It is hard to imagine any list of modern Saturday Night Live classic sketches without Nate Bargatze's George Washington. It has become one of the most celebrated comedy pieces of the past several seasons, spawning sequels and helping cement Bargatze as one of the show's most successful first-time hosts in recent memory. But according to the comedian, the sketch nearly failed before it ever reached the stage.
During a recent appearance on Travis and Jason Kelce's New Heights podcast, Bargatze reflected on his first experience hosting Saturday Night Live in October 2023. While viewers ultimately embraced the now-famous "Washington's Dream" sketch, the initial reaction inside Studio 8H was far less enthusiastic.
Bargatze explained that the challenge stemmed from the unique environment of an SNL table read. "We did a table read, and it didn’t go good when we did the table read," he said.
Unlike a stand-up comedy performance, where a comedian can adjust rhythm and delivery based on audience reactions, table reads are much quieter affairs. Writers, producers, cast members, and executives sit around a conference table listening to dozens of sketches in rapid succession, often offering little reaction.
For a performer whose comedy style relies heavily on timing and audience feedback, that created an adjustment period. "Because it’s like, my timing is – I’m used to a crowd. So, once I can hear laughter, it’s like I’ll be able to pace off that, and with the table read, there’s not a ton of laughter," Bargatze shared. "So they were like, ‘I don’t know,’ and then I was like, ‘Let’s just do it with the dress rehearsal.’"
Once it was performed in front of a live crowd, the response was immediate. The audience embraced the absurd premise of George Washington passionately defending America's confusing system of measurements while treating logical alternatives as unpatriotic nonsense.
The sketch quickly became a viral sensation online, and it helped introduced Bargatze to an audience otherwise unfamiliar with his stand-up. That popularity eventually led to something relatively rare for a host. When Bargatze returned to host again in October 2024, SNL brought back the concept with "Washington's Dream 2," featuring another lesson from America's first president about the nation's baffling traditions.
His story also highlights something longtime SNL veterans have discussed for years. Table reads can be notoriously misleading and offer some of the toughtest rooms in comedy.
Former cast members have often described the process as one of the most nerve-racking parts of the week. Many sketches that generate little reaction on Wednesday can thrive once costumes, sets, performances, and a live audience enter the equation. Conversely, some sketches that seem destined for success during the read-through fail to make an impression on Saturday night.
Bargatze's experience may be one of the best recent examples of why patience matters during the SNL process. A sketch that appeared questionable on paper ultimately became one of the defining sketches of the decade.
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