Your friend Nate Bargatze walks the walk.
The 2025 Emmys host brought his amiably baffled, regular-guy persona to TV’s biggest night (that’s ok, nobody knows why The Bear is considered a comedy), but he also meant business when he said there would be a price if winners’ acceptance speeches went over their allotted 45 seconds.
The concept: For every second a star went long, he would subtract $1,000 from the baseline $100,000 donation he plans to make to the Boys & Girls Club of America. But for everyone who reined it in, he’d add $1,000 per second under.
And he got to put his plan into motion right away, with Seth Rogen‘s win for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (presented by outgoing Late Show host Stephen Colbert, who received a standing ovation) preceding the monologue.
“I feel bad, he didn’t even know about this at all,” Bargatze quipped. “What did he do? Was he over, under? Under? All right! He was under! I am paying for this, so don’t… some of you go over a little, some go under. Do the right thing.”
And for a moment, the tally stood at $106,000 thanks to Rogen’s brevity. But not for long…
The Pitt‘s Katherine LaNasa took her time accepting her Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series win, and so the tally stood at $98,000.
“That was an expensive wave,” Bargatze cracked. “A lot of people at home were asking, are we penalizing the presenters if they go along or something? I just want to get it straight, we are not. Only the people that have worked the hardest to get here. I’m busy hosting, so I can’t keep track of all the money stuff.”
Th 46-year-old comedian opened the Sept. 14 show at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater with a sketch inspired by his winning turns as George Washington on Saturday Night Live. (See every winning look from the Emmys 2025 red carpet.)
In this case, he played television inventor Philo T. Farnsworth, who had complicated answers to simple questions, such as “What will be on The Learning Channel”?
And who will the real stars of TV be?
“Murderers,” he noted, taking a jab at the proliferation of true crime programming. “Real-life murderers mostly.”
And who will watch? “Your wife, my wife, everyone’s wife.”
It’s funny because it’s true.
Bargatze wasn’t just making his Emmys hosting debut—he was also a first-time nominee twice over, scoring recognition in the Outstanding Variety Special and Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) categories, for his 2024 Netflix special Your Friend, Nate Bargatze. (Those respective trophies went to Conan O’Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor and SNL 50: The Anniversary Special at the Creative Arts Emmys held Sept. 8.)
He unveiled his plan to keep acceptance speeches short ahead of time, noting on Jimmy Kimmel Live, “That means everybody gotta give their time up. If everybody gave it away it would be a ton of money. The ones that go long, that’s fine. Get me down to like 10 grand, alright?”
See all the stars who spent a little more than 45 seconds getting ready for the 2025 Emmys red carpet:
Selena Gomez
In custom Louis Vuitton.
Michelle Williams
In vintage Chanel.
Julianne Nicholson
In Prabal Gurung.
Noah Wyle
In custom FIGS.
Hunter Schafer
In McQueen and Christian Louboutin.
Christopher Meloni
In John Varvatos.
Uzo Aduba
In Safiyaa, Yeprem ring and A.Jaffe jewelry.
Keri Russell
In Armani Privé and Sabyasachi jewelry.
Jessica Williams
In Rodarte.
Anna Sawai
In Armani Privé.
Ashley Walters
James Marsden
In Ralph Lauren Purple Label and IWC Portofino watch.
Jude Law
In Brioni.
Ruth Negga
In Prada
Parker Posey
In custom Valentino and Sabyasachi jewelry.
Kristen Bell
In Armani Privé and Bucherer jewelry.
Jake Gyllenhaal
In Prada.
Cristin Milioti
In custom Danielle Frankel.
Angela Bassett
In Yara Shoemaker, Lagos jewelry, Alexandre Birman shoes, and Judith Leiber bag.
Leslie Bibb
In Armani Privé.
Lauren Graham
In Akris.
Scarlett Johansson
In Prada.
Colman Domingo
In Valentino and Boucheron jewelry.
Adam Scott
In Thom Browne.
Rashida Jones
In Jessica McCormack.
Hiroyuki Sanada
Brian Tyree Henry
In a customized vintage Maison Bontemps tux, Elizabeth Gage jewelry and Jaeger-LeCoultre timepiece.
Jesse Williams
In Giorgia Armani, Christian Louboutin shoes, Blancpain timepiece and David Yurman jewelry.
Gina Torres
In Zhivago, Jimmy Choo shoes and Cartier jewelry.
Garcelle Beauvais
In Valdrin Sahiti.
