Nate Bargatze Reveals Struggle to Save ‘Washington’s Dream’ Sketch After SNL Flop

Nate Bargatze, in collaboration with Saturday Night Live writers Mikey Day and Streeter Seidell, successfully brought the sketch “Washington’s Dream” from concept to broadcast.

This particular sketch, which Bargatze credits with catapulting his career to new heights, was nearly scrapped after a lackluster performance during the SNL table read. Speaking on Vulture‘s Good One podcast, the trio, who also teamed up for Bargatze’s CBS holiday special, shared the backstory of how “Washington’s Dream” was developed and why Bargatze was so determined to see it through, despite initial hesitations from executive producer Lorne Michaels.

“Washington’s Dream,” now boasting over 17 million views on SNL‘s YouTube channel and a sequel, relies heavily on Bargatze’s comedic delivery, timing, and tone. The content of the sketch primarily consists of factual statements about the peculiarities of the U.S. measurement system rather than conventional punchlines. In the sketch, SNL veteran Kenan Thompson occasionally chimes in to pose questions about George Washington’s intentions regarding slavery, which Washington repeatedly sidesteps or redirects into discussions about Fahrenheit versus Celsius.

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Day and Seidell had initially shaped the sketch long before Bargatze was slated to host SNL in October 2023. Bargatze humorously recounted interactions with celebrities like Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Jon Stewart who praised the sketch, saying, “I told Tom Hanks I wrote it though. I told him, ‘Lorne didn’t want to run it, I said, Lorne, you have to let me do this!’”

Reflecting on the early development of the sketch, Day mentioned, “It’s strange to think now, but back when we initially worked on it, we hadn’t decided on Nate for Washington yet.”

Initially, the sketch only garnered mild laughter at the table read, with Bargatze recalling, “It definitely did not go well.” Seidell noted, “It had potential, but it wasn’t a standout during the read.” The final touches, including references to football and Thompson’s contributions, were added after further discussion and refinements to the script.

At the dress rehearsal, the future of the sketch was uncertain, teetering between being included or cut. Bargatze shared, “At SNL, you have more influence than you might think. Part of me was like, ‘Just do whatever, I don’t want to be the guy who messes up your 50-year TV legacy because I watched [Aaron Sorkin’s] Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.’”

However, during dress rehearsal, the sketch was a hit, initially placed last but after its success, moved up to follow the opening monologue. Bargatze explained, “It killed. It just destroyed at dress rehearsal.”

Looking ahead, Bargatze and the writers are hopeful for further episodes if he hosts again, though they would cap it at two additional sequels. “We’d be disappointed if it didn’t happen,” they said.

Watch the full interview here: