Nate Bargatze’s Awards-Show Purgatory

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As a huge fan of awards shows, I was really intrigued by Nate Bargatze hosting the Emmys this year. He opened with a self-deprecating bit, introducing himself as a comedian who hadn’t really ‘made it’ in Hollywood, but was doing well everywhere else. And it’s true, he’s a massive touring comedian – his 2024 tour was the highest-grossing comedy tour of the year! It felt like he was subtly reminding everyone he wasn’t exactly unknown. But that little joke really highlighted the problem with his whole performance. He seemed unsure whether to play the role of an outsider looking in, or an established celebrity, and constantly trying to be both just led to a really awkward and uncomfortable night. It was honestly one of the most strangely-paced and unsure awards show hosting gigs I’ve seen in a long time.

Bargatze’s opening sketch suggested he might actively engage with the show. He referenced a popular sketch he did while hosting *SNL* in 2023, reminding viewers who might not know his stand-up that they’d likely seen him before. Being on stage with *SNL* cast members Bowen Yang, James Austin Johnson, and Mikey Day also helped. This sketch could have launched a standard, if unremarkable, hosting performance – it was filled with safe jokes about TV shows, like the running gag about *The Bear* not being a comedy. However, playing the role of a respectful awards show host doesn’t quite fit Bargatze’s comedic style. He’s known for jokes about everyday things like McDonald’s and Walmart, and that relatable persona feels out of place at a glamorous, self-congratulatory event. Even if he tried, he wouldn’t seem genuinely convinced that the award winners deserve all the fuss.

Many comedians in Nate Bargatze’s situation would lean into being an outsider. They’d make jokes about the show itself, or offer political commentary to highlight how self-contained the event is. (It would at least give the audience a chance to laugh at the absurdity while still enjoying the spectacle.) But that’s not really Bargatze’s style. His humor usually comes from sharing funny, relatable stories about everyday life – like confusing conversations with his wife or dealing with customer service. He avoids swearing and generally stays away from politics, only joking about how clueless he is about it. And his jokes aren’t typically the quick, punchline-driven type.

Instead of a typical opening stand-up routine, Nate Bargatze immediately explained his role as host and a unique plan he’d created for the show. He told the audience that he would deduct $1,000 from a $100,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Club of America for every second an award winner went over their 45-second speech limit. He got a lot of laughs explaining this both at the show and on *Jimmy Kimmel Live!* leading up to it. It was a smart approach – respectful of the event, but also playfully critical. The idea subtly implied that some Hollywood stars prioritize talking about themselves over supporting a good cause, all while Bargatze presented it as simply keeping things on schedule.

The problem with the show was that Nate Bargatze leaned into a running joke for too long. While it could have worked as a brief, occasional bit, it quickly overshadowed everything else happening during the ceremony. A constantly updating donation counter, meant to add stakes, actually led to shorter, less impactful speeches and felt inappropriate during sincere moments. Bargatze repeatedly joked about the donation total, which became repetitive. Even his well-written presenter introductions – like his denim tuxedo bit referencing Sydney Sweeney’s jeans – didn’t land because the donation gag dominated so much of the airtime.

During the show, Nate Bargatze joked about how he could help make up for a shortfall in donations to the Boys & Girls Club. He quipped that he’d been nominated for an Emmy twice and promised to keep any acceptance speech brief. The show’s announcer quickly pointed out that he’d already lost in his Emmy category at the Creative Arts Emmys. Bargatze playfully responded by asking if these were the “non-creative Emmys.” This was one of the few times all night he really hit the right note as host, using his signature dry wit to poke fun at the often-meaningless distinctions of award shows. It was a balanced joke – not overly critical, but not overly respectful either – and it was one of the only moments where he seemed to connect with the audience as a fellow attendee rather than just a performer.

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2025-09-15 22:55