Comedian Helps To Transform Glendale Homeless Shelter Into Five-Star Restaurant

GLENDALE (CBSLA.com) — Comedian Greg Benson, the man behind the popular "Cellphone Crashing" videos on YouTube, helped to transform a Glendale homeless shelter into a five-star restaurant for April Fools' Day.

Benson, along with a production team, Chef Jesse Brune, professional servers and a string quartet, surprised the unsuspecting residents of Ascencia with a three-course meal, which included filet mignon and mashed potatoes.

"We were surprised. It was so nice and fancy. It was like being at a wedding reception," resident Amy Jones said. "Ninety percent of the people who are here in the shelter have jobs that we go to everyday and it's nice to be rewarded at the end of the day."

Jones and her daughter, Alexia Garifallakis, were seated by Benson, who acted as maître d'. They said they were blown away by the décor, the fountain and the serenade.

"[I was telling myself to] enjoy the moment because it probably was not gonna happen again," Garifallakis said.

Ascencia Executive Director Natalie Komuro told KCAL9's Rachel Kim that the gesture will not be forgotten.

"The sad fact is that homeless people are not treated nicely very often. And they don't get the respect they deserve. To be treated in this manner with such great respect was a beautiful thing to watch," she said.