Last night’s Emmy Awards were a game-changer in more ways than one. This year, the Emmys saw a much-needed shakeup with winning shows as newcomers The StudioandThe Pitt walked away with some of the night’s most coveted awards, including a double win for Seth Rogen as both actor and director. It also saw Nate Bargatzetake up hosting duties, which was an unexpected but fresh choice. Bargatze’s best known for his “clean” brand of comedy, eschewing vulgarities in favor of a “dad joke” type of comedy; that, combined with his scene-stealing guest appearance on Saturday Night Live, made him the perfect fit for hosting the Emmys. In an effort to keep the runtime short, Bargatze ended up launching a stunt that left viewers at home feeling less than amused, especially since charity was involved.
Nate Bargatze Attempted To Shorten Emmy Speeches & Raise Charity, But His Execution Was Ill-Timed
Bargatze announced during his opening monologue that he’d be pledging $100,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of America, but with a caveat: for each winner’s speech that went over 45 seconds, $1,000 would be deducted from the overall total. While Bargatze probably intended to ensure the Emmys didn’t overstay their welcome while raising money for a good cause, the moment was undermined by a constantly ticking clock that showcased the decreasing amount. This didn’t sit right with viewers, who took to social media to express their displeasure. Some felt that it was wrong to “penalize charity” or force winners to shorten their speeches, while others felt that if anyone should be penalized, it should be the protesters for having “unfunny” speeches.
Another reason why Bargatze’s stunt didn’t go over is that it felt extremely mean-spirited, especially when he made his career delivering comedy that went against that impulse. It also undercut some of the best speeches of the night, whether it was Cristin Milioti giving an impassioned speech about why she loves acting when she picked up her first-ever Emmy, or Trammell Tilmandelivering his own tearful speech while making Emmys history. These were some big moments, yet the hovering dollar signs seemed to want to punish the actors for taking the time to explain what their wins meant to them. By the time the ceremony wrapped, that number was deep in the red, which only served to underline how ill-thought out Bargatze’s approach was.
The Emmys Ended With a Silver Lining
Even with speeches that went over the 45-second time limit and a less-than-stellar approach to charity, Nate Bargatze and CBS actually did make a sizable donation to the Boys & Girls Club…to the whopping tune of $350,000, which was more than double Bargatze’s original donation. “We are also deeply grateful to all who kept their speeches short in the spirit of this fun challenge and to maximize the impact for our young people,” CEO Jim Clark told The Hollywood Reporter following the ceremony. “The generous $350,000 donation from CBS and Nate is a powerful investment in the dreams and great futures of millions of young people nationwide.” The Boys and Girls Club recieved some much needed donations, and the Emmys wound up having its best ratings since 2021, which should make this a win-win. Bargatze’s approach shows that some things shouldn’t be the subject of a laugh.
- Location
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Los Angeles, CA
- Dates
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September 14, 2025
