Even Nate Bargatze knows his 2025 Emmys stunt could have gone better.
During the comedian's stint as first-time host of the Sept. 14 ceremony on CBS, he devised a bit to help keep acceptance speeches shorter, promising to deduct money from a $100,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America for every second a speech went over the 45-seconds allotted, but adding to the pot if they kept is short.
“A lot of reviews did not like the Boys and Girls Club thing,” Nate confessed on the Sept. 24 episode of his Nateland podcast, “but it came from a real place of heart.”
And while the bit had its critics, the 46-year-old noted that, “Everybody at home loved it.”
Because, as he emphasized, it was well-intended.
“It was fun, it was entertaining seeing money go down and all this,” he continued. “I wasn’t trying to put anyone on the spot. I wasn’t trying to make someone donate money. In my head I kinda thought, ‘Make it fun.’”
As Nate explained, he wasn’t trying to use “the charity as a tool,” but instead thought it would be a good solution to the problem of long speeches that also helped raise money for the Boys & Girls Club.
“Honestly, what I thought would happen in the room,” he said, “I thought it was going to be like Netflix donating or Apple. The shows that won.”
The podcaster “did not expect” someone like 15-year-old winner Owen Cooper to give—with Nate quickly noting during the broadcast that he covered what would have been deducted following the Adolescence star’s speech.
“In my head, I pictured it as they could then go long but then be a hero,” he explained. “So it was like a win-win. Then the night becomes about love and you’re giving to these kids that are there and all this kind of stuff. I don’t know if I just didn’t explain it enough in the room.”
At the end of the ceremony, the donation pot was in the red at -$60,000, which prompted Nate to pledge a $250,000 donation himself, plus an additional $100,000 from CBS—which the Boys & Girls Club was incredibly appreciative of. But personally donating that money came as a bit of a surprise to Nate.
“I wasn’t gonna give that money at the end,” he admitted. “I wasn’t thinking I was gonna have to. But the way it went, I was like, ‘Well, I can’t. I’m not gonna not.’”
All in all, Nate—an Emmy nominee himself—was pleased with the stunt, although he was amused that it the biggest controversy of his career so far, joking, “It is pretty funny my only controversial thing is the Boys and Girls Club got $350,000.”
And regardless of the negative reviews of his hosting skills, the 2025 Emmys were the most-watched ceremony since 2021, according to Variety, which Nate noted was a huge deal for him, especially because he considers himself outside of “the typical Hollywood world.”
“It is the idea that I’m kind of an outsider of that system that they have,” he explained. “The biggest thing that showed was that the ratings went up.”
For more moments you might have missed from the Emmys, keep reading.
The Last of Them
Friends IRL and fellow nominees Pedro Pascal of The Last of Us and The White Lotus' Sam Rockwell looked as though they still can't believe they've come this far.
The Late Night Club
They may be late night rivals for another season, but Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel let it be known they're fighting for the same side, here with the help of their respective wives, Evelyn McGee-Colbert and Molly McNearny.
Colbert collected his first Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series since he started hosting The Late Show on CBS in 2015, bringing his career total to 11. He also has three from writing for The Daily Show, four for writing from his days hosting The Colbert Report, plus two wins for Outstanding Variety Series; and an Outstanding Variety Special (Live) win for Stephen Colbert's Election Night 2020: Democracy's Last Stand: Building Back America Great Again Better 2020.
Almost Paradise
Hobbled by a torn Achilles but strong in spirit, Sterling K. Brown posed for a pic with Tina Fey.
What the F--k
We all saw Last Week Tonight With John Oliver win Outstanding Variety Series yet again (the show's 32nd Emmy overall), but you may not have caught what the host said.
"F--k you, Nate Bargatze, that is a lot of money for you," John Oliver said after purposely cutting his remarks short to aid the host's pledged donation to the Boys & Girls Club of America, contingent on winners keeping their speeches under 45 seconds. "And you can add a 'f--k' to tohe swear jar as well!"
Hard to Break Free
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series winner Britt Lower winked at the layered mysteries of Severance by writing "LET ME OUT" on the back of her acceptance speech.
Wait, You Won? So Did I!
Presenting the reigning king and queen of comedy acting, first-time winner Seth Rogen of The Studio and Hacks' Jean Smart, who picked up her seventh Emmy.
Comfortably Cohabitating
Abbot Elementary's Sheryl Lee Ralph not only lives with her husband Vincent Hughes, he's also her forever date.
A Real Love Story
The White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood and boyfriend Adam Long looked like the least tragic of couples.
Presumed Serious
Jake Gyllenhaal made a rare award show appearance with girlfriend Jeanne Cadieu.
Only Lovers in the Building
We're not detectives, or podcasters, but all the evidence so far leads to Selena Gomez and fiancé Benny Blanco living happily ever after.
Hello, I'm Sydney Sweeney
The Euphoria star and White Lotus alum hung onto her fiery red Oscar de la Renta shawl during the ceremony.
An Ambitious Pairing
White Lotus costars Lisa and Tayme Thapthimthong could both be proud of what they've achieved and how they got there.
The Few, the Proud
Amid a cast exodus ahead of season 51, Saturday Night Live's Bowen Yang had a chat with Colin Jost and his wife, muse and frequent SNL guest star Scarlett Johansson.
Couples Council
Movie star Harrison Ford, a first-time Emmy nominee for Shrinking, made a night of it with wife Calista Flockhart.
Devoted Duo
Dying for Sex star Michelle Williams and director husband Thomas Kail might be craving sleep, having recently shared they welcomed their third baby together via surrogate, but they looked utterly glam all the same.
That Guy Over Here
Colin Farrell caught up with some cronies while celebrating The Penguin's 24 Emmy nominations.