Life is a Dress Rehearsal in New HBO Comedy

A Vancouver actor stars in a new HBO show that allows ordinary people to prepare for life’s biggest moments by “rehearsing” them

Nathan Fielder proved his comedy cred with Nathan for You, his four-season Comedy Central docuseries in which he lent his assistance to struggling small businesses by creating bonkers marketing campaigns. 

Fielder is back with a new show for HBO that has an even more audacious concept. In The Rehearsal, the comic takes extraordinary measures to remove as many unknowns from everyday life as possible. “With a construction crew, a legion of actors, and seemingly unlimited resources, Fielder allows ordinary people to prepare for life’s biggest moments by ‘rehearsing’ them in carefully crafted simulations of his own design,” explains HBO’s announcement for the six-episode series. “When a single misstep could shatter your entire world, why leave life to chance?” 

HBO CanadaWhen you think about it, The Rehearsal has universal appeal; who hasn’t rehearsed an important phone call or wished at least once for the opportunity for a do-over on one of those big life moments?  

Aside from a brief teaser that was recently released, HBO has been keeping details on the show under wraps. What is known is that The Rehearsal was ordered straight to series, without shooting a pilot, and is part of an overall deal Fielder cut with HBO that also includes How to With John Wilson, on which he serves as exec producer.  

While The Rehearsal marks Fielder’s first on-camera role since Nathan for You ended its run in 2017, it won’t be his only one. He’ll soon be seen in The Curse, a new Showtime comedy series from the Safdie brothers (of Uncut Gems fame) that is currently in production. There, Fielder will star alongside Emma Stone as a newly married couple who believe they’ve been cursed as they attempt to conceive a child while co-starring on a troubled HGTV home-renovation show. 

The Rehearsal debuts Friday, July 15th at 10 p.m. & 12:45 a.m. on HBO Canada