Bargatze Brings Tennessee to the World as SNL Host

Tennessee comedian Nate Bargatze did not miss an opportunity to plug (and very gently roast) the Wilson County Fair before a national audience as he hosted Saturday Night Live (SNL) this past weekend.

Bargatze is loud and proud about being a Tennessean, hollering at the Volunteer State in many of his television appearances. For example, in his 2023 Amazon Prime special, “Hello, World,” he recalled how he was taught to recall the ZIP Code of his Old Hickory hometown.

“Our ZIP Code is 37138,” Bargatze said. “And how I was told to remember it was 37 plus one equals 38. I’ve never forgot it and I don’t think you will either.”

Bargatze is known for his clean comedy and for being a nice guy. Spoofing this reputation, one SNL promo had him apologizing for for sitting before the stage in the audience seats. Two SNL cast members tell him he can do what he wants, he’s the star and the host. Bargatze throws coffee to the ground, rips cue cards, vandalizes equipment, raises two middle fingers, and throws his papers into the air.

In Saturday’s opening monologue, Bargatze said he and his family visit the Tennessee-famous Wilson County Fair. He wasn’t sure how fairs are still open, and that the government probably doesn’t know about them because, “we are riding these rides that were on the interstate an hour ago.”

Watch Bargatze’s whole monologue here:

Bargatze also just released his 2024 tour dates, which unfortunately, does not pass through Tennessee. So, go find Nate on the road next year. Find all those tours dates here:

Credit: natebargatze.com