Top 10 Unhinged Nathan Fielder Moments

“The Rehearsal” (2022-)

You don’t get a practice round for raising kids, at least, none as elaborate as this. For much of the first season of “The Rehearsal,” Fielder focused on simulating the experience of bringing up a child, from infant to adolescent. This meant using multiple child actors of different ages to play the part of “Adam,” as well as Fielder simulating a co-parenting relationship. If that sounds like it might be a little trippy, you have no idea. Over time, this rehearsal starts to feel less like practice and more like reality. And Fielder shows sides of himself we had never seen before. There’s more to be said about “The Rehearsal.” But we can summarize our thoughts in one word: wow.

“Nathan for You” (2013-17)

Nathan Fielder’s public persona can come across as a bit awkward and uptight, to say the least. But he’s not above cutting loose. Of course, this is Nathan Fielder we’re talking about. So, he always has to make things complicated. To prove that he’s actually enjoyable to be around, Fielder makes a new friend, Brendan, and tests his dopamine levels to see if he enjoyed Fielder’s company. This involves testing his subject’s urine and blood. The experiment proves successful, but Fielder has to come clean. Things are a little tense at first, but Brendan lets it go and the two go off to have even more fun. Hopefully, they were able to keep this friendship going, with minimal testing.

“Nathan for You” (2013-17)

Nathan Fielder’s eccentric schemes to help small businesses can often go awry, especially where the law is concerned. To help a souvenir shop sell more items, Fielder tells customers they’re extras in a movie. The trouble is, he has no intention to make the movie. But not doing so would constitute fraud, so he has to figure something out. What he comes up with is truly remarkable. But it still manages to win big at a local film festival. We don’t know if “The Web” was the kind of movie Fielder’s extras thought they were in. However, it’s one we’ll never forget.

“Nathan for You” (2013-17)

How far would you go for a discount? That’s the question at the heart of this outrageous Fielder scheme. To help a small electronics retailer, Fielder has them list TVs at $1. Then, Fielder will show the store’s ad to Best Buy, taking advantage of their “price match” policy. That way, Fielder can purchase the electronics giant’s entire stock. Of course, this doesn’t exactly pan out. But that’s not even the craziest part. To keep people from actually buying the $1 TVs, Fielder comes up with a plan that makes our jaws drop and sides hurt. Even when we think we know what to expect from Fielder, he’s always surprising us.

“Nathan for You” (2013-17)

Another incredible discount offer came when Fielder convinced a gas station to sell fuel at a greatly reduced price. The catch? They only got the lowered rate after filling out a rebate and dropping it off in a box on top of a mountain. While most pass and just pay full price, Fielder manages to find a group of people willing to go the extra mile for the sake of saving some money. While Fielder keeps things convoluted to ensure the rebates go unhonored, this scheme still ends up being surprisingly heartwarming. After all, friendship is priceless. As is this unforgettable moment between Fielder and the gas station proprietor.

“Nathan for You” (2013-17)

This scheme was making headlines before we knew it was a Nathan Fielder stunt. Fielder takes advantage of parody law to start a coffee shop called “Dumb Starbucks.” This spoof of the coffee giant becomes international news. However, Dumb Starbucks is soon forced to close down, and Fielder realizes some harsh truths about himself. While most might remember Dumb Starbucks as just an amusing news story, fans of Nathan Fielder know it as an exceptional idea from a man with plenty of ideas. We never got to visit Dumb Starbucks ourselves. But watching this episode is a grande experience.

“The Rehearsal” (2022-)

Remember what we said about “The Rehearsal” being “a little trippy”? Well, it doesn’t get much more surreal than this. Fielder opens an acting school to find performers to take part in his show, using an immersive acting technique he created. He even participates himself, seeing the world through new eyes. But while Fielder and his actors might just be “rehearsing,” many of the moments they’re enacting are so emotionally heavy, they feel genuine. We started “The Rehearsal” expecting to crack up at Fielder’s antics, and we ended up contemplating the very nature of reality. You know, typical comedy stuff…

“Nathan for You” (2013-17)

Nathan Fielder has encountered plenty of interesting characters on his shows. One of the most fascinating is Bill Heath, who viewers mostly knew as a semi-skilled Bill Gates impersonator. For the series finale, Fielder and Heath travel to Heath’s home state of Arkansas to try and find a lost love. To pull this off, Fielder comes up with outlandish ideas like posing as movie producers and staging a high school reunion. While Frances is eventually found, it's a rather bittersweet reunion. But the fact Fielder was able to commit to such a daunting task astounds us. If there’s one thing he doesn’t do, it’s give up easily.

“Nathan for You” (2013-17)

“The Fielder Method” wasn’t the first time Fielder inhabited someone else’s skin, and it wasn’t the craziest, either. In the third season finale of “Nathan for You,” Fielder finds a way to turn an average guy into a hero by posing as him and walking across a tightrope between two buildings. This involves the use of prosthetics to create a convincing doppelgänger. Not only does Fielder have to figure out how to be another person, but he also has to perform a daunting physical task as well. We don’t know what kind of courage Nathan Fielder has exactly. But it’s a special kind.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Crafting the Perfect Confession Takes Skill

An Unbelievable Way for Traveling Parents to Be Intimate

We’re Shocked Tinder Hasn’t Tried Out This Dating Site Idea

Fielder Comes Up With an Ingenious Solution So More People Can Ride Horses

How Far Would You Go So You Could Have a Story to Tell Jimmy Kimmel?

“Nathan for You” (2013-17)

We’re now well aware that Nathan Fielder is a natural risk-taker. But it was this stunt that really made us notice. To demonstrate his skills as an escape artist, Fielder puts his reputation on the line. He even makes sure that he’s 100 percent legally accountable for whatever goes down. Watching Fielder try to escape his handcuffs is nerve-wracking. And it seems he might be put in another pair of cuffs soon enough. However, he makes it and keeps his record clean. Nathan Fielder has astounded us multiple times. But the danger and daringness associated with this particular scheme make it our number one.