Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
John Oliver Fights Tyranny Of Pumpkin Spiced Everything
By
Nell Casey
Published Oct 13, 2014
Modified Oct 13, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Nell Casey
Published Oct 13, 2014
Modified Oct 13, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Pumpkin spice backlash has reached an all time high this season and now Last Week Tonight host John Oliver has called for an end to the tyranny of the ubiquitous fall flavor. He focuses most of his ire on Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte, which the brand debuted early this year to capture maximum PSL zeitgeist. "Yes, it's that special time of year, where we voluntarily imbibe pumpkin spice lattes: the coffee that tastes like a candle."
"Just about anything that reminds us of autumn is a better flavor than pumpkin spice," Oliver bemoans, while calling for a new go-to spiced latte flavor, like a "keen awareness of my own mortality spiced latte because that's what foliage is." Personally, we'd like to see It's Still Too Soon For That Knit Cap Spice Latte make a go of it.
Tagged
john oliver
last week tonight
pumkin spice latte
Nell Casey
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Oct 10, 2026
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian
By
Robert Sietsema
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .