The Rehearsal Recap: Rejection

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An intriguing aspect of the show The Rehearsal this season is its humorous premise: using substantial HBO resources to examine and enhance the bond between airline co-pilots and captains. However, as absurdly detailed as Nathan Fielder’s recreation of a Houston airport terminal with numerous mimicked crew members and Panda Express workers might be, the captain/co-pilot dynamic is proving to be an extremely flexible metaphor. This is because there are power dynamics present in most relationships, and people often find themselves in situations where they feel like the co-pilot, trying to exert control when they have little influence or comfort. As a result, a show like The Rehearsal can explore a wide range of topics, and this exceptional episode delves into two dramatically different directions that, upon closer inspection, are surprisingly similar.

Star Potential” offers a delightful experience for enthusiasts of Fielder’s Comedy Central series, Nathan For You. It’s not just about the resurrection of his Holocaust-awareness-themed clothing brand Summit Ice (we’ll delve into that later), but also Fielder’s proficiency in the intricacies of reality TV. For instance, “The Hunk,” a deadpan imitation of shows like The Bachelor, where Fielder attempts to overcome his awkwardness with women by positioning himself as the center of a fabricated reality competition show. Or “The Claw of Shame,” an intricate prank involving him escaping handcuffs before a robotic claw exposes him in front of a crowd of children. (If he fails, law enforcement is on standby to apprehend him for indecent exposure.) Fielder masterfully demonstrates the extent to which reality shows can become grotesquely unrealistic, and he sheds light on the processes behind their creation. Essentially, Fielder is like the Penn and Teller of television – he performs magic while revealing the tricks behind the scenes.

The entirety of this information derives from personal encounters. At age 23, Fielder worked as a junior producer for Canadian Idol, where his primary role was to narrow the vast array of contestants down to just a few competing for the prize. This entailed spending long hours in small, unseen rooms across multiple Canadian cities, effectively crushing aspirations. So, how does this relate to airline co-pilots? According to Fielder, when you know that your words will shatter the person on the other side, it makes you hesitant to speak at all. He suggests that perhaps some co-pilots struggle with refusing their captain because they can’t envision a positive outcome for the conversation. Communicating without negative consequences is a delicate task under any circumstances, and often it feels easier to remain silent.

In my role, I came up with an amusing singing competition titled “Wings of Voice,” which isn’t just a regular singing show on TV. As Fielder made clear, it’s actually part of another unrelated TV program that has nothing to do with vocal performances. The main focus is still on the co-pilots, each stationed in their own small rooms, much like I was on Canadian Idol. They listen to aspiring singers perform a cappella versions of public domain songs such as “Down in New Orleans” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Their task mirrors mine: they select the golden tickets for those rare individuals with exceptional talent, while letting down the rest.

The main objective of this investigation is to explore whether a person who has been turned down can exit gracefully with a positive outlook, thereby shifting attention towards the co-pilots rather than the “winners” who move on to further anonymity. Following the implementation of a 1-10 rating system for judging judges, Fielder selects the co-pilot with the highest average score, a Southwest employee scoring above nine. What is it about her criticisms that we find acceptable? Is it her use of optimistic words like “fantastic” or something more profound and immeasurable, an “aura” she possesses that sets her apart from individuals such as Nathan Fielder, known for his awkwardness and lack of humor?

We’re interested in finding out if someone who didn’t get chosen can leave with a smile, making us focus on the co-pilots instead of the winners who go on to further obscurity. After using a rating system where contestants rate their judges from 1-10, Fielder chooses the co-pilot with the highest average score (above 9). What makes her criticism easy to take? Is it because she uses positive words like “fantastic” or is it something deeper and harder to measure, like a special aura she has that people like Nathan Fielder, who are known for being awkward and humorless, don’t have?

In this episode, instead of addressing just the pressing issues at hand, Fielder decided to push boundaries by inviting a Southwest co-pilot into a mock cockpit, where he was paired with a captain known for inappropriate behavior towards women, causing him to be banned from five dating apps. This scenario gives a more ominous twist to the notion of making someone powerful feel comfortable in a professional setting. The co-pilot, unlike singers on “Wings of Voice,” can’t simply walk away if things get uncomfortable. She must endure a barrage of personal questions and find a polite way to put a stop to them, which is no easy task. Using flattering words like “fantastic” won’t solve the problem.

The sequence of events eventually leads Fielder back to a dispute with Paramount+ regarding the Summit Ice episode of Nathan For You, which remains noticeably missing from their service. Gazing intently at a doppelganger, Fielder retraces the steps he took to uncover the reason for the episode’s disappearance and attempts to have it reinstated on the platform. He recalls feeling angry, but his emails to Paramount+ contacts are polite, with gratitude expressed and friendly exclamation marks. Since Showtime, a network connected to Paramount+, had yet to decide about renewing The Curse for another season, there was incentive to maintain good relations. He was told that the German office of Paramount+ took down the episode due to concerns related to antisemitism, and other regions followed suit. (A visual depiction showing Paramount+’s reach expanding from Germany through Europe and beyond is striking: “In no time, the ideology of Paramount+ Germany had spread worldwide, eradicating all Jewish content that made them uncomfortable.”)

In my opinion,

The timing for Fielder to escalate his dispute with Paramount+ couldn’t be more strategic, especially considering the ongoing debates about antisemitism involving the current government and prestigious universities. However, the nerve it takes to liken Paramount+’s German office to a Nazi war room is truly remarkable, akin to grading Japanese Wagyu beef at A5 levels. Add to that the casting of an actor who delivers lines reminiscent of a sinister character from a World War II film (“Hospitality is what separates us from animals, isn’t it?”), and you have quite the explosive situation!

Fielder seizes his chance on a prominent HBO platform to criticize Paramount+’s decision, stating that they should allow Jewish expression because their approach might unintentionally misrepresent their values (“You need to let us Jews express ourselves because people could easily misunderstand what you stand for”). Yet, in a clever twist, Fielder admits he’s pretending to seek understanding regarding the episode’s removal.

Ultimately, it boils down to Fielder critiquing his own self-importance and lack of charm. He acknowledges that some people naturally excel as performers because they can easily persuade others that they are more than just a number. However, for most of us, including himself, it’s an ongoing battle, no matter how genuine we may feel on the inside. His attempt to improve, to find the perfect words to comfort a 15-year-old who didn’t advance in “Wings of Voice,” deserves a rating of six out of ten. If he prefers to deceive himself, he might even receive a nine.

Scene Work

• “I had really done it. I had brought Canadian Idol back to life.”

It’s terrific to witness Nate’s Lizard Lounge making its comeback on the stage of “The Rehearsal.” The fact that Nathan Fielder doesn’t need to visit a bar, but instead has a bar brought to him, is quite impressive.

• “What’s your name?” “My name’s Danny.” “Danny? That’s beautiful.”

At the gym, I found myself reliving a pivotal moment from my past as an actor, retelling the instance when I uncovered the reason behind the sudden cancellation of the Summit Ice episode. “The revelation was earth-shattering, sparking a whirlwind of emotions that churned within me.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I found it captivating when Fielder, in a poignant moment, absorbed the constructive criticism from his German executive at Paramount+ regarding his eccentric office decor by gazing melancholically out of the window, as if watching a parade below. However, instead of an ordinary street scene, there were Nazis marching, their uniforms adorned with the Paramount+ insignia.

Naturally gifted individuals excel as performers; they can persuasively make others see beyond mere numbers with ease. However, for many of us, regardless of our genuine intentions, it’s often an uphill battle.

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2025-04-28 07:54