When Nate Bargatze hosts the venerable sketch show “Saturday Night Live” for the first time on October 28, he is excited to bring his style of sardonic comedy to the program.
Bargatze, who is pleased to be hosting the concert, tells TODAY.com that he is performing with musical guest Foo Fighters.
In a sit-down interview, Bargatze remarks, “People ask about being nervous.” “However, your anxiety quickly turns into exhilaration. I can’t wait to explore that universe.”
Bargatze has been entertaining audiences for over 20 years with his family-friendly comedies, but it has only been in the last few that a number of his popular TV specials, such as “The Greatest Average American” and “The Tennessee Kid,” have elevated him to a household celebrity.
As suggested by the title of his well-liked special, Bargatze is a native of Tennessee who first gained success in Chicago before honing his craft in New York City’s comedy clubs. The comedian tells TODAY.com that he never would have pictured himself on the sacred “SNL” stage, even only a few years ago.
“From five years ago to be here is certainly pretty wild,” Bargatze states.
While on tour with his most recent show, the comedian just achieved a record-breaking sellout of a more than 19,000-seat venue in Nashville, Tennessee. Although it could appear that Bargatze’s achievement happened suddenly, he claims it took a long time to develop.
He says, “I’ve performed this for 20 years, and it took a long time to then go super fast,” but the benefit of the experience has been that it has made him more adaptive. “I’m glad that it took this long since I think I’m far more ready for the stuff I’m about to be put into now.”
His prior experience working at Applebee’s contributed to some of that preparation. Bargatze thinks his greatest lesson from serving tables at the chain restaurant was developing a sense of urgency, in addition to meeting his wife Laura there.
“I’ve used that my whole life,” he replies, adding that it made customers feel better about their experiences when they could see that he was trying his best as a server.
“If you look like you’re making an effort, then they feel much more attractive,” he states.
He has kept that lesson with him. According to him, the idea is applicable to nearly every aspect of life, and it’s probably this moral code that has made Bargatze known as “The Nicest Man in Stand-Up.”
But in “SNL’s” promo for the forthcoming program, Bargatze’s reputation as an all-around pleasant man takes a hit. The “SNL” cast members Devon Walker and Andrew Dismukes encourage the comedian in the teaser to do whatever he pleases because he is the show’s host.
Accepting the advice, Bargatze goes full diva, chuckling as he smashes guitars, rips cue cards, throws coffee cups, and spray-paints graffiti before grinning and saying, “How’s that?”
Aside from his “SNL” outbursts, Bargatze says he values the clean component of his humor and wants to create more family-friendly content with his new firm, Nateland.
“Not that you’re doing comedy for kids, but I just do not want anybody to feel awkward watching it alongside their parents or if your kids watch,” he states.
Because so many of his rituals are based on his family life, he says he also considers how his wife and daughter, Harper, 11, might feel about them. Bargatze’s commentary about his wife Laura’s perplexing method to scheduling an airport journey stands out among his most memorable moments.
In “The Tennessee Kid,” Bargatze jokes, “I don’t know if you have any idea what an airport is, Laura. But if the plane was in our driveway, I don’t think you could make it.”
Bargatze claims that before incorporating his family into a routine, he thinks about how they would feel.
“All you do is strive for equilibrium. You want to engage in things where you just feel comfortable and at ease,” he remarks.
Regarding his “SNL” debut, Bargatze says he’s concentrating on his monologue, which is based on guidance from longtime comedian Jerry Seinfeld.
Regarding a recent exchange Bargatze had with Seinfeld, “he talked about the monologue.” “He remarks, ‘The monologue.'” You’re there for that reason. You have to handle that.
Bargatze, who has always appreciated Seinfeld’s observational humor, says, “I just kind of go with the flow of whatever that dude says.” He’s talked about comedy so much more than I do,” he remarks. “I don’t wear short sleeves on shirts since he said not to.”
Truly?
“He actually said not to,” Bargatze laughs and explains that in the documentary “Comedian,” Seinfeld makes jokes about not wearing short sleeves.
It appears that Bargatze took this to heart.
“I’m simply saying, ‘Okay. “I refuse to do it.”