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Here’s Why Everyone Loves This Family Comedian

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Here’s Why Everyone Loves This Family Comedian

By Movieguide® Contributor

Whether it’s making fun of his own appearance or recalling one of his many real-life awkward interactions, Nate Bargatze never fails to draw laughs from a crowd.

His draw to making people laugh started at a young age. Relevant Magazine reported that his dad, Stephen, worked (and still works) as a clown and magician. Bargatze knew that humor could pay the bills, and he found himself in stand-up comedy.

“When I was coming up, comedians had a system,” said Bargatze, who started comedy at age 23. “I was in New York. You’d do eight minutes on Comedy Central, Live at Gotham. Then you’d do a half-hour special. Then, eventually, you’d get an hour. There was this clear path you were always working toward.”

Bargatze’s fame exploded when his Netflix special, THE TENNESSEE KID, kicked off. After that, there was THE GREATEST AVERAGE AMERICAN, HELLO WORLD, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE appearances and YOUR FRIEND, NATE BARGATZE — all family-friendly.

While Bargatze’s been booking out shows, he’s also been trying to write TV shows.

“I tried to make a bunch of sitcoms,” he said. “But they never went anywhere. I think we shot one pilot out of 10 scripts. It just felt like nobody understood what I was trying to do.”

He finally started his own production company last year, The Nateland Company.

“I know what people want,” Bargatze said. “But for me to be the voice in the room, I knew we needed to have our own company. And it can’t just be about me. I want new people to come up and have a system to follow.”

Bargatze wants Nateland to provide “TV clean stuff” that the whole family can watch together.

“Our tagline is ‘good clean funny,’ but I think we can also make ‘good clean drama’ or even ‘good clean scary,’” he said. “We could do it all.”

“I’m not going past PG-13, though. I always say, I’m starting at PG, and you can talk me into PG-13 if there’s a good reason. That kind of focus gives everyone direction. You don’t feel aimless.”

Nateland’s first movie will be THE BREADWINNER, which Bargatze said is “in the vein of MR. MOM and HOME ALONE.”

“It’s going to be hard to make something and then have to wait to see it,” said the comedian. “I’m used to immediate reactions. Plus, I don’t know the first thing about making a movie. I’m excited to figure it all out — what works, what’s funny, what needs tweaking. It’s going to be a whole new world, and I can’t wait to learn.”

READ MORE: NATE BARGATZE THANKS GOD FOR FELLOW CHRISTIAN COMEDIAN’S INFLUENCE

In December, Bargatze hosted a Christmas variety special on CBS that he had prepared all year for.

“The first time I did SNL, we talked to Lorne Michaels about doing a Christmas variety show, and he loved it,” Bargatze said. “He came on board and helped produce it, so I had great guidance from him. And Streeter Seidell and Mikey Day—who wrote the George Washington dream sketch — helped write the show with me.”

“What was great about the Christmas special was that I got to be creative not only with stand-up, but in so many different ways too,” he shared. “I’m very excited about it because I normally just do stand-up. So it’s something very different, and I’m always excited to do something different.”

When SNL invited Bargatze to host, the clean comedian set his standards up front, which was fine with the TV show.

“When I go do SNL, I’m going to be clean, and I’m not going to do politics,” he explains. “And they’re so great about it. The sketches end up being very different ideas.”

“Both times, it’s been a wide variety. I like that. I think when you give people direction, you can get the most creativity out of it,” the comic said.

One of the sketches features Bargatze and Michael Longfellow as EMTs who have to carry a body down some stairs, but they opt for a waterslide instead.

“We had to finagle that one because, for it to ‘look good,’ you had to focus on everything but what you were actually talking about,” Bargatze said. “And I enjoy finding that line. As long as you’re not outwardly making fun of someone else, that’s usually a good way to stay on the right side of it.”

Despite starring in specials, Bargatze credits the internet for his popularity.

“There are no restrictions anymore, so if you’re getting into comedy — or anything, really — there’s probably going to be a lot of cursing in the mix,” he explained. “Everybody can do whatever they want, but there aren’t many outlets where people can watch something and trust they won’t have a weird conversation with their kid later — or feel awkward watching it with their parents.”

“Everything’s really divided now,” he added. “TV shows are made for wives and husbands or kids. They’re not really made for families to sit and enjoy together anymore.”

But Bargatze wants to change that, and we love him for it.

“That’s why I do what I do,” Bargatze said. “I want you to be able to sit there with your family and have fun and not be worried. I’m just trying to entertain you. I’m trying to give you a break. Everybody has stressful lives, and you really need an outlet — and I can be that for you.”

Now at 46, with over 20 years of comic experience, Bargatze understands that his slow journey to stardom was worth the wait.

“My career took a really long time to get to where I am today,” he said. “And that’s not a bad thing. I had to hit all the spots and all the stops on my way up. When you’ve gone through all of it, it’s easier to appreciate because you remember what it was like when you didn’t have any of this.”

“Now, I think when a comic starts, they’re just focused on gaining followers; they’re not sitting in the process of learning how to be funny,” he explained. “They’re doing the most extreme kinds of things to get attention. But if you don’t work on being someone people want to show up for, you won’t last.”

He notes that he wouldn’t have had as good material if he had done SNL ten years earlier. Now he has material aplenty. This year, he’s releasing another untitled comedy special and his new book, “Big Dumb Eyes.”

“I want you to read the book and laugh — and if you think you know me now, read the book and you’ll really know everything,” he shared, adding that his stand-up may have to go to the back burner while he works on new things.

“If I want Nateland to become what it’s going to become, I’m going to have to not tour like I’m doing now,” he said. “I think I’ll always do stand-up, but it won’t be at this level.”

Bargatze’s Big Dumb Eyes Tour starts April 6 in Oslo, Norway, and wraps up on Dec. 13 in Nashville.

“If I start feeling outstretched, I know it’s time to pull back,” Bargatze said of his career. “Otherwise, that project won’t be in my voice. But it’s hard when there are so many things I’m excited to do.”

“I look forward to figuring out how to handle and sustain all of this,” he says with a laugh. “It’s going to be very fun — I hope.”

Recently, Bargatze popped up in a Dude Perfect video to help the channel reveal their new office. Dude Perfect member Tyler Toney showed off the building. “One of my favorite parts of the building that’s actually underrated is the supply closet. All kinds of DP merch in here — Oh, Nate? I thought you left,” Toney said as Bargatze turned around, fumbling with arms full of stolen merchandise.

 

READ MORE: WHY THIS CLEAN COMEDIAN WANTS TO MAKE FAMILY MOVIES


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