In a meeting of the comedy minds, Nathan Fielder sat down with Jack Black on Sunday afternoon for a conversation about The Rehearsal, his buzzy HBO series that dove deep into the aviation industry.
In the season two finale, Fielder actually flies a 737, with 150 actors as passengers.
Black declared when he was watching the show, “You tricked me because I thought we were heading towards a Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
And I was like, well, that’ll really help me go through the mindset but also sort of show that I’m trying to take this seriously.
So hopefully he’ll reach out now.” Black concluded the screening at Vidiots by telling Fielder, “Your contribution to television and cinema history is magical.
Nathan Fielder and Jack Black met on Sunday afternoon to discuss his popular HBO series, The Rehearsal, which delved deeply into the aviation industry.
In order to bolster his theory that co-pilot-to-pilot communication is the primary cause of aircraft crashes, Fielder spent two and a half years training to become a real pilot in the second season of the show. He explained that he had been interested in commercial aviation disasters for nearly 20 years and had observed that pilot communication was a common thread when Black asked how he got the position as moderator for the FYC event, suggesting instead Christopher Nolan.
A 737 carrying 150 actors is actually flown by Fielder in the season two finale. Black said, “You fooled me because I thought we were going to a Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” while he was watching the show. In the final episode, you actually learned how to fly a 737, which is an incredible twist I did not anticipate. You were going to be sitting at a panel and discussing flight safety with every member of Congress when you pulled a switcheroo on us. “”.
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Fielder retorted, “If I could have been in front of the Congress panel, I would have done that and I will still do that, if they will have me.” He cited the FAA’s statement this week regarding the show, which he had previously referred to as “dumb.”. He mentioned it once more during the event, stating, “They really don’t seem to know what they’re talking about.”. “.”.
After coming up with the basic concept for the show, Fielder explained, he decided that the best way to fully comprehend the aviation industry was to become a pilot himself. This would “also help me when I’m talking to these pilots, to be like, ‘Hey, I’m a pilot too.'”. ‘”.
Even though it’s a small plane, I wanted to reach the realization that being a commercial pilot requires a lot of work. And I thought, “Well, that’ll really help me get through the mindset and also kind of show that I’m trying to take this seriously.”. The original objective was that, he added. When it came to flying the large plane, we weren’t certain we could do that until literally days before it took place. We were still working things out. “.”.
Although the audience was not aware that he was actually a pilot until the last episode, Fielder claimed that he was candid with those he spoke with on camera about it. “After that, we thought in the edit that it would be more intriguing if this were revealed in the final episode rather than being kind of dispersed throughout the season. Thus, it was partially an edit decision. “.”.
After earning his pilot’s license, Fielder was asked by Black how frequently he flies. The comedian replied, “I do it when I have time.”. To obtain a China crew visa for a flight I’m scheduled to take soon, I simply needed to send my passport to the Chinese Consulate. “”.
He acknowledged, to the audience’s laughter, “But also, when you don’t fly all the time, it gets a little scary.”. I’m going to do it, I think, but it’s like when there are big gaps between each flight, you start to think, ‘Maybe I need more practice?’ But I’m sure it’s okay, I mean, I passed the test, so I must know what I’m doing. “”.
Fielder also disclosed, “I haven’t spoken to him,” in reference to the entire episode devoted to the life of Sully Sullenberger, the man who made history in 2009 by successfully landing a plane on the Hudson River. He didn’t respond when I tried to contact him at one point because I wanted to speak with him, but I suppose it was through someone who was his representative. He must have seen it and was astonished that someone had discovered what had truly transpired in that aircraft, but I don’t believe we heard anything back. In the show, he deadpanned his “discovery” that Sullenberger was listening to an Evanescence song on his iPod during the landing. “I assume he just can’t actually acknowledge it, because it would be illegal, right?” he asked.
“We’re highlighting him because he did the right thing in terms of the communication — even though he did wait till they were pretty close to the water,” Fielder hinted. Since we’re sort of peers now, I suppose he could have asked [his co-pilot] for his opinion a little sooner. As a small group, very few of us have succeeded in performing a miracle in the aircraft. Hopefully, he will get in touch now. “.”.
Black told Fielder, “Your contribution to television and cinema history is magical,” as he wrapped up the Vidiots screening. I find myself laughing uncontrollably as I watch it, thinking, “Oh, that’s hilarious, that’s so stupid.”. And then there’s this magical thing that works and solves real problems. “How the fuck does he do that? What’s going on here?” is what comes to mind.
