Nate Bargatze Takes Aim at 'The Bear' in 2025 Emmys Opening Skit

Nate Bargatze used his 2025 Emmy Awards opening to joke about the year’s biggest moments in television.

The comedian, 46, opened the Sunday, September 14, awards show — held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles — a skit costarring Saturday Night Live standouts Bowen Yang, Mikey Day and James Austin Johnson.

“What we create here will one day bring the world shows that inform and education,” Bargatze said, playing a scientist. “Shows that make us laugh and cry, and shows about people who when they go to work, they switch to different people in their brains who only remember what happens at work. And people who watch it won’t either, but by God, it will be on TV! I dream that one day there will be a channel for every interest.”

He also dreamed that there would be TV networks for “every interest.”

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“One day, I dream that there will be so many shows, we’ll have to invent another type of TV called streaming,” Bargatze mused in character. “It’s a new way for companies to lose money. These streamers will make their own shows and create their own stars [from] real-life murderers, mostly.”

Bargatze’s character also wanted to see awards given out for “all types of shows,” whether it’s a drama like The Pitt or “laugh-out-loud comedies like The Bear!” (The Hulu hit starring Jeremy Allen White has often sparked a debate about whether it’s more of a comedy or a drama.)

“[It’s] a heartbreaking look a the emotional toll of trauma,” he quipped, going on to explain why the show wouldn’t be classified as a drama. “And yet it is not. But the shows that win an Emmy have achieved the highest level of artistry.”

Moments later, Bargatze used his opening monologue to advocate for short acceptance speeches.

“To start the show, I’m going to donate $100,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of America. Remember that [and] how fun that was ‘cause this part is hard to say. If you say at 45 seconds, it stays at $100,000,” Bargatze said, eliciting boos from the crowd. “Every second you go over 45 seconds, we will deduct a $1,000 away from the Boys and Girls Club. I know, it’s tough. It’s brutal. What are you going to do, though? This is a game I made up and these are the rules. I can’t change it. If you go under, we will put $1,000 back on for the Boys and Girls Club.”

After Seth Rogan’s acceptance speech moments earlier clocked in at less than 45 seconds, an additional $6,000 was added to the tally.

“Don’t go crazy because I am paying for this,” Bargatze quipped. “So don’t some go over a little [and] some go under a little. Do the right thing.”

In April, the Television Academy announced Bargatze would serve as the host of the 77th Emmy Awards.

“It’s a huge honor to be asked to host such an iconic awards show, and I’m beyond excited to work with CBS to create a night that can be enjoyed by families around the world,” the comedian said in a statement at the time.

“Nate is one of the hottest comics in the business with a remarkable and hilarious brand of comedy that deeply resonates with multi-generational audiences around the globe,” Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego added. “We are thrilled to be able to leverage his one-of-a-kind perspective to entertain TV fans watching this year’s Emmy telecast.”

In June, Bargatze hinted at what he had planned for the awards ceremony, confessing that he was “nervous” to host.

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“I was gonna really rely on you. You’ve done it,” he told Stephen Colbert during an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. “Did you watch all the shows? I haven’t seen all the shows.”

Colbert, who previously hosted the Emmys in 2017, quipped: “Oh, no, I don’t have time for TV.”

Bargatze pointed out that he would likely pull from his repertoire for the gig.

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“I guess I’ll just do what I do — like, I’m very self-deprecating — and try to bring it inward,” he explained. “I know it’s like a tough thing. You’re up for all these awards and all of this stuff. I want everybody to have a good time and try to make it as lively and fun as a moment, and I’ll make fun of me.”

Colbert, 61, then asked whether Bargatze ever incorporates “song and dance” into his comedy.

“This is it, man,” Bargatze replied. “You get this energy at [Madison Square Garden] or here because it’s only this energy. So, if you’re not on board with this, it’s gonna be a long ride.”