Cupertino Creator Says IHOP and TGI Fridays Appearances Were Not Paid Placements
The series premiere of CBS's Cupertino featured IHOP and TGI Fridays as settings for its struggling lawyers. Co-creator Robert King said neither restaurant paid for product placement. He explained that he worked at TGI Fridays in college and wrote at IHOP while trying to make it as a writer, and both chains gave permission for their names to be used.
In CBS’s Cupertino premiere, Michael Price and Olivia Siffre, played by Mike Colter and Rachel Keller, begin a firm representing underdogs. They use an IHOP booth as a workspace, while Ella Stiller’s Christy Palladino returns to waiting tables at TGI Fridays after being fired. Later, her coworkers appear as extras in a scheme against opposing counsel.
Co-creator Robert King said neither chain paid for placement. He chose TGI Fridays because he worked there in college and thought its striped uniforms would be amusing; he wrote at IHOP while struggling. Both restaurants permitted use of their names and trademarks. A TGI Fridays representative welcomed the exposure, while IHOP had not yet responded.
The episode’s restaurant focus may shape viewer perceptions of IHOP and TGI Fridays, potentially giving both chains organic cultural visibility without paid placement. Diners and fans could see the brands as relatable settings tied to creative struggle and workplace comedy. For CBS and producers, the approach may reinforce that storytelling can use real businesses when permission is granted, while viewers may become more aware of how product placement works.