Anyone who’s even vaguely familiar with the work of Nathan Fielder was likely suspicious when HBO and Max announced that Fielder would be promoting the second season of The Rehearsal by live streaming on Instagram for “12 hours straight.”

For one thing, Fielder isn’t exactly known for oversharing on social media. Although he did once post a candid photo of himself hanging out with all of his friends:

Plus, the Nathan for You star has frequently tried to find ways to subvert the conventions of his promotional duties, such as how he once appeared on Conan O’Brien’s talk show with a “backup” celebrity guest, just in case the interview didn’t go well.

When people checked out Fielder’s livestream this morning, beginning at 9 a.m., it initially seemed as though he was actually present on a webcam, preparing to engage with his fans. “These are good questions,...