By Nathan Duke
Malkoff, 31, who works as the audio coordinator for Comedy Central's “The Colbert Report,” said he moved into the Paramus, N.J. IKEA Monday morning and plans to post daily video clips on his Web site during his week's stay. The comedian said he turned to the Swedish-based home furnishing chain store after he was forced to leave his apartment near Ditmars Boulevard in Astoria so that it could be fumigated for bugs. He said it would have been too expensive to stay in a motel and that most of his friends did not have room for him in their small apartments. Malkoff said he has been making due with his setup at IKEA, which includes a bedroom set, an office and a giant living room as well as an inoperable washing machine, dryer and toilet used solely for display.”I've been trying to live a normal life, which is difficult when you have customers in your living room,” he said. “But, except for the lack of sunlight and fluorescent lighting, it seems like a pretty good place to live.”Malkoff said his wife had chosen other lodgings during the fumigation. IKEA could not be reached for comment.The comedian said he would post his daily experiences at the home furnishing store on his Web site at marklivesinikea.com every day through Jan. 12, when he will head back home. Malkoff said he did not expect the fumigation to take very long to complete.”It'll probably be over in a day, but I want to stay here,” he said. “I have an apartment here that is so much nicer than my Queens apartment.”Malkoff said several customers have visited him in his apartment setup for a housewarming and that he has a personal trainer who will help him work out during his stay. He said all of his meals will come from IKEA's cafe. He said he thought the stay was appropriate because 80 percent of the furniture in his Astoria apartment came from the home furnishing store. Malkoff previously documented his 171 Starbucks challenge, during which he bought one item from each site of the coffee chain store in Manhattan during the course of one day, on the Web.Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
