Comedy's Quiet Giant Nate Bargatze Shakes Up Emmy Awards

Olivia Bennett, 4/17/2025Nate Bargatze, the unassuming comedy star, is set to host the 2025 Emmy Awards, bringing his Southern charm and humor to the prestigious event. With a focus on family-friendly entertainment and a fresh perspective, Bargatze aims to shake up an industry often seen as overly pretentious.

Talk about zigging when everyone expected a zag.

The Tennessee-born comic — who's been quietly selling out arenas while the usual suspects grab headlines — is bringing his particular brand of Southern-fried wit to television's most self-congratulatory evening. His global tour moved a whopping 1.2 million tickets last year, though you'd never guess it from his "aw-shucks" demeanor.

"It's a huge honor to be asked to host such an iconic awards show," Bargatze remarked with that trademark humility that's made him the comedy world's best-kept open secret. He's aiming to "create a night that can be enjoyed by families around the world" — which, honestly, might be exactly what the typically champagne-soaked ceremony needs right now.

Television Academy chair Cris Abrego clearly knows something we don't. Or maybe they've finally figured out what we've known all along: authenticity sells. Abrego praised Bargatze's ability to connect across generations, though let's be real — in today's fractured entertainment landscape, anyone who can make both Gen Z and their parents laugh deserves some kind of medal.

The September 14th ceremony at LA's Peacock Theater couldn't come at a more fascinating moment. Streaming giants are still throwing money around like confetti, traditional networks are clutching their pearls, and shows like "Adolescence" and "The Penguin" have somehow become everyone's water cooler obsession. (Mark your calendars for July 15th at 8:30 a.m. PT — that's when the nomination announcements will either make or break countless Hollywood dreams.)

Fresh off his second SNL hosting gig and riding high from "Nate Bargatze's Nashville Christmas" (yes, darling, that Lorne Michaels produced it), our unexpected host is proving himself quite the renaissance man. Between his upcoming book "Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind" and TriStar Pictures' "The Breadwinner," we're watching a genuine multi-hyphenate star emerge — minus the usual Hollywood pretense.

The ceremony itself — sandwiched between the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 6th and 7th like a particularly glittery filling — might just surprise us all. With Bargatze steering this bedazzled ship, we could finally get what we've been desperately craving: an awards show that doesn't take itself quite so seriously.

In a year dominated by prestige limited series and streaming giants flexing their budgets, there's something refreshingly honest about handing the keys to someone who made their name by actually being... funny. Even if he does have to swap his usual casual attire for black tie.

Sometimes the best entertainment really does come in unexpected packages. Who knew?

Well, darlings, Hollywood just threw us the most delicious curveball of 2025. Instead of another predictable late-night host or SNL veteran, CBS has handed the Emmy Awards' golden microphone to comedy's unexpectedly charming everyman, Nate Bargatze.Talk about zigging when everyone expected a zag.The Tennessee-born comic — who's been quietly selling out arenas while the usual suspects grab headlines — is bringing his particular brand of Southern-fried wit to television's most self-congratulatory evening. His global tour moved a whopping 1.2 million tickets last year, though you'd never guess it from his "aw-shucks" demeanor."It's a huge honor to be asked to host such an iconic awards show," Bargatze remarked with that trademark humility that's made him the comedy world's best-kept open secret. He's aiming to "create a night that can be enjoyed by families around the world" — which, honestly, might be exactly what the typically champagne-soaked ceremony needs right now.Television Academy chair Cris Abrego clearly knows something we don't. Or maybe they've finally figured out what we've known all along: authenticity sells. Abrego praised Bargatze's ability to connect across generations, though let's be real — in today's fractured entertainment landscape, anyone who can make both Gen Z and their parents laugh deserves some kind of medal.The September 14th ceremony at LA's Peacock Theater couldn't come at a more fascinating moment. Streaming giants are still throwing money around like confetti, traditional networks are clutching their pearls, and shows like "Adolescence" and "The Penguin" have somehow become everyone's water cooler obsession. (Mark your calendars for July 15th at 8:30 a.m. PT — that's when the nomination announcements will either make or break countless Hollywood dreams.)Fresh off his second SNL hosting gig and riding high from "Nate Bargatze's Nashville Christmas" (yes, darling, that Lorne Michaels produced it), our unexpected host is proving himself quite the renaissance man. Between his upcoming book "Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind" and TriStar Pictures' "The Breadwinner," we're watching a genuine multi-hyphenate star emerge — minus the usual Hollywood pretense.The ceremony itself — sandwiched between the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 6th and 7th like a particularly glittery filling — might just surprise us all. With Bargatze steering this bedazzled ship, we could finally get what we've been desperately craving: an awards show that doesn't take itself quite so seriously.In a year dominated by prestige limited series and streaming giants flexing their budgets, there's something refreshingly honest about handing the keys to someone who made their name by actually being... funny. Even if he does have to swap his usual casual attire for black tie.Sometimes the best entertainment really does come in unexpected packages. Who knew?