It had to happen: a comedian stepped onto the podium wearing a helmet at a major awards ceremony. Nate Bargatze was the comedian packing protection as he stepped out to present the awards during the Grammys’ premiere ceremony Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas.
LeVar Burton, who hosted the webcast that awarded most of the Grammys of the day, said, “Now I want to warn you all that our next host is a comedian, if you know what I mean.” You knew. “So I have to warn everyone, stay in your seats and keep your hands to yourself. Alright?” Burton introduced Bargatze as a comic that “sells out shows across America with clean, family-friendly comedy and hits another milestone today with a Best Comedy Album nomination.”
Referring to Will Smith, who beat Chris Rock at the Oscars a week ago, Bargatze said: “They said comedians now have to wear these at awards shows during the joke parts. It doesn’t even cover your face, I guess it just focuses on where you would hit me… Okay, that’s dumb, I’m taking it off.”
No comedian was harmed during the production of the more than three-hour pre-Grammy show, but there’s still three and a half hours of prime time on CBS, so the night is young.
Bargatze was nominated for Comedy Album this year for his album The Greatest Average American, beating out competition from Lavell Crawford, Chelsea Handler, Louis CK, Lewis Black and Kevin Hart. The Nashville comic’s Netflix specials include The Tennessee Kid and The Greatest Average American.
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