The 77th Emmy Awards kicked off with a dose of humor, courtesy of host Nate Bargatze. The 46-year-old comedian welcomed everyone to the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 14, with a laugh-out-loud opening sketch. He wasn’t alone, bringing along Saturday Night Live stars Bowen Yang, Mikey Day, and James Austin Johnson for the fun.
A Vision for the Small Screen
Bargatze played a scientist in the sketch. His character shared big dreams for the future of television. He imagined shows that would teach, inform, and make us feel all sorts of emotions. He even pictured shows about people who get so deep into their jobs, they almost become someone else. And he joked that viewers might not quite follow along either, but hey, it would still be on TV! He wished for a time when there would be a TV channel for every single interest.
His character’s vision went even further. He dreamed of a future with so many shows, we’d need a whole new way to watch them: streaming. Bargatze humorously called streaming a "new way for companies to lose money." He joked that these streaming services would create their own shows and turn real-life killers into stars, for the most part. The scientist also wished for awards that celebrated all kinds of programs. He mentioned serious dramas like The Pitt, but then playfully called The Bear a "laugh-out-loud comedy!"
Now, anyone who’s watched The Bear knows it’s often debated if it’s a drama or a comedy. The Hulu hit, starring Jeremy Allen White, can be pretty intense. Bargatze’s character then shifted, saying The Bear offers "a heartbreaking look at the emotional impact of trauma." But he quickly added that despite that, it’s not a drama. He then stated that only series that reach the highest level of art truly win an Emmy. It was a clever jab at the show’s genre debate.
A Unique Spin on Acceptance Speeches
Later in the night, Bargatze used his opening monologue to push for shorter acceptance speeches. He announced a clever plan. He would donate $100,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of America. He told the nominees to remember how fun that sounded. The catch? If a winner kept their speech under 45 seconds, the full $100,000 would go to the charity. But for every second over 45, $1,000 would be taken away from the donation. The audience wasn’t thrilled and booed the rule.
Bargatze quickly shrugged off the boos. "I know, it’s tough. It’s brutal," he said. "But what are you going to do? This is a game I made up, and these are the rules. I can’t change it." He then added that if a speech finished under 45 seconds, another $1,000 would be added for each second saved. He joked, "Don’t go crazy because I’m paying for this. So don’t make some go over a little and others fall short. Do the right thing." Seth Rogen took the challenge seriously; his speech came in under the limit, adding an extra $6,000 to the Boys and Girls Club donation.
From Nervousness to the Host’s Mic
The Television Academy first announced Bargatze as the host for the 77th Emmy Awards back in April. At the time, Bargatze expressed his excitement. "It is a great honor to have been asked to host such an iconic awards show," he said in a statement. "I am very excited to work with CBS to create a night that families around the world can enjoy."
Cris Abrego, the President of the Television Academy, also shared his enthusiasm. He called Bargatze "one of the most outstanding comedians in the business." Abrego praised Bargatze’s "extraordinary and hilarious comedy style" that connects with people of all ages globally. He added that they were thrilled to use Bargatze’s unique ideas to entertain viewers watching the Emmys.
In June, Bargatze gave a peek into his hosting plans, admitting he felt "nervous." He chatted about it on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. He joked to Colbert, who hosted the Emmys in 2017, that he was "going to rely a lot on you. You’ve already done it." Bargatze then asked, "Did you see all the shows? I haven’t seen all the shows." Colbert playfully responded, "Oh, no, I don’t have time for TV."
Bargatze shared his approach, saying he would "just do what I do." He described himself as "very self-critical" and planned to "bring it inward," meaning focus on himself for jokes. He recognized that the awards are a big deal for nominees. "I want everyone to have a good time," he explained. "And I try to make it as lively and fun a moment as possible, and I’ll make fun of myself." When Colbert, 61, asked about adding "song and dance" to his comedy, Bargatze firmly replied, "This is it, friend. This energy you have at [Madison Square Garden] or here because it’s only this energy. So, if you don’t join in, it’s going to be a long road."