Watching comedians was one of my family’s favorite things to do growing up. After our younger siblings were put to bed, we would curl up under my parents’ teal quilt or lounge in a chair or on the floor as my parents showed us clips or videos of our favorites.
Yes, even as a high school student, I wasn’t too cool to hang out with my parents.
To be fair, it was through them that we had access to comedians. Unfortunately, these days many comedians make inappropriate jokes and tell stories saturated in crude humor that had to be censored through my parents first.
However, though they are few and far between, there are some clean comedians. These types of comedians soon became family favorites.
One of them is Nate Bargatze.
Bargatze is a stand-up comedian from Tennessee. He started out small, but has become extremely popular in recent years.
He has been selling out shows recently, with more than 1.2 million tickets sold in 2024. Bargatze has hosted Saturday Night Live twice and the 77th Emmy Awards in 2025. He has also extended his platform beyond stand-up: he has published a book, hosted his own podcast and game show, acted in and produced a movie and has plans to create a theme park. Many of these ventures were made possible by his success in stand-up.
The reason behind his fame?
I think the secret sauce to his success is his dedication to clean comedy.
Because of this dedication, our family was a fan before he became big. We are still his fans because he has not wavered from this standard despite his success.
It takes notably more skill to tell stories and write jokes that are funny and clean than to cheat through crude humor. Most people do the latter, but not Bargatze.
He was raised in a Christian home and is a professing believer. Bargatze’s faith is not something that he advertises, nor is it the main point of his comedy. However, he lives out his faith through his commitment to clean comedy and his willingness to make himself, not others, the butt of his jokes.
His jokes don’t tear people down.
“I always thought you could laugh at me or with me,” Bargatze said in an interview explaining his comedic voice and style.
This is not an easy thing to do. I have noticed in my own life that it is not fashionable to be the butt of your jokes or even a genuinely kind person. Instead the people who seem to get the most attention and laughs are witty friends quick with an insult or sarcastic comment. While some of these comments are funny, others go too far.
It is human nature to want to promote ourselves, even if that means bringing others down.
I have always wanted to be the person who has a sharp mind and is quick with a joke.
Bargatze is the antithesis of this person. His persona on stage is built around being average and clueless.
And yet, he is currently one of the highest grossing stand-up comedians.
You don’t need to be mean to be famous.
In an age of social media and celebrity culture, it is very common for celebrities to use their fame to glorify their own selfish lives. Bargatze uses his platform for something more: promoting others.
On his website, there is a whole page titled: “Nate’s Friends.” There are 26 other comedians listed there with bios and the like, given a name and platform because of Bargatze.
This is notable in one of his most recent ventures: “The Breadwinner,” a movie that he acted and produced.
I know there are many things about this movie concerning the timeliness of the humor, the themes about the roles of men and women in marriage, parenting and so on. But many others have stated their opinions and I am not interested in adding to those conversations.
My biggest takeaway was this: the movie is an example of a celebrity trying something new, using the resources and reach of an established professional entertainer, as a way to promote other professionals and serve his audience.
“The Breadwinner” follows a somewhat clueless dad, played by Bargatze, who suddenly has to stay home and face the humorous trials that come with his new responsibilities. Woven throughout the story are references to Bargatze’s comedy sketches.
Other comedians in his circles are given cameos or even roles as significant side characters. These include Will Forte, Zach Cherry, Kumail Nanjiani, Colin Jost, Kate Berlant, Dusty Slay, Brian Bates, Aaron Weber, and Martin Herlihy.
Bargatze made it clear that his goal as an entertainer is to serve others.
“When I make these movies, I need to be doing it for a reason,” Bargatze said in an interview with TheWrap. “If it’s for the audience or if it’s for the next wave of talented performers that are going to come up to give them a place to be able to do what they go do.”
Celebrity culture is ridiculous to me and I try to stay away from it. But even from a distance I can recognize the pervasive selfishness that contrasts with the way that Bargatze seeks to serve his audience.
Though Bargatze’s persona is an average idiot, he understands how to love others better than most in the industry.
Bargatze isn’t a “Christian comedian,” but rather a Christian desiring to make good art and provide opportunities for others to do the same.
Good art can still be accomplished by encouraging others instead of being afraid that they will eclipse your own talent.
“For me, I can see a passion that I want to be able to eventually not be the front face of it, but to be able to give advice and be able to help and be there for the next wave that comes through,” Bargatze said.
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