First-time Emmys host Nate Bargatze’s ingenious plan to keep acceptance speeches within the allotted 45 seconds didn’t quite go to plan at the 2025 Emmys.
At the top of the show, Bargatze declared that he intended to donate $100,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of America, tapping Boys & Girls Club alum JB Smoove to help with the gimmick. But for every winner who went over the allotted 45 seconds, Bargatze said he would dock $1,000 from his hefty donation. Should the speeches go under, however, the host promised to put $1,000 back.
Bargatze even invited a few children from the organization to attend the show, to layer on that guilt.
The number fluctuated throughout much of television’s biggest night. But towards the end of the show, it sat at a negative $26,000 from the tally despite starting off fairly strong. “Yeah, that’s tough,” the host awkwardly quipped from the stage.
But fret not: Bargatze and Smoove ended the show with the announcement that they would be adding to the tally, announcing a grand total of $350,000, much to the audience’s delight.
Bargatze’s announcement also came after Emmy winner Seth Rogen, while accepting the Outstanding Comedy Series win for his Apple TV+ series The Studio, remorsefully declared that they “f—ed over the Boys & Girls.”
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Bargatze first laid out his plans during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel’s late night talk show earlier this week, admitting that he did not relish in the ploy but it had to be done regardless. “I know people work hard for the Emmys and stuff,” Bargatze said. “So I feel bad, but that’s [the plan].”
When Kimmel asked the comedian if he had “done the math” on just how much money he could end up donating should every winner stay within the allotted time, Bargatze said, “I don’t even want to — it could cost a good bit,” Bargatze said. “It could get wild.”
Adolescence was among the night’s biggest winners, taking home eight wins, including a supporting actor win for teenage star Owen Cooper. The Studio also broke a record for most wins for a comedy series, taking home a whopping 13 Emmys. See the full list of 2025 Emmys winners.
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