- Nashville comedian Nate Bargatze attended several events in New York City leading up to the “SNL 50” anniversary special.
- Bargatze performed at the Comedy Cellar alongside comedy legends such as Steve Martin, Martin Short, Chris Rock, and David Spade.
- Bargatze discussed the week’s events on his podcast, “Nateland,” and shared his experiences navigating exclusive after-parties and meeting A-list celebrities.
Nashville comedian Nate Bargatze had a big week leading up to the “SNL 50” anniversary special on Feb. 16, traveling to New York to attend a series of star-studded events.
The nicest guy in stand-up comedy, who is known for his “SNL” skit “Washington’s Dream” and two hosting stints on the show, made a brief appearance on the anniversary episode in an audience Q&A with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
After the highly-anticipated special, Bargatze sat down to chat about his experience celebrating the comedy show’s big anniversary on episode 240 of his Nateland Podcast.
Alongside Dusty Slay, Bryan Bates and Aaron Weber, Bargatze dove into his week in New York, sharing stories about his time making the rounds at parties, an impressive comedy cellar surprise lineup, and how he got the chance to tell Steven Spielberg about his first experience at the movie theater.
Nate Bargatze talks star-studded Comedy Cellar set ahead of ‘SNL 50’
On the podcast, Bargatze said he arrived in New York on the Wednesday before the special for the week of events. “It was a crazy whole week,” he said.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Wednesday evening, Bargatze headed to the famed comedy club the Comedy Cellar alongside a who’s who of comics who were in New York for the festivities.
“So we go to the Comedy Cellar, and think about this. Everybody’s kind of in town, right, because everybody’s going to “SNL 50.” So we get there, I went up, (David) Spade went up, (Chris) Rock went up,” he said.
What Spade, Rock and Bargatze didn’t know is that the show kicked off with an equally impressive lineup.
Steve Martin, Martin Short, John Mulaney and Leslie Jones all hit the stage before them, he said. “Those people paid I think $18 for that ticket,” he added, joking that him and his pals were the “worst part of the show.”
On Friday night, Bargatze attended the “SNL 50: The Homecoming Concert,” a three-and-a-half hour concert that included performances from Lady Gaga, Cher, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Jack White, Miley Cyrus, the Backstreet Boys and more.
Bargatze shouted out Snoop Dogg and Jelly Roll’s performance from the show and Post Malone’s performance of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” alongside Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear, which he said was awesome.
More:‘SNL50’ concert blitzes New York with Cher, Lady Gaga, Nirvana in musical celebration
At the concert, Bargatze said he sat near Tom Hanks, Ray Romano and Peyton Manning.
“When all the celebrities get together, the shorthand is gone,” he said. ” You’re a big fan, then you just kind of have a conversation like you’ve known each other for a while. You just kind of get into it.”
Throughout the night, Bargatze met Julia Lewis Dreyfus, who told Bargatze her kids are fans of his work. He chatted with Chris Pine, who said he had never been to Nashville, to which his response was: “You look like a guy who’s been to Nashville a lot.” Bargatze also chatted with Miles Teller, who he said is an “awesome dude.”
One notable introduction, Bargatze said, was when he met Steven Spielberg.
“I just wanted to meet the funniest water meter reader of all time,” Spielberg said to him, referencing one of Bargatze’s first jobs as a Mt. Juliet water meter reader, a topic Bargatze speaks about in some of his stand-up bits.
Bargatze learned that Spielberg and his wife are fans of his, and Bargatze told the renowned filmmaker that the first movie he ever saw in a theater was one of Spielberg’s, the classic film “E.T.”
Bargatze opens up about exclusivity in entertainment world
Bargatze shared that with big celebrity gatherings like these, guests can sometimes get in their head about logistics.
“This kind of situation … you gotta imagine all these celebrities, everybody’s reading into everything,” he said. “Where are you sitting? Are you allowed to bring a plus one (or) not a plus one? Are you sitting … farther back? Are you in the middle?”
In the same vein, Bargatze said that there were exclusive after parties every night throughout the week and that it was easy to feel out of the loop.
At one point, Bargatze and Tina Fey were talking about the exclusive events and a series of intimate Paul McCartney concerts that stars were attending throughout the week.
“Tina Fey’s like, ‘What are these after parties? I mean, I haven’t heard about one of them,'” Bargatze said.
“Usually nobody knows what’s going on,” he said. “And people will be overlooked. And it’ll be big people, it’ll be little people. It was comforting to hear (Fey) say that … I’m like, ‘Yeah, I didn’t hear about any of this.’ You found out in the moment (about the after parties) and then you’re like, I don’t wanna ask. l don’t wanna show up and they’re like, you can’t come in.”
Nothing is as “pointed as you think it is” in the entertainment industry, Bargatze explained, alluding to all of the real-life feelings hidden behind all the glamour.
Even in the midst of all the after party confusion, Bargatze shared that he did get his fill of socializing throughout the week.
He got to make rounds at a party with Peyton Manning, toast the “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels, and celebrate his friend Chris Rock’s 60th birthday.
At these parties, Bargatze “will go up to anybody,” he said.
He got to meet Eddie Murphy and get a kiss on the cheek from Lady Gaga. He was also introduced to Madonna and chatted with Emma Stone.
“Talked to Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively … I’m on their side,” he said with a laugh, referencing Lively’s ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni over the movie “It Ends With Us.” Afterwards, Bargatze admitted that he doesn’t know anything about lawsuit.
Though Bargatze has met just about everyone he’d like to, he said that he still would love to chat with Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Ben Stiller someday.
Audrey Gibbs is a music journalist with The Tennessean. You can reach her at [email protected].
Credit: Source link
