“A Conversation with Nathan Fielder” Pushes the Limits of Cringe

The Canadian business student-turned-sketch comedian gets weird at the Memorial Union

By Gus Kuhnen

Nathan Fielder is not funny. That is, his comedic persona wouldn’t like you to think he’s trying to be. Fielder, a native Canadian, is part of a growing trend in comedy: cringe humor. The genre has built itself on a love of outrageous social situations and the subversion of conventional societal norms. Shows like “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “The Office” have paved the way for more experimental works like Fielder’s wildly popular reality show “Nathan for You.” On November 9, Fielder brought this trademark humor to the Union for his mysteriously titled performance piece/interview, “A Conversation with Nathan Fielder.” 

The moment he took the stage, Fielder’s graceless mannerisms immediately began to manifest; his entrance took well over two minutes as he paused uncomfortably for the audience’s giddy ovation, not dissimilar to the confusion of what to do when “Happy Birthday” is being sung to you. The interview’s host, Professor Laurie Ouellette, attempted to conduct a standard back and forth dialogue; however, what followed was anything but. 

At one point, Fielder derailed a tame question about his favorite moments on the show to trawl Ouellette’s RateMyProfessor, reading reviews of high praise but also stopping on a few not-so-beaming reviews. Of course, this was what we hoped for—the audience burst into applause at every off-kilter comment and pregnant pause. The students Fielder invited onstage to pose a question had varied reactions to his personality, from most being disarmed by his overtly invasive questions (one inquiring about a student’s first kiss springs to mind), to one even attempting to take it in stride, throwing a particularly egregious question back at him. Regardless of how uncomfortable the students looked, the audience lapped it up with relish. When it was all over, you weren’t sure Fielder knew why his performance struck such a chord with the crowd, but you were sure you enjoyed it.