"During his not-quite-opening-monologue at this year's Emmys, host Nate Bargatze introduced himself to the audience as a stand-up comedian who has "not had a ton of success in Hollywood," but for whom it's "going good everywhere else." While it's true that much of Bargatze's accomplishments have been made outside traditional Hollywood television or movie opportunities, he's also a megastar who helmed the highest-grossing comedy tour of 2024, and he wanted to remind the audience that he isn't exactly a nobody, either."
"The line was a microcosm of the central issue that plagued Bargatze's performance. At no point in the ceremony was he able to figure out whether to position himself as a celebrity outsider or insider, and by trying to keep one foot in each camp, he turned in one of the most awkward awards-show hosting performances in recent memory. In his opening sketch, at least, it seemed as though Bargatze was going to lean in."
"His riff on the viral "Washington's Dream" sketch, which he starred in when he hosted SNL in 2023, was a reminder to audiences unfamiliar with his stand-up that, yes, they have likely seen him somewhere in the past. (Sharing the stage with SNL cast members Bowen Yang, James Austin Johnson, and Mikey Day, stars of another mainstream show-business institution not unlike the Emmys, didn't hurt either). There's a world in which this sketch might have set the stage for a professional if unmemorable hosting performance."
Nate Bargatze introduced himself at the Emmys as a stand-up with limited Hollywood success but broad popularity elsewhere, including headlining the highest-grossing comedy tour of 2024. His opening joke underscored that tension between mainstream recognition and outsider status. Bargatze alternated between positioning himself as a celebrity outsider and a reverent awards-show host, producing an uneven, awkward performance. The SNL-themed sketch and appearances by Bowen Yang, James Austin Johnson, and Mikey Day reminded viewers of familiar mainstream credits. The sketch had potential to establish a steady hosting rhythm, but Bargatze's affable everyman persona and low-key material clashed with the self-indulgence and glamor expected on the awards stage.
Read at Vulture
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