In a surprising creative turn, comedian Nathan Fielder transformed the second season of his acclaimed HBO series The Rehearsal into an exploration of the aviation industry. During a Sunday conversation with Jack Black, Fielder shared the behind-the-scenes journey of becoming a certified pilot over two and a half years — a commitment rooted in his interest in aviation safety and co-pilot communication.
Fielder explained that his motivation stemmed from a two-decade fascination with commercial airline disasters. He hypothesized that miscommunication between co-pilots and pilots was a leading cause of aviation accidents, and to understand the industry from the inside, he trained to become a pilot himself.
In the season finale, Fielder shocks viewers by piloting a Boeing 737 with 150 actors as passengers. “You tricked me,” Black exclaimed, referencing how he expected a political finale but was stunned by the unexpected twist. Fielder responded that he would still be willing to testify before Congress about his findings, referencing recent commentary by the FAA, which he criticized as uninformed.
Fielder shared that his journey began with a simple idea: immerse himself in aviation to gain credibility with pilots and demonstrate his dedication. The plan to fly a commercial airliner wasn’t confirmed until days before filming the finale. Despite the final reveal being saved for the last episode, he said he was transparent with people he filmed with, noting the decision to withhold it until the end was purely an editorial choice.
Asked by Black how often he now flies, Fielder admitted that gaps between flights can make him nervous, though he continues to fly when possible. He recently applied for a China crew visa, indicating a scheduled international flight.
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A standout moment from the season features an episode about Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, famed for his emergency landing on the Hudson River in 2009. Fielder humorously claimed he uncovered the “truth” behind the incident — including that Sully may have been listening to Evanescence during the landing. He noted that although he reached out to Sullenberger, he received no response but remains hopeful that their shared experience as pilots might spark future contact.
Jack Black concluded the discussion with high praise, calling Fielder’s work “magical,” for blending absurd comedy with unexpectedly effective problem-solving.
