Nathan Fielder is not out to hurt anyone or to make a fool out of anyone. Rather, sometimes it’s his clients who dig themselves deeper into the business plan, something they’re initially skeptical of but eventually buy into, and what we end up with is a situation in which the participants are the driving source of the comedy; Nathan’s just there to nudge them along. Take, for example, the moment in “Daddy’s Watching/Party Planner” wherein one of the Nathan’s Weight Loss Program For You (I made that up) participants decides to use the human hot dog ass pose as his embarrassing photo. Fielder lets out a laugh, something we don’t usually see unless he’s purposely doing so; sometimes, even he can be surprised.
It was the same last season with the gas station guy, and in this episode, we also see some 9/11 conspiracy theories floating about on a first date (not a very endearing quality, if I may pass judgment). In fact, Nathan disguised in religious clothing, bowling off to the side as others go about their date, is a nice encapsulation of the way he handles these situations. He’s there, but not quite there, and he pulls back just enough to garner reactions from people, but also feels his way around their personal space to obtain different kinds of reactions.
It’s interesting to see, week after week, how people buy into his plans, even given how ludicrous some may seem. We see several different scenarios at play here: 1) Nathan brings the cameras into the mix with Kevin Carmony, Dating DNA founder and CEO, after Carmony expresses doubts about the system, and as we’ve witnessed several times this season, bringing up the media presence can get people to do things they normally would think twice about. 2) Nathan strikes at personal desires by promising weight loss, and the people who agree to take these pictures seem to be the most willing people we’ve seen on the show. 3) Nathan promises safety, and by doing so, people buy into scenarios in which they really aren’t that safe.
Going off that last point, I’m referring to Mark, who now knows Polly’s name, address, appearance, Social Security number, etc., and wants to tuck her in at night. Meanwhile, the man she’s going to go out with is most certainly not as strange as he is; in fact, we see that earlier with the well-meaning nice guy, Cody. When we get promised one thing by a seemingly knowledgeable source, we believe that source, even at the expense of the very thing we were promised.
As for the weight loss program, on the other hand, it actually works (of course, how could something utilized to help write a masterpiece such as “Looking for Susan” not work, am I right?). Everyone’s happy with the results, save for one woman who’s one pound shy of the five pound mark; as a result, she has to hand deliver a letter to a senior Jewish lawyer in her law firm, a letter that consists of a picture of her holding up a sign that states “I HATE JEWS” while she’s holding a banana over her crotch area. There’s no word yet on whether the banana is a 1-inch banana or an 8-inch banana or a 10-inch banana or a 12-inch banana, but you’d think that whatever the banana size, this would not go over well at all. Well, that’s the case at first–pretty nice guy, that Michael Cohen–but he’s eventually convinced, and we see once again that Nathan isn’t out to ruin anyone; he’ll help his client, albeit through unorthodox reasoning.
The segment of the episode I haven’t elaborated on is the party planning one, complete with the return of the Bill Gates impersonator in one of the most exciting parties I have ever seen. It’s hilarious watching Nathan constantly lean in toward Veronique, try to pick up the dog–twice–then ask for a hug after it all ends. You can tell she’s uncomfortable throughout, and while she’ll clap for Bill Gates, she simply can’t wait to get out of there. Interestingly enough, the spam scam in the first place was initiated to weed out unwanted guests, and it ends up being the party planner herself who gets out of there in a hurry.
Nathan can’t predict what will happen, but he’ll have a plan and he’ll stick to it, and he’ll get some of the best reactions out of people I’ve ever seen. Sometimes, he’ll even break character, and sometimes, he’ll be standing behind a tree, just waiting to pop out so he can lay his wonderful business wisdom upon the world.
GRADE: A-
OTHER THOUGHTS:
– “Mark made Polly feel safe.” All she has to do is say “Daddy, daddy, come over now. Save my life. You made a vow”, and Mark will come running over to tuck her in.
-My favorite Weight Loss segment moment is probably “I’m a little baby, and I love to pee and poo.”
-Truly “Looking for Susan” is a masterpiece.
Jack: I can’t find Susan anywhere.
Francois: Really?
Jack: I’m looking for Susan. Susan, Susan, are you in here?
Fillipe: It’s just me, Fillipe.
– “Do you speak French, or is it just the accent you do?”
Photo credit: Nathan For You, Comedy Central
Polar Bears Watch TV 
Leave a Reply