CBS as the ‘Caucasian Broadcasting System,’ ‘The Bear’ as a ‘laugh-out-loud’ comedy, and all the best jokes from Nate Bargatze’s Emmys opening

Nate Bargatze has taken his comedy stylings to television’s biggest night.

The first-time host opened the 77th annual Emmy Awards with a Saturday Night Live-inspired sketch where he played Philo Farnsworth, the creator of television. The bit featured Bargatze-as-Farnsworth, joined by SNL stars Bowen Yang, Mikey Day, and James Austin Johnson as his assistants, explaining what his invention would bring 100 years in the future. There would something called the History Channel, for instance, which would focus on aliens instead of history. There would be channels for Black people (BET) and white people (CBS, aka the “Caucasian Broadcasting System”). Streaming would be a way for companies to lose money. And something called The Bear would be a “laugh-out-loud” comedy.

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Later, after a quick wardrobe change, Bargatze explained how he planned to keep acceptance speeches within the allotted 45-second time period to prevent the show going over its scheduled three hours. “To start the show, I’m going to donate $100,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of America,” he said. “Remember how fun that was, because this part is hard to say. If it stays at 45 seconds, it stays at $100,000. Every second you over 45 seconds, we will deduct $1,000 away from the Boys & Girls Club. That’s tough. If you go under, we will put $1,000 back on! Relax, let’s have fun.”

When Emmy viewers starting wondering in real time whether presenters would be penalized as well as winners, he deadpanned, “No, just the people who worked the hardest to get here.”

How did Bargartze do as the 2025 Emmys host? Grade him in our poll:

The comedian received his first two Emmy nominations this year for writing and producing the stand-up special Your Friend, Nate Bargatze. He lost the writing prize to SNL50: The Anniversary Special, and the producing trophy to Conan O’Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Both awards were handed out last weekend at the Creative Arts Emmys.

Prior to Bargatze, other recent Emmys hosts have included Eugene and Dan Levy (2024), Anthony Anderson (2023), Kenan Thompson (2022), Cedric the Entertainer (2021), Jimmy Kimmel (2020, 2016, 2012), Michael Che and Colin Jost (2018), Stephen Colbert (2017), Andy Samberg (2015), Seth Meyers (2014), and Neil Patrick Harris (2013, 2009). A woman hasn’t hosted the Emmy Awards since Jane Lynch in 2011.