If you haven't heard the news: "Nathan For You" is the funniest show on television. Hosted and conceived by comedic mastermind Nathan Fielder, the show is a superb mixture of parody and showcasing real human emotion. Fielder, posing as a small business marketing expert, offers his unique and sure to intrigue ideas to local businesses. Fielder's strange mix of charisma and refusal to acknowledge any social cues makes refusing the ideas impossible. These small business owners and their reactions to Nathan make the show the juggernaut it is. Without them, the show would be decidedly less hilarious. So in appreciation of the brilliance of the show, here are the top 11 characters of "Nathan For You."
9. Brendan
Episode: "Nail Salon/Fun"
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In some episodes, Fielder forgoes his usual "help a small business" plot, and instead sets out to prove something about himself or the world. In "Nail Salon/Fun" Nathan concocts a scheme to prove to the audience, and more importantly to himself, that he is fun. The scheme is classic Fielder; overly complicated, calculated and destined to end in side-splitting awkwardness. Except it doesn't. Brendan looks right past Fielder strange behavior, and continues to want to be friends. The human beauty of Brendan is as unexpected as it is kind, and makes him an exceptional character.
8. Mark Rappaport
Episode: "Toy Company/Movie"
Mark Rappaport is a toymaker who needs a plan to help sell his worst selling item: The Doinkit. Fielder comes up the brilliant idea of marketing the toy to children as the only thing that proves that you are not a baby, and hilarity obviously ensues. Rappaport, however, hates the idea. He blasts Nathan in a way that most business owners don't have the heart to do. The anger he shows (especially for a toymaker) makes Mark a "Nathan For You" legend.
7. Jack Garbarino
Episode: "The Movement"
Not the client Fielder is helping, but the face of the movement Fielder creates. Garbarino embraces his role as the creator of the fake workout craze Fielder invents without a second thought. What does this new identity include? Never going to a gym, being childhood friends with Steve Jobs and "jungle children."
6. Brian Wolfe
Episode: "Private Investigator/Taxi Company", "The Movement"
Wolfe is an amazing character mainly because of the absolute contempt he feels towards Nathan. Wolfe is a private investigator with no shortage of self-confidence, or verbal jabs at Nathan. In Wolfe's second appearance on the show, we learn of his past life as a "Penthouse" model, leading to a great exchange between he and Fielder.
5. William "Bill Gates Impersonator"
Episodes: "Souviner Shop/ELAIFF", "Dating Website/Party Planner"
While the audience knows him as William, a more accurate title would be "The World's Worst Bill Gates Impersonator." The only information William knows about the easy-to-Google Bill Gates is that he has something to do with Microsoft, and that computers used to big really big. I guess that's all you need. Why the world needs a Bill Gates impersonator escapes me, but fortunately for the viewer, he does.
4. Peter J. Marks
Episode: "Dumb Starbucks"
A vital part of possibly the greatest and most well known episode of the show, "Dumb Starbucks", Marks is a legend of "Nathan For You." A lawyer who does not read release agreements and physically struggles against Fielder over the papers, he provides one of the greatest segments in the show's history.
3. Simon Kellogg
Episodes: "Clothing Store/Restaurant", "Toy Company/Movie Theatre"
While Simon Kellogg may seem to be the stereotypical, average-Joe security guard, he has one debilitating weakness. This devastating flaw? He is supremely distracted by women with large breasts. Nathan feels that this otherwise boring man would be perfect for a reality show, which he fantastically names "Simon Sees." Kellogg is officially a part of three hilarious segments, definitively making him a "Nathan For You" icon.
2. James Bailey
Episodes: "Santa/Petting Zoo", "Toy Company/Movie Theatre"
James Bailey is a complex man. A professional Santa Claus who has an extensive gun collection and a man not afraid to tell children that if they don't have a Doinkit, they are a baby. Bailey, along with Kellogg, Wolfe, William and the Honorable Judge Anthony Filosa are among the elite club of characters who have made multiple apperances on the show. They are all legends, Bailey especially.
1. Corey Calderwood
Episode: "The Hero"
The greatest character in "Nathan For You" history comes in the astonishingly unremarkable Corey Calderwood. Calderwood agrees to let Nathan become him, and make him into a hero by walking a tight rope. Crazy, but not the craziest part. After the stunt, Calderwood straight up lies to everyone he knows, and pretends that he has done the things Nathan actually did. This sheer confidence and willingness to live an absolute lie (even though the whole thing is being taped for television) makes Corey Calderwood the greatest "Nathan For You" character of all time.
Make sure watch all of the "Nathan For You" episodes if you have never had the pleasure, and let me know who you think should have made the list.
