The Greatest Average American

Nate Bargatze leans heavily into his slow-burn, Everyman persona to anchor a show performed under some of the most distracting stand-up conditions imaginable. Taped outdoors during the pandemic, the set is punctuated by a steady stream of helicopters buzzing overhead, which Bargatze politely pauses for before suggesting his next special should just be filmed at LAX. He treats the unusual setup of spaced-out tables, a masked audience, and a stage built on a studio lot with the same mild bewilderment he applies to everything else in life.

Filmed at Universal Studios Hollywood and released on Netflix in March 2021, the special caught Bargatze at a transitional moment in his career, firmly establishing him as a major clean comic who could draw massive audiences without relying on blue material or political division. The set features his trademark observational storytelling, including a breakdown of a friend confidently pouring maple syrup directly into a hotel waffle iron and the frustration of trying to understand common core math. He also details the absurdity of early pandemic safety protocols, like getting a temperature check from an indifferent teenager. The hour went on to earn a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album.