Nate Bargatze kicked off the 2025 Emmys with a unique proposition for the night’s biggest stars.
The comedian, 46, who is hosting the awards ceremony for the first time, revealed that he planned to donate $100,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of America. But for every time the night’s winners exceeded their allotted 45 seconds, he would deduct from the amount.
The announcement drew some uneasy laughs from the star-studded audience, who no doubt have a laundry list of thank yous listed out in case of a win.
“That’s tough, it’s brutal,” Bargatze told the crowd, feigning exasperation. “What are you gonna do, though? I can’t change it − this is a game I made up and these are the rules.”
Nate Bargatze speaks onstage during the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theatre at LA Live in Los Angeles on Sept. 14, 2025.
“I want to give money to the Boys & Girls Club, (but) this is my money,” the comedian explained in an interview with USA TODAY. “Go over a little bit. Let’s not be insane. It could get out of control. I’ll be sweating that, if some reason we find out they just all become super, super nice Sunday night.”
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Bargatze’s Boys and Girls Club bit gets mixed reactions
Early signs on social media showed mixed reactions to Bargatze’s bet, with some users lauding his decision to donate, while others chided him for gamifying philanthropy. Others also chided his strategy for robbing stars of their time in the spotlight.
“I like Nate Bargatze and I loved the opening but that donation money counter is really rude to people who are experiencing a once in a lifetime moment and it got annoying real fast,” one user wrote on X.
“As much as I love the jokey pressure Nate Bargatze put on winners at the #emmys by taking money off a charity donation when they speak too long,” another user added, “the fact is, the most compelling moments in most awards ceremonies comes from winners saying something unexpected and moving.”
Meanwhile, the Boys and Girls Club official account signaled support, writing on X: “It’s official! @natebargatze just stepped onto the #Emmys2025 stage and introduced the Boys & Girls Clubs Challenge. We couldn’t be more excited about this historic moment!”
Nate Bargatze Emmys opener spoofs invention of TV
Bargatze’s announcement followed a skit dramatizing the “invention” of television with cameos from “Saturday Night Live” stars Mikey Day and Bowen Yang.
“I dream that one day there will be a channel for every interest,” Bargatze joked during the skit, before throwing a mock shot at streaming, which continues to eat up the viewership of traditional broadcast channels.
Bowen Yang, Nate Bargatze and Mikey Day speak onstage during the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on Sept. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles.
“One day I dream there will be so many shows, we’ll have to invent another type of TV called streaming … a new way for companies to lose money,” he joked.
Bargatze also joked about his rise from seeming “unknown” comic to Emmy host, wondering aloud why attendee Tina Fey hadn’t been tapped for the role. A departure from the television personalities like Fey, Amy Poehler, or Jimmy Kimmel, who have hosted the show in years past, Bargatze is more known for his popular stand-up.
His comedy tour last year was the highest-grossing, beating out beloved comics like Jerry Seinfeld and Trevor Noah.
Contributing: Erin Jensen
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Emmys host Nate Bargatze tells stars to wrap it up or else
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