I bring you the scoop on a hilarious behind-the-scenes moment between Bowen Yang and Ariana Grande from their recent collaboration on “Saturday Night Live.” It all started when Grande hosted SNL for the second time on October 12th, in promotion of the upcoming “Wicked” musical movie, in which Yang also stars. While Grande mostly refrained from showcasing her powerful vocals, she showcased her comedic skills in a sketch that left audiences in awe.
In the “Charades with Mom” sketch, Grande portrayed a mother who encounters Yang, her son’s boyfriend, for the first time. As the two characters engaged in a game of charades, the situation quickly escalated, leading to a physical altercation and an unexpected kiss between the on-screen pair.
Now, in a recent episode of Yang’s “Las Culturistas” podcast, the actor has revealed he felt the need to personally apologize to Grande for his enthusiastic performance during that kiss. “I really have to apologize to you in person,” Yang told Grande on the podcast. “I opened up my mouth too much when we kissed on ‘SNL.'”
Grande agreed without hesitation, admitting, “You absolutely did.” I was shaking after. The shaking wasn’t unpleasant, but rather disarming. Yang was quick to profusely apologize, but Grande assured him that she had no ill feelings about the interaction. In fact, she revealed that the spontaneous kiss was not even originally in the script.
“When we rehearsed it, [I had] a little thought in my head,” Grande recalled. “I refrained from speaking because I was of the opinion that everyone would perceive me as excessively comfortable and insane.” But I thought to myself, ‘How funny would it be if we kissed at the end?'”
Grande explained that the moment felt right for the characters, saying, “It felt like what these people needed at that time. It felt like what these characters required. And I’m all for it.” The pair’s playful banter and candid discussion of the incident on the podcast have provided fans with an endearing glimpse into the creative process behind their “SNL” collaboration.
In a separate segment of the interview, Grande even treated listeners to a spot-on impersonation of Hermione Granger from the “Harry Potter” films, at Yang’s request. Channeling the character’s signature vocal fry, Grande delivered the memorable line, “Ron’s been splinched!” to the delight of the hosts.
This is just the latest in a growing list of celebrity impressions that Grande has showcased, including the likes of Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, and Jennifer Coolidge. In the highly anticipated “Wicked” movie adaptation, Bowen Yang and Ariana Grande will continue their on-screen partnership. Yang will portray the character of Pfannee, while Grande takes on the role of Glinda the Good Witch, starring opposite Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba.
In a touching moment during the podcast interview, Matt Rogers, Yang’s co-host, expressed his gratitude to Grande for being “such a good sister” to his friend. He also praised her for the incredible work she’s doing on the “Wicked” project, stating, “It’s just so amazing to see someone do something they were born to do.”
With the first installment of the “Wicked” movie, “Wicked: Part One,” slated for release on November 22, 2023, fans are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to see Yang and Grande bring their on-screen magic to the beloved musical. And if their recent “SNL” collaboration is any indication, it’s sure to be a performance worth watching.