He’s selling out arenas, launching a game show, dreaming up a theme park — and quietly admitting that stand-up comedy might not last forever. Nate Bargatze is on top of his game, but retirement is something he’s already thinking about.
Nate Bargatze performs onstage during the 15th Annual Stand Up For Heroes benefit at Alice Tully Hall presented by Bob Woodruff Foundation and NY Comedy Festival on November 08, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for SUFH)
“I love stand-up more than anything,” Bargatze told PauseRewind. “But I definitely could see a moment where the space between me touring is going to become a little bit farther.”
In an interview with PauseRewind entertainment reporter Courtney Tezeno, Nate Bargatze discusses his tour, Nashville theme park concept and new game show “The Greatest Average American.”
The “Big Dumb Eyes” tour has been massive, with another run already in his plans. Still, he’s mindful about not stretching himself too thin as his projects expand.
“I know how hard it is to make something great I don’t want to be spread out too thin,” he explained to our entertainment reporter Courtney Tezeno. “I think I’ll know. I’ll know when I know,” it’s time to retire from comedy.
Nate Bargatze poses in the press room during the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 05, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Phil McCarten/CBS via Getty Images)
It’s not an immediate goodbye, but it’s an evolution. As he develops new ventures, including a Nashville-based theme park concept and his upcoming film “The Breadwinner,” Bargatze admits his creative energy may start shifting.
“I’m very protective of my ideas,” he said. “When you come up with a stand-up idea, it’s like, I want it to be in stand up. And so then if you start making movies I might want to kind of send it more in that directionI don’t think it’s going to be immediate. We’re on tour right now. I plan to do another tour after this.”
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(L-R) Laura Blair and Nate Bargatze attend the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 14, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Family plays a major role in those decisions. Raised by a magician father and a quick-witted mother, Bargatze says comedy was always in his DNA. “My timing kind of came from my dad, but my mom is very funny I think it was a perfect mix.” The husband and father of one is adamant about raising his daughter around extended family and staying true to his hometown roots.
That grounded, relatable energy now fuels his latest project, “The Greatest Average American,” now airing on ABC and streaming on Hulu. Inspired by a joke he once used to describe himself, the game show celebrates everyday knowledge and relatability.
“I would jokingly always call myself that, that I know all the average American things. And so we want to celebrate that,” he said.
He added, “I’m very invested in the state of Tennessee and Nashville And this game show is a big reason. I wanted people to come be on it Come see our citywe’re a city that’s growing very fast.”
Nate Bargatze, Host of “The Greatest Average American” game show. (Credit: Disney/Connie Chornuk)
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Shot in Nashville, the show invites audience participation and puts Bargatze right in the middle of the action without rehearsal.
“I don’t know what the challenge is before we go in Don’t tell me what it is. So it can be a very real moment,” Bargatze, 46, shared. “My first answer is probably going to be the dumb one. So like, let it be the dumb one.”
Nate Bargatze speaks onstage for A Country Thing Happened On The Way To Cure Parkinson’s benefitting The Michael J. Fox Foundation, at The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts on April.png
One challenge proved especially humbling and it happened in front of his parents. “One in particular is real embarrassing I did not get it. I did not make it as far as I thought I would.”
And in our “Big Dumb Quiz,” the comic revealed a few hilariously specific quirks, including his unusual dislike of paper napkins. “I don’t love napkins a fabric napkin. I mean, that’s my dream. When it’s a paper one, I can use it to not look like an animal, but I can’t crumble it I will never crumple a napkin. It will always be flat.”
For now, retirement is just a thought and not a concrete plan. Bargatze is still very much on the road. For tour information and tickets, go to natebargatze.com.
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