something new.
We need...
We need exposure.
The problem could be that the last piece of press
they got was from an unknown news journal
published over a decade ago.
So I decided to pay Steve a visit
with a plan to change that.
I do watch that program on TV with, um...
What is it, "Dine and Drive"? What is it?
Oh, "Diners, Drive-ins, and Drives"?
Yeah, yeah. That's a... That's a good show.
Well, you know this isn't that show, right?
- Yeah, I know it's not. - Okay, yeah.
- That's Guy Fieri. - Yeah, that's right.
- Yeah. - Yeah.
- Um, it's okay. - You have to contact them, no?
- I... - How to get on
- "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives"? - Yeah, yeah.
I don't know how to get on that show.
No. Well, you came through.
So let's see... You know, I'd be very happy
to... work with you to get this thing promoted.
- Okay. - Yeah.
One thing I've noticed that always
gets restaurants press coverage
is when a celebrity leaves a bit tip.
If we were to get an impersonator to pose
as a celebrity and leave a $10,000 tip
at Joe K's Deli, the real celebrity
would never deny it was them
because it make them look so good
and Joe K's would instantly become
the talk of the town.
Okay.
Yeah...
Steve was excited about my plan to get him
to get him some new press, but to pull off
the illusion of a major star leaving a giant tip,
I would need a celebrity impersonator
who was completely convincing.
So I held an open audition to see if anyone had the goods.
Do not go in there.
Whoo!
Yikes.
Well, all righty then.
So are you a Jim Carey impersonator
or an Ace Ventura impersonator?
I guess, uh, I'm more focused towards Ace.
Um, but I'm a little bit of Jim Carey overall.
With all the talent that came in,
it was hard to decide who would be best
for this critical role.
So once the auditions were done,
I brought the footage to Joe K's
to see who Steve liked the most.
He doesn't look like Bill Gates.
When I founded Microsoft...
I don't think this guy will work.
Steve turned out to be a pretty tough audience.
Can you feel it? Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!
- No. - And of the dozens of options
I showed him, he seemed to only connect
with one.
Jerry. Jerry, I'm pleading with you.
I-I like this guy.
- Kramer from "Seinfeld"? - Yes.
The guy was a dead ringer for Michael Richards
who played Kramer on "Seinfeld."
I was a little concerned about his relevance.
Do you think he might be a little bit dated?
Maybe, but a lot of people know him.
But Steve loved him, so we officially decided
that Michael Richards would be the celebrity
leaving the tip and later that week,
I had our impersonator meet me at a rehearsal space
I rented so we could run through the plan.
Is this something you do full-time, or...
Well, I was... for a while I was doing it a lot.
I was doing it a lot and then when Michael...
When Michael Richards... When he had his little problem,
like after The Comedy Store... Right.
My persona was... for a little while,
- corporately non gratis. - Right.
I know Michael Richards is a great guy.
I know he's not racist.
I began by asking Ostrow to walk me through
how he would leave a large tip at a restaurant
as Michael Richards to be sure his performance
was realistic.
And... whenever you're ready.
It was clear right away that we had some work to do.
I think it might be a little bit too... big.
Remember, people need to believe you're Michael Richards,
- not Kramer. - Oh.
- Got it. Okay. - Okay. Cool.
But after hours of rehearsal,
it felt like we were getting closer
to a believable performance.
- A lot better. - That's what I do.
But to pull off this tip under the scrutiny of the media,
the details would matter.
It seemed like the centerpiece of every celebrity tipping story
is a photo of the transaction receipt
with the celebrity's full name and account number on it.
If we fake the receipt, there's a chance
a nosy journalist could verify the transaction
and expose the fraud.
So if we really wanted it to appear real,
We'd have to use a bank card that was owned by someone
with the same name as our celebrity.
So I started calling every Michael Richards
listed the local white pages to ask for permission
to borrow their bank card for a one-time transaction
they'd be fully reimbursed for.
- ...and for... - _
_
But unfortunately, none of them would help me out.
_
Ok... hello? Mr. Richards?
For a moment, I thought I was all out of options,
but then it occurred to me that if we could find someone
who was willing to temporarily change their legal name
to Michael Richards, we'd be able
to open up a bank account on their behalf
and get the debit card we needed to make the transaction real.
And after posting several ads, we finally got a response.
- What's your full name? - Robert Paul Holmes.
So can I ask why you wanna change your name?
I've been Paul for a long time.
Since I was a kid, uh, I think probably five.
Um...
my family started calling me by my middle name
and it just stuck. So you just wanted
- to be Paul Holmes? - Yeah.
Okay, for this project, I'm willing to pay you...
- Mm-hmm. - To change your name
- to Michael Richards. - Okay.
Why?
We're trying to make it seem like a man by that name
left a big tip at a restaurant.
- Okay. - And...
for that I'd be willing to pay you $1,000.
Uh, what's going through my brain right now
is the huge pain in the ass this is.
You know? Uh...
and I'm thinking if $1,000 is worth it.
Um...
I mean, is this a yard sale?
Can I counter offer with some money?
What amount do you feel comfortable with?
14's in my head. I like it.
Uh, you can counter offer with 12.
Whatever man, you know? Give me anything over 1,000
and I'll think that I win.
- So, like, $1,001? - Mm-hmm.
- You'd be happy with that? - Yeah, sure.
Okay. So, she we do $1,001?
Sure. Yes.
- I mean, is that... - Mm-hmm.
- As long as you're happy. - I am happy.
I just wanna make sure you're happy with that.
Mm-hmm.
Okay, well, it was great negotiating with you.
- Yeah, good. - I'm an easy negotiator, man.
- Yeah, great. - Yeah.
- Well thank you. - Absolutely.
After settling on an amount that we are both
happy with, I had Paul fill out the legal paperwork
that was required to begin the name change process.
But that's when I realize we had a big problem.
To complete a name change in California,
you're legally obligated to publically announce the change
in a newspaper of general circulation
for four weeks in a row.
If anyone suspected that the Michael Richards tip was fake,
finding this name change in the paper
would be their smoking gun.
I tried calling my legal advisor Judge Anthony Filosa
to see if there was any way around this.
You have to publish it?
You can't just change your name secretly?
_
But unfortunately, there wasn't.
So I felt like the only way to do this
while maintaining our secrecy was by creating a newspaper
that no one would ever read.
My hope was that by calling it "The Diarrhea Times,"
no one would ever want to pick it up,
but to ensure our publication seemed legitimate to the courts,
I rented us an office space in a media building downtown
and hired a professional ghost writer named
Austin Bowers... who once wrote me an entire book
in less than a week, to serve as the paper's
Editor-in-Chief.
You ever been the editor of a newspaper before?
Nope, this'll be the first time.
The paper would obviously need content
and it seemed like Austin had a big vision.
Um... definitely wanna include lots of topics:
um, business, arts, politics.
Draw lots of people in and they'll come.
They'll read. They'll share.
Right? Just make sure there's a section
for name change announcements? Okay?
- Right. - I felt a little bad for Austin
that no one would be reading this newspaper,
but hopefully, it will be a valuable experience for him
that would lead to future opportunities.
So after having him introduce himself
to the other tenants in the building,
to add to the paper's legitimacy...
I'm the Editor-in Chief of "The Diarrhea Times."
- We're new in the building. - Uhhuh?
Austin got to work and a few days later,
I was excited to learn that our first edition was complete.
Your lead story is a movie review of
"Nick & Nora's Infinite Playlist"?
Yup, it is my favorite movie of all time.
- Really? - Mm-hmm.
I feel like how they came together was kinda beautiful.
I'd like to find something like that one day.
- Are you single? - I am. Yes.
What about you?
Yeah, I'm single.
- You wanna see the... - Yeah, let's see
what else you got.
Austin walked me through the rest of the paper
which included articles on entertainment,
current events, and even a section
for political cartoons that he drew himself.
That supposed to be Donald Trump?
- Yes. - And after including the name
change announcement in the bottom corner of page three,
next to an op-ed about "Zelda Symphony,"
the first issue was ready to print.
So you're gonna start working on the next issue?
- Yes. - Okay, awesome.
So after receiving thousands of copies back from the printer,
we circulated our inaugural issue of "The Diarrhea Times"
to the dozens of distribution partners
we had set up around L.A. County.
Meeting the minimum requirements to be recognized by the courts
as a legitimate publication.
Since California law dictates the name change be published
for four weeks in a row, over the next month,
Austin wrote three more issues
with the name change announcement in each
that were made publically available to L.A. residents.
So with all the legal requirements now met,
Robert Paul Holmes was given a date to appear
at the L.A. Superior Courthouse where his name change
to Michael Richards was approved.
Here I am. I am officially Michael Richards.
Which is... weird and...
again, I'm not relating to it that much, but...
time will tell, I guess.
With his new identification, he was now able to open
a bank account under the name Michael Richards
and receive a Visa/debit card that would hopefully stand up
to media scrutiny when our impersonator left the tip.
Now, all we had to do was fund the account
with the money we needed for the transaction.
Because the production has limited cash on hand,
I decided to borrow the $10,000 for the tip
from the bank account of a Holocaust Awareness Charity
that I started knowing that I'd get it back
from the restaurant once the tip was complete,
but when I called up Michael to schedule a time
to make the deposit, he casually brought up
that the last time he had handled this much cash
was when he stole it from someone.
So what was the charge?
_
Okay.
_
Michael told me that he was once involved
in an armed robbery and even though the crime
occurred almost a decade ago,
I became very concerned that once the money
was in his account, he'd be tempted to take it and flee.
After all, if this guy changed his name
to Michael Richards for $1,001,
I couldn't imagine what he would do for 10,000.
So, as you know, I'm gonna be, like,
- depositing $10,000 cash... - Yup.
- Into your account. - Uh-huh.
And, uh, I was just thinking, like, after the...
the call we had where you...
where you told me you had committed, uh...
- armed robbery... - Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Yeah.
- I was a little nervous... - Yeah. Yeah.
- Just about... - Makes sense.
- And I trust you. Yeah. - Cool.
Like, I trust you. I know it was a long time ago.
- Yeah. Yeah. - But I was thinking,
just if it makes me, like...
if it makes it a little bit safer, um...
would you be comfortable just being handcuffed
to me until tomorrow when we... I actually do the tip?
No. Wait, what?
So you want me to be handcuffed to you for 24 hours?
I mean, just 'cause the money will be in your account.
Right. Right. Right. Right.
Ah, I got ya. I got ya. I got ya. I got ya.
I'm having a hard time following.
So we're gonna deposit the money
and then I'm gonna handcuff myself to you...
- Yeah. - So I don't leave and go take
- that shit out. - Exactly. Yes.
- I'm following you now. - Yeah.
We'd be handcuffed before we go in.
Just like right now.
- I mean... - Sure. Yeah.
You know, I don't have anything going on today.
- it. - I mean, I definitely want
you to be comfortable with it.
Yeah, yeah. I think it's a weird request,
but now that you explained it a little more,
I understand where you're coming from and I get the logic.
- Yeah. - Totally get the logic.
- Cool. - And... yeah, again, sure.
Thanks. Yeah, it would just make me feel more comfortable.
- Cool, man. - After a bit of convincing,
Michael Richards agreed to be handcuffed to me
for a full 24 hours until the tipping plan
was completed the following day.
It might be best if we do it in a way where it...
we can make it look like we're just holding hands...
so it doesn't look suspicious, you know?
- 'Cause we're going into a bank. - Sure.
And once Michael was locked in beside me,
it was time to head out to make the deposit.
Entering a bank handcuffed to another man
is a very risky maneuver,
so I was hopeful people would just see us
as two close friends making a deposit together.
- Thank you, man. - Thanks.
_
Oh, hanging out. Enjoying the... the clouds.
_
- Mm-hmm. - _
Good. Yeah, you as well.
- Thank you. - See ya.
Thank you. And with that,
the account was fully funded.
But since I needed to stay handcuffed to Michael
until noon tomorrow when the tip was scheduled to take place,
I booked us adjoining hotel rooms for us to spend the night.
So once inside, I switched our traditional handcuffs
for some custom ones I had made
with an extra-long chain
so we'd be able to have our own space
so I could be sure he wouldn't run off
in the middle of the night. Have a good night.
You, too, my friend.
It was a little uncomfortable at first,
but after we each negotiated a fair amount of slack,
I was able to go to bed knowing that Michael
and my Holocaust money wasn't going anywhere.
After a night of subpar sleep,
it was time for the big day.
So I unlocked myself from the cuffs
and secretly snuck out without telling Michael I had left
I then met up with our Michael Richards impersonator
near Joe K's Restaurant to give him the debit card
he'd be using for the transaction.
So you feel good about all this? I'm good. I'm ready.
Let's make it happen. Giddy up!
Okay. Um...
Just remember, you're Michael Richards,
- not Kramer. - Yeah.
- Right? Got it? - Yeah. Yeah.
Okay, great. All right.
Before Joe K's open that day, my crew had set up cameras
throughout the diner so I could monitor
everything that happened from a surveillance van
down the block.
So with the lunch rush in full swing,
it was time for Michael Richards to arrive.
The plan was for customers to take notice
once the tip happened in the hopes word would spread
to the local press so I instructed our impersonator
to keep a low profile at first
and order whatever dish he felt
the real Michael Richards would have.
Okay, you all ready, sir?
- I believe I am. - Okie dokey.
What we having today?
Mmm... All right, I'm gonna go
- veggie melt. - Okay, one veggie melt.
The staff was fully prepped on what was about to happen
and we went through extensive rehearsals to make sure
everything ran like clockwork.
I'm gonna go... we're gonna go with
the vegetaria... the veggie melt.
Okay, one veggie melt.
But the only thing that really mattered was the tip.
So to ensure the signature on the receipt
would be authentic, I had a light box
built into the back of one of the restaurant's
check holders with a traceable overlay of Michael Richard's
actual signature that I found online.
So once he was done eating, and the restaurant ran the card,
it was time for the pivotal moment of my plan.
Thank you very much. Glad you enjoyed your lunch.
You have a wonderful, wonderful day
and a great weekend as well.
And my heart was racing as our impersonator
filled in the largest tip to ever be left
on a $14.00 sandwich.
And after having him exit quietly,
it was time for Steve's server to execute the surprise reaction
we had rehearsed so many times.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God. $10,000 tip?
Are you kidding me?
Steve, Linda. What is it?
- God. $10,000 tip. - That says $10,000.
- No way. What? - A $10,000 tip.
- That's crazy. - Who is this guy?
- $10,000? - It was Kramer.
I think it was Kramer from "Seinfeld."
Michael Richards? Michael Richards?
- Yeah. - The staff's performances
were flawless and our waiter made a huge point
of ensuring that everyone in the restaurant
knew about the generous tip.
I couldn't believe it, man. It was Mike...
It was Kramer from "Seinfeld."
- Yeah. - Oh, my God.
Michael Richards. The guy Kramer from "Seinfeld."
- Oh! - Just ate...
I was hopeful this would be enough
for word to spread to the local media.
_
And lucky for us, it was.
This next story is so wild it might belong
in a "Seinfeld" episode, and it apparently involves
a cast member from that hit TV show.
A waiter at Joe K's Deli in Vernon
received a $10,000 tip on Friday night
from Michael Richards who played Kramer on "Seinfeld."
Customers took some photos there.
Claimed the waiter was so happy
they thought he was actually gonna cry.
While the story is not verified, the customers insist
it was Cosmo Kramer himself
- who left that very generous tip. - I love it.
I had delivered on my promise to put Joe K's Deli
back in the spotlight and when I returned
the next day, Steve couldn't have been happier.
You came like an angel and, uh...
An angel? Really?
Angel, yes.
And with all the press coverage they got,
I was sure business would be booming for a while.
"Seinfeld" Michael Richards leave $10,000 tip.
- Yeah. - Perfect.
I can't make it out. What's that?
"The Diarrhea"?
I had decided to keep "The Diarrhea Times" open
for one final issue so that Austin's work
could be displayed proudly in a place of honor.
But it still wasn't easy to say good-bye.
Well, I had a lot of fun here.
Well, maybe we could, like...
get a beer sometime or something.
Or a tea.
Mm, that'd be cool.
- All right, see ya around. - All right.
- Pleasure working with you. - Yeah.
- All right. - Okay, bye, Austin.
Bye.
♪
Absolutely.
Smokin'.
Somebody stop me!
Hold on, sugar,
daddy's got a sweet tooth tonight!
Great.
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