The Tennessee Kid

Nate Bargatze works in the space of the mildly baffled common man, delivering lines with a flat, Southern monotone that makes absolute bewilderment sound like plain common sense. He tackles the absurd logistical nightmare of how to dispose of a dead horse, the deep humiliation of realizing he cannot solve a basic math problem, and the surreal experience of growing up with a father who worked as a clown and a magician. While he is a clean comic, his material avoids the forced wholesomeness of traditional family-friendly stand-up by focusing instead on the quiet indignities of being slightly below average.

Filmed at the Infinite Energy Center in Duluth, Georgia, and released on Netflix in March 2019, the special marked Bargatze’s transition from a respected club comic and late-night favorite into a major touring headliner. It followed his well-received 30-minute set on the first season of The Standups in 2017. Directed by Ryan Polito, The Tennessee Kid solidified Bargatze’s signature style: slow-paced, low-energy storytelling built on domestic friction, awkward travel encounters, and the quiet struggles of everyday adult life. The set also includes an updated, extended version of his popular ‘milk and coffee’ bit, rewarding long-time followers while introducing his distinct voice to a much broader global audience.