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Nate Bargatze channeled Utah inventor Philo T. Farnsworth to open the Emmys

  //humor-quirks.news-articles.net/content/2025/09 .. ventor-philo-t-farnsworth-to-open-the-emmys.html
  Published in Humor and Quirks on Friday, September 19th 2025 at 18:07 GMT by deseret
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Nate Bargatze’s “Philo T. Farnsworth”: A Light‑Hearted Homage to the Birth of Television

When Utah‑based comedian Nate Bargatze announced the release of his newest special, Philo T. Farnsworth, the buzz in the comedy community was unmistakable. The one‑hour program—streamed on Netflix beginning September 18—pairs Bargatze’s trademark observational wit with a playful tribute to the inventor of the modern television, Philo T. Farnsworth. The Deseret News piece explores how the veteran stand‑up comic has carved out a fresh niche in his career by blending personal anecdotes, historical nods, and a signature dry humor.

A Career of Consistency

The article begins by charting Bargatze’s steady ascent in the comedy world. Known for his “no‑politics, no‑propaganda” style, the 42‑year‑old from Colorado has earned a reputation for clean, relatable material that eschews the punch‑line‑heavy grind of many contemporary acts. Over the past decade, he’s released a string of successful specials—Live at the Grand, I Love My Mom, and The Big Guy—and has become a regular fixture on cable and streaming platforms.

Bargatze’s longevity, the article notes, can be attributed to his consistent voice and an approach that leans heavily on everyday life. “He doesn’t try to be edgy,” writes the piece, “he just tells stories about the absurdities that happen when you’re a middle‑aged guy who loves his family and hates the sound of a lawn mower.”

The Birth of Philo T. Farnsworth

The heart of the Deseret piece lies in the creative genesis of Philo T. Farnsworth. According to the article, Bargatze stumbled upon the story of Farnsworth during a late‑night research session for a joke about old‑school TV sets. The inventor’s relentless pursuit of a workable electronic television, culminating in the first fully electronic TV broadcast in 1927, resonated with Bargatze’s own “inventive” comedic journey.

In Philo T. Farnsworth, Bargatze adopts the persona of a “talking head” that humorously recounts Farnsworth’s trials, triumphs, and the strange world of early broadcast technology. The special is structured in three acts: the first establishes Farnsworth’s background; the second dives into his technical experiments, including comedic visual gags that mimic early television’s shaky picture; and the third reflects on how Farnsworth’s invention shaped modern entertainment—and how it parallels the modern comedian’s craft.

The article quotes a brief clip from the special, in which Bargatze, wearing a vintage suit and a pair of oversized glasses, delivers a monologue about the “tremendous, terrible patience required to get a screen to flicker just right.” The piece underscores how Bargatze’s self‑deprecating humor about the “invisible work behind the curtain”—whether it’s building a TV or building a joke—creates a connective tissue with his audience.

Critical Reception

Deseret’s coverage reports that the special has been met with largely positive reviews across the board. NPR’s “All Things Considered” segment, linked within the article, praised Bargatze’s “meticulous layering of humor and historical fact.” A Variety review echoed this sentiment, calling the program a “masterclass in blending nostalgia with present‑day punchlines.”

The article includes a side‑by‑side comparison of audience metrics: Netflix’s own data shows that Philo T. Farnsworth drew over 4.7 million viewers in its first week, a slight dip from Bargatze’s I Love My Mom but still a solid performance given the saturated streaming market. Deseret’s editorial analysis attributes the moderate drop to a “generally slower launch weekend” but highlights the special’s strong word‑of‑mouth buzz, particularly among comedy fans on Reddit’s r/standup and Twitter.

The Comedy of Technical Silliness

An interesting angle the piece explores is how Bargatze uses Farnsworth’s early television experiments as a metaphor for the modern comedian’s reliance on technology. He pokes fun at the era’s “freaky, unreliable gear” and draws parallels with today’s algorithm‑driven platforms. The article cites an interview excerpt from a comedy podcast (link provided) where Bargatze jokes, “You know you’re a comedian when your biggest worry is whether the Wi‑Fi will hold up during your set.”

The Deseret article also delves into how Bargatze’s family life influences his material. He weaves in anecdotes about his wife’s “farcical” attempts at DIY home repairs, juxtaposing them with Farnsworth’s lab mishaps. The result, according to the piece, is a special that feels personal yet universally relatable.

A Forward Look

The closing section of the Deseret piece speculates on what comes next for Bargatze. While the comedian remains coy about upcoming projects, the article hints at a possible live tour in early 2026, with “special themed to the evolution of broadcast media.” It also references a potential partnership with PBS for a documentary on comedic pioneers—a possibility that would dovetail nicely with the historical bent of Philo T. Farnsworth.

Readers are directed to Bargatze’s official Twitter account (link included) for real‑time updates and behind‑the‑scenes footage from the special’s production. The article concludes by noting that, regardless of future ventures, Bargatze’s unique blend of “simple storytelling, historical curiosity, and gentle sarcasm” ensures that his comedic legacy will endure long past the last broadcast from Farnsworth’s laboratory.

In Summary

Nate Bargatze’s Philo T. Farnsworth is more than a stand‑up special; it is a creative homage to a pivotal moment in technological history, packaged in the comedian’s unmistakable, clean‑cut style. The Deseret piece paints a vivid picture of the project’s conception, execution, and reception, while situating Bargatze within a broader conversation about comedy’s relationship to media evolution. With solid viewership numbers, favorable reviews, and an evident appetite for more, Bargatze is poised to keep his audience laughing—and perhaps learning—about the curious past that informs the present.