Ariana Grande and Bowen Yang Hilariously Swap 'Wicked' for 'Moulin Rouge' on 'SNL'

Ariana Grande and her Wicked costar Bowen Yang traded the hallowed halls of Shiz University for 1900s Paris in a Saturday Night Live sketch.

Grande, 30, appeared as the musical guest on the Saturday, March 9, episode of SNL and had roles in various sketches during the night. In her first sketch, she teamed up with SNL cast member Yang, 33, for a Moulin Rouge parody.

During the show, fellow SNL cast member Mikey Day introduced a segment called "Musical Theatre Masterpieces" hosted by Ken Burnt. It was Oscar weekend, and they were revisiting one of the rare movie musicals nominated for best picture - the 2001 film starring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. Highlighting the movie's iconic 'Elephant Love Medley,' which featured a blend of 10 popular love songs like 'All You Need is Love' and 'I Will Always Love You.'

Day’s fictional PBS host mentioned that the original medley was actually much longer than what was shown. They experimented with more songs, unsure of which ones they could secure the rights to. The host then urged viewers to take a look.

The camera then shifted to Grande and Yang, who were on a replica of the famous Paris rooftop set from the film. They performed a medley of musical covers, such as "Up Where We Belong" by Jennifer Warnes and Joe Cocker, "Do-Re-Mi" by Julie Andrews, "You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift, TLC’s “Creep”, and even a rendition of “Happy Birthday.”

Ariana Grande, Bowen Yang Trade ‘Wicked’ for ‘Moulin Rouge’ in ‘SNL’ Spoof — And Can't Stop Laughing

NBC/YouTube

As the duo performed snippets of the songs, they wistfully looked into each other's eyes. Grande and Yang couldn't help but break character at one point, bursting into laughter. Despite trying to continue singing, they had more moments of uncontrollable giggles, especially when Yang sang Shania Twain's "Man! I Feel Like a Woman" and a second version of "Happy Birthday."

Grande later joined Yang in another sketch called "People Pleaser Support Group," where they portrayed characters struggling with the idea of saying no.

As the night’s musical guest, Grande performed two songs from her new Eternal Sunshine album: “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” and “Imperfect for You.”

Ariana Grande, Bowen Yang Trade ‘Wicked’ for ‘Moulin Rouge’ in ‘SNL’ Spoof — And Can't Stop Laughing

NBC/YouTube

In between sketches and performances, Grande and Yang candidly discussed her LP, which dropped on Friday, March 8.

Yang excitedly shared his interpretation of Eternal Sunshine 2024 in a Saturday Instagram Story video posted by Grande. He described the album as a dream, where you fall asleep and experience a series of vivid images before waking up at the end.

Grande, who couldn't help but laugh throughout the social media footage, expressed in her caption that Yang is "the love of my life." The two first met on the set of the highly-anticipated Wicked movie musical, which finished filming in January. Grande takes on the role of Galinda/Glinda the Good Witch, while Yang portrays her Shiz University classmate Pfannee.

Saturday Night Live airs on NBC Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides an entertaining glimpse into Ariana Grande's recent appearance on Saturday Night Live, where she showcased her versatility in both sketches and musical performances. The Moulin Rouge parody with Bowen Yang was particularly delightful, with the duo's infectious laughter and undeniable chemistry adding to the charm of the performance. Yang's thoughtful interpretation of Grande's latest album, Eternal Sunshine, further highlights the bond between the two artists.

Grande's appearance on SNL also serves as a reminder of her upcoming role as Glinda in the highly anticipated Wicked movie musical. Her casting alongside Yang, who plays Pfannee, has generated much excitement among fans. The glimpses of their chemistry on SNL suggest that they will bring a fresh and dynamic energy to these iconic characters. Overall, the article offers a glimpse into Grande's diverse talents and the anticipation surrounding her upcoming projects.