As a movie buff with a penchant for comedic nostalgia, I find myself captivated by Nate Bargatze‘s story. His tale of perseverance and the power of conviction in the hallowed halls of Saturday Night Live echoes Aaron Sorkin’s dramatic narrative of Studio 60 on Sunset Strip.
Just before his initial hosting of Saturday Night Live in October 2023, Nate Bargatze found himself reminiscing about Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Aaron Sorkin’s series depicting an SNL-like work environment that aired for one season on NBC from 2006 to 2007. Apart from watching SNL as a child, Studio 60 served as Bargatze’s primary connection with the television sketch institution. As he stood in Lorne Michaels’s office, selecting sketches for the dress rehearsal, and glanced at the window curtain revealing the studio beyond, the similarity between his current situation and that of Studio 60 struck him. “Wow,” he mused aloud, “this is just like Studio 60.” And, as usual, Michaels paid no mind to a random comment from a tense performer.
In a scenario reminiscent of an Aaron Sorkin production, Bargatze found himself in a challenging position: As the lead character, he faced a critical juncture where he had to voice his convictions. Specifically, he was advocating for “Washington’s Dream” to remain on Michaels’ list of potential sketches for the upcoming episode. The sketch had struggled during the table read on Wednesday and hadn’t garnered much support throughout the week. Moreover, it required a significant costume change, which made cutting it an appealing option to simplify the night’s schedule. However, Bargatze was hesitant, considering his affection for Studio 60. When Michaels sought his input on the sketch, he chose to defend it, believing that its timing would be more effective in front of a live audience. Consequently, Michaels shifted the sketch from the “maybe” column to the end of the dress rehearsal rundown. During dress rehearsal, the sketch was incredibly successful, leading Michaels to move it up to the second live sketch following the monologue. Since then, it has amassed over 17 million views on YouTube.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=JYqfVE-fykk
In this week’s episode of “Good One: A Podcast About Jokes”, Bargatze reflects that he didn’t fully grasp his influence at Saturday Night Live until later. This is why, when he returned as host in October 2024, he actively advocated for sketches that other writers and performers had been finding difficult to air. One of these was “Golf Tournament”, penned by Mikey Day and Streeter Seidell from the show “Washington’s Dream”. Bargatze also worked with them on the CBS Christmas special, “Nashville Christmas”. The other sketch he championed was Michael Longfellow’s about a man at the peak of a waterslide contemplating whether to slide down or be carried down the stairs. This was the only topic Bargatze talked about all week. During a conversation with Michaels in his Studio 60-like office between dress rehearsal and the live show, Michaels asked what was on his mind. “What about ‘Waterslide’?” Michaels, sounding like a parent tired of repeated requests, responded, “Don’t worry about it, ‘Waterslide’ is in.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=VJ62EfUKI3w
In “Washington’s Dream 2,” Bargatze was the one who needed persuading, not Michaels. He had a friend who advised him against making another sketch, despite the original being the highlight of his career and a frequent topic fans brought up to him. He was worried about tarnishing its legacy. However, unbeknownst to him, Day and Seidell had already started writing it during the summer while working on the Christmas special. When Bargatze returned to SNL, he read the script and understood that the appeal wasn’t about the jokes, but the George Washington character itself. The audience’s enthusiasm for the return of this character was so great that “Washington’s Dream 2” has amassed over 7 million views on video platforms. This positive reception has made Bargatze open to future installments, as he responded affirmatively when asked if there would be more, saying, “Yes, after the second one.
This week’s installment of “Good One” features Bargatze, Day, and Seidell discussing the intriguing details of “Washington’s Dream.” Don’t miss out on their insights!
https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=5TumjduG5Fk
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2024-12-27 01:53