SNL Stars Nate Bargatze and Ego Nwodim Battle for Culinary Excellence in Hilarious Sketch

The Big Picture

Comedian Nate Bargatze brings the humor with a Food Network-inspired sketch on SNL.

A white chef, to the surprise of the judges and special guest Padma Lakshmi, triumphs in a soul food cooking competition. The sketch ingeniously capitalizes on Bargatze's image as a comedian known for being affable, as evidenced by his continuous apologies and genuine astonishment upon winning. With his deadpan demeanor and authentic apologies, the sketch evokes both uproarious laughter and a compelling impact.

Host Nate Bargatze kicked off Saturday Night Live with a hilarious sketch inspired by the Food Network. The sketch featured special guest star Padma Lakshmi. In this amusing scenario, a chef named Dougie wins a coveted spot on "The Black Kitchen" and becomes a Cultural ambassador for Howard University. He even earns an invitation to the prestigious Essence Fest, all because of his participation in the Chef Showdown competition. However, there's a twist. Dougie, who happens to be a white chef portrayed by Bargatze, surprises the celebrity chef judges by creating soul food that exceeds their expectations. On the other hand, Dougie's competition, played by Ego Nwodim, disappoints the judges with a meatless meal. Throughout the sketch, Dougie incessantly apologizes for the quality of his food, which only further highlights its excellence. Eventually, Dougie is asked about his background, revealing that he hails from Rhode Island and does not have any African American heritage. As it turns out, Dougie's true advantage in the competition was the assistance he received from eliminated chef Mikey Day. Day, feeling remorseful, apologizes for his contribution to the collards dish that received earlier praise from the judges.

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Sometimes, Simplicity Is Great for 'SNL' Sketches

The sketch becomes more entertaining when it is discovered that Nwodim's assistant was Devon Walker. It was amusing to witness Thompson's complete disdain for everything that both Walker and Nwodim mentioned about their food, until eventually Nwodim disclosed that she resided in France, using it as an excuse for the perceived inferiority of her soul food.

The sketch itself is successful due to its clever use of two-tiered humor. One aspect plays on the fact that Bargatze is known as the "nice guy" comedian, as evidenced by his constant apologies during promos leading up to his hosting week. However, his continual apologies also suggest that he was taken by surprise with his win. While he expressed gratitude, it was clear that the gifts, such as a guest spot on "The Black Kitchen," were not intended for him. The unexpected victory of a white man in the Soul Food cooking challenge left Bargatze's character, the judges, and even Lakshmi in utter disbelief, resulting in a hilariously effective sketch.

Bargatze's sketch is enhanced by his deadpan delivery and hilariously authentic apologies. It serves as a testament to his hosting abilities, particularly at this early stage of the night, giving a glimpse of what audiences can expect from his performance. Take a look at the sketch below: