Nate Bargatze and the Contagiousness of Clean Comedy

Despite some recent stories suggesting otherwise, clean comedy is hardly a new phenomenon.

Since the days of American frontier storytellers, the wit and comedy of newspaper columnist Mark Twain, Vaudeville, and the rise of early radio and television comics and performers, humor has long been family-friendly and suitable for all ages.

Only with the cultural revolution beginning in the 1960s did “off color” performances begin to gain traction. Explicit “comedy” developed over a period of time with individuals pushing boundaries little by little until somehow the profane became so commonplace that clean standup comedians began to stand out.

Nate Bargatze has become a widely beloved and appreciated clean comic who has said he never wants to say anything on stage that would embarrass his mom and dad. A believer in Jesus Christ, Nate is a Christian who’s a comic, though he’s not labeled a Christian comic. His appearances on Saturday Night Live have gone viral on social media.

The degeneration and ultimate restoration of comedy is a helpful lesson in human nature – especially in a constantly evolving culture.

Scripture is clear that moral character and goodness are beneficial contagions. It was Jesus who urged, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Behavior can be infectious – and clean comedy can be, too.

Derrick Stroup, who made his national debut on the Tonight Show in 2023, credits Nate Bargatze with influencing his embrace of family-friendly humor.

“Nate Bargatze took me under his wing just a couple years ago,” Stroup recently reflected. “This guy’s out here selling out four shows in one weekend at an arena – 20,000, 80,000 tickets in a weekend. But because he’s completely clean and he’s not edgy and he’s not up there starting a revolution with a microphone in his hand, he doesn’t get the outside love.”

Stroup, who is an Alabama native who describes himself as a “Waffle House enthusiast,” is also doing his part to try and convince others to keep their shows family friendly.

“Clean comedy is the way to go by far,” he says. “I preach it to everybody that’ll listen. These young comics, I try to save them.”

Comics like Stroup and Brian Regan acknowledge their decision to avoid cursing and raunchy punchlines isn’t a moral crusade but a business one. But consider Stroup’s analysis of those in the audience. 

“Nobody’s ever came up to me after a show and went, ‘Those jokes were really good man, but if you’d have cussed a little bit, you could have sent us over the top … Everybody goes, ‘Thanks for being clean. That was a really fun show …’ That feels good to have a product that travels and everybody’s excited to see.”

Clean comedy isn’t the only thing that’s culturally contagious.

Historically, marriage has been a cultural contagion, too. When people see others getting married, it increases their own desire to tie the knot. The same is true with not only having children, but having lots of them. 

Moral outrage can also be a cultural contagion. Slavery was once widely accepted until the groundswell of public opposition hit a tipping point. 

Today, many have capitulated on hot button issues like abortion, same-sex marriage, and the broad array of sexual confusion. But a good many only believe in these fantasies because they see so many others seemingly believing and buying the lies as well.

When strong leaders stand up and speak out, their courage can help stir and stiffen the resolve of the otherwise silent.

We’re grateful for the wit and entertaining personalities of people like Nate Bargatze, but make no mistake: the contagiousness of courage in today’s culture is no joke.