History of Nate Bargatze in Timeline

Nate Bargatze is a popular American stand-up comedian and actor recognized for his clean comedy and distinctive deadpan delivery. Notably, he achieved significant success in 2024, topping the charts as the highest-grossing stand-up comic with over a million tickets sold for his performances.

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Full Timeline

1997: Opryland USA Closure

Before its closure in 1997, Nate Bargatze worked at Opryland USA as a teenager.

1997: Graduation from Donelson Christian Academy

In 1997, Nate Bargatze graduated from Donelson Christian Academy (DCA) in Nashville, where he had previously been cut from the basketball and golf teams after trying out.

2002: Inspiration from Jerry Seinfeld documentary

In 2002, Jerry Seinfeld's documentary Comedian inspired Nate Bargatze and was a "big reason" why he moved to New York.

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2002: Start of Comedy Career

In 2002, Nate Bargatze began his comedy career and moved to Chicago to attend The Second City. Subsequently, he enrolled in Jim Rauth's Comedy College focusing on stand-up comedy.

2004: Move to New York City

In 2004, Nate Bargatze moved to New York City and became a barker for the Boston Comedy Club to get stage time, and also worked as a dogwalker and FedEx delivery driver to support himself.

October 13, 2006: Marriage to Laura Blair

On October 13, 2006, Nate Bargatze married Laura Blair, whom he met while working at an Applebee's in Nashville.

2008: Breakthrough Year

In 2008, Nate Bargatze had a breakthrough year, featuring on Comedy Central's Live at Gotham, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and the Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal.

2009: Co-hosting It Could Be Better podcast

From 2009 to 2013, Nate Bargatze co-hosted the podcast It Could Be Better with Chris Laker and Yannis Pappas.

2010: Comedy Festival Wins

In 2010, Nate Bargatze won both New York's Comedy Festival and the Boston Comedy Festival.

2011: Comedy Central Special Release

In 2011, Nate Bargatze released his first 30-minute special as part of an episode of Comedy Central Presents.

2012: Move to Los Angeles and Album Release

In 2012, Nate Bargatze moved to Los Angeles and released his first comedy album, Yelled At By A Clown.

2013: Appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

In 2013, Nate Bargatze appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and was part of Jimmy Fallon's Clean Cut Comedy Tour.

2014: NBC Sitcom Deal and Daily Show Audition

In 2014, Nate Bargatze developed a deal with NBC Universal for a sitcom based on his life, which was later scrapped. He also auditioned for The Daily Show, but Jordan Klepper was hired instead.

2015: Release of 'Full Time Magic'

In 2015, Nate Bargatze released his first hour-long special, Full Time Magic, by Comedy Central. The album version reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Ten Comedy Charts.

2017: Netflix's The Standups Feature

In 2017, Nate Bargatze was featured in the first episode of Netflix's The Standups, which he credited with significantly increasing attendance at his gigs.

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2018: Decision to Stop Drinking

In 2018, Nate Bargatze stopped drinking alcohol, recognizing that it was hindering his career aspirations.

2018: Induction of Ronnie Bargatze into TSSAA Hall of Fame

In 2018, Nate Bargatze's second cousin, Ronnie Bargatze, was inducted into the TSSAA Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a three-sport athlete and basketball coach at Vanderbilt University.

2019: Release of 'The Tennessee Kid' on Netflix

In 2019, Nate Bargatze released his hour-long special, The Tennessee Kid, on Netflix, which was named the best comedy special of the year by Forbes. He also filmed a pilot for an ABC sitcom that was not picked up.

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2020: Start of The Nateland Podcast

In 2020, Nate Bargatze began hosting The Nateland Podcast with Brian "Breakfast" Bates and Aaron Weber.

2021: Release of 'The Greatest Average American' and Atlantic Article

In 2021, Nate Bargatze's stand-up special The Greatest Average American was released on Netflix and he was featured in The Atlantic as "The Nicest Man in Stand-Up".

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2022: Aperture Desk Job Voice Role

In 2022, Nate Bargatze voiced the character Grady in the Portal spinoff game Aperture Desk Job.

January 2023: Release of Hello World on Amazon Prime Video

In January 2023, Nate Bargatze's stand-up special Hello World was released on Amazon Prime Video, setting a record for Amazon's most-streamed original comedy special.

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April 15, 2023: Record-Breaking Performance at Bridgestone Arena

On April 15, 2023, Nate Bargatze drew 19,365 attendees to a performance at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena, breaking the venue's all-time attendance record.

October 28, 2023: First Time Hosting Saturday Night Live

On October 28, 2023, Nate Bargatze hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time, drawing attention for his portrayal of George Washington.

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2023: Participation in Golf Events

In 2023, Nate Bargatze participated in the pro-am of the Simmons Bank Open and competed in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

October 5, 2024: Second Time Hosting Saturday Night Live

On October 5, 2024, Nate Bargatze hosted Saturday Night Live for the second time.

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2024: Highest-Grossing Stand-Up Comic

In 2024, Nate Bargatze became the highest-grossing stand-up comedian, having sold over a million tickets to his shows.

2024: Donation to Donelson Christian Academy

In 2024, Nate Bargatze contributed $1.15 million to the development of an indoor athletic facility at Donelson Christian Academy, his alma mater, which was subsequently named in his honor.

2024: Reflection on sitcom pilot

In 2024, Nate Bargatze reflected on a sitcom pilot he filmed, noting entertainment production favored coastal preferences, yet his recent success has revived network interest, but his interest has waned.