Nate Bargatze Might Be Standup’s Biggest Star, But He Blew It at the 2025 Emmys

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The 2025 Emmy Awards took a while to get to Nate Bargatze’s opening monologue. Before he appeared, there was a sketch referencing his popular appearances on Saturday Night Live, a lively welcome from Stephen Colbert (who playfully joked about CBS cancelling his own show), and Seth Rogen accepting an award. When Bargatze finally started, he immediately joked, “A lot of people are wondering why *I’m* hosting.” Many viewers might have felt the same way after his surprisingly short and somewhat lackluster performance, which relied on a simple gimmick that made the show feel more like a fundraising event than an awards ceremony.

With awards shows seeking fresh hosts-moving away from the traditional late-night stars-Nate Bargatze seemed like a natural fit. The 46-year-old comedian had been steadily building a fanbase for 20 years, but his 2023 appearance hosting *Saturday Night Live* really launched him into the spotlight. (His Emmys opening act even mirrored a quirky bit from that *SNL* episode.) A recent article in *The Hollywood Reporter* declared him the world’s top-selling touring comedian, surpassing even Jerry Seinfeld. Beyond his popularity, Bargatze is known for clean, family-friendly comedy that doesn’t need to be adjusted for television. He’s a relatable, down-to-earth dad who focuses on personal stories and avoids controversial topics, often portraying himself as good-naturedly clueless. This makes him uniquely able to appeal to a wide range of viewers without turning anyone off. While he seems perfectly designed for success, his comedic persona actually feels genuine and authentic.

Though he’s a huge name in comedy, the Emmys were a big test for Nate Bargatze as he tries to expand his career beyond that label. As he joked in his performance, he hasn’t had a lot of Hollywood success, but he’s doing very well everywhere else. His book, *Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind*, published in May, was a New York Times bestseller all summer. Bargatze also has ambitious plans for his production company, Nateland, which focuses on family-friendly comedy, including a potential amusement park. He’s aiming for more Hollywood recognition next year with his first movie, *The Breadwinner*, a comedy he stars in, co-wrote, and produced.

Sunday’s Golden Globes broadcast didn’t quite reach the level of criticism Jo Koy received last year, but it likely won’t improve the situation. While it was a good idea to reduce the focus on the traditional opening monologue, given host Shane Bargatze’s reluctance to do harsh jokes, the show didn’t offer much to take its place. Like previous host Washington, Bargatze played a character who made funny and surprisingly accurate predictions – this time about the future of television. However, much of the material felt old and predictable, from jokes about the changes at TLC (now home to shows like *Dr. Pimple Popper*) to the observation that people watch high-quality shows on their phones while using the restroom.

Bargatze started his hosting gig with some self-deprecating humor, even joking about Tina Fey being a better choice. He then spent most of his opening monologue explaining a bit he’d already discussed beforehand: he’d pledged $100,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to encourage winners to keep their acceptance speeches brief. He’d deduct a thousand dollars for every second over 45 seconds, and *add* a thousand for every second under. The idea was funny because it forced celebrities, who often love attention, to choose between enjoying the spotlight and appearing generous by keeping things short and donating to charity.

Despite some genuinely heartwarming moments and memorable speeches (like Jeff Hiller’s win!), the show was dragged down by a poorly executed running total gimmick. This total appeared on screen, and even over the winners as they spoke, and much of the host’s commentary focused on the fluctuating amount. The whole thing felt uncomfortably like a boring telethon. Predictably, the number steadily decreased, eventually hitting a low of -$26,000. The attempt to create suspense around the idea of a nonprofit owing Nate Bargatze a large sum of money simply didn’t work.

The show ended exactly as everyone expected. Comedian Nate Bargatze admitted the final musical number was a flop, so he and CBS decided to donate a total of $350,000 to charity. While the broadcast still ran a little long, it was shorter than usual, likely because the winners kept their speeches brief and Bargatze kept his hosting simple. Personally, I’d rather have a funny four-hour Emmys than a boring three-hour charity drive, but at least the Boys & Girls Clubs benefited from the event.

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2025-09-15 08:06