As a die-hard fan of Bowen Yang, I’ve been utterly amazed by his incredible journey through the world of entertainment. Balancing two heavyweight projects like Saturday Night Live and Wicked is no easy feat for even the most seasoned performers. But watching Yang navigate this whirlwind of responsibilities with grace, humor, and unparalleled determination, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride that rivals my love for my own family.
Working on Saturday Night Live is no walk in the park due to its high demands. The difficulty increases when you’re trying to manage it alongside another project. With Season 50 of SNL slated for 2024 and the release of Wicked, Bowen Yang has shared his experiences juggling his duties on the sketch comedy show with the musical, as well as Lorne Michaels‘ mandate for him to participate in both. The process presented numerous challenges.
The actor and podcaster recently had a conversation with one of his bosses, Will Ferrell, for Interview Magazine (Ferrell is the owner of Big Money Players Network, where the Las Culturistas podcast is based). During their chat, they discussed Yang’s versatility and the unique challenge of working on both the London production of Wicked and SNL in New York simultaneously. When asked about his past in musical theater and being part of one of the most anticipated films of 2024, the Nora From Queens veteran admitted that he didn’t have extensive experience in this area.
Throughout my lifetime, I’ve been more of an enthusiast than an expert, particularly when it comes to Broadway and musicals. While others might believe I possess extensive knowledge, the truth is, it’s quite superficial. In fact, I sometimes feel as though I’ve managed to bluff my way into this movie production, given that they cast me in a role originally intended for a man. It’s baffling to find myself sharing scenes with luminaries like Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum, and it stirs up feelings of impostor syndrome within me.
As a die-hard fan, I must admit that I sometimes struggle with feelings of being an impostor, even though I know deep down that Yang is simply fantastic. Yet, he bravely addressed the hurdles of shooting both the series and the movie concurrently, making me admire him even more.
As a die-hard fan, I’d like to share that the star of “Will & Harper” inquired about the filming locations and daily commute when Yang disclosed that “Wicked” was shot in London. He admitted that his ambitious work schedule was formulated following his boss at SNL outlining the demands for him to juggle both roles.
On Saturdays, I was taking the stage for performances, and Lorne [Michaels] said, “You can manage it if you don’t skip a show.” To which I replied, “No worries. My CBD oil helps with jet lag, and these green tea caffeine nootropic gels keep me alert. Piece of cake!” Little did I know, this grueling schedule would lead to a mental breakdown. [Laughs.] The routine was: Perform on Saturdays, fly early Sunday mornings, arrive at night in London, shoot on Monday and Tuesday, then return Wednesday.
Hasn’t anyone else felt their mind implode lately, as I have?
Despite being unsustainable, there’s no denying the fantastic nature of both projects. He then elaborated on the true circumstances and pondered over the entire episode, expressing that he won’t repeat the same undertaking in the future.
I repeated that task so many times that it pushed me to the brink of madness. While I hold no remorse over it, and consider it a privilege to be part of both the film and SNL simultaneously, I vow never to endure the grueling weekly eight-hour commute again.
I’m pleased that Pfannee is one of Glinda’s aides, but what makes me even more joyful is that he no longer has to endure the grueling commute. Now that Part 1 of Wicked is finished, he can relax (or at least not have to travel so much for work) and focus on performing in Studio 8H again.
As a gamer speaking, here’s my take: I’m still busy with films and SNL, but mark your calendars! In 2025, I’ll be part of the remake of Ang Lee’s iconic 1993 film, The Wedding Banquet. And let’s not forget, there’s Part 2 of Wicked lined up too! As for weekly fixes, just tune in to NBC every Saturday and you’ll find me there.
Hey there! Here’s to hoping that the rest of Yang’s SNL days come with simpler tasks, super quick journeys, and minimal brain-bending moments – aka no more meltdowns. Plus, I’m wishing for him an abundance of successful projects ahead, as I can’t imagine anyone else nailing the Titanic iceberg, the iconic Moo Deng character, or J.D. Vance quite like he does. Keep shining, Yang!
If you’re interested in watching “Saturday Night Live,” you can tune in to NBC on Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. Eastern Time, or if you have a Peacock subscription, you can stream it. As for the movie that Yang was filming simultaneously with SNL, you can catch the highly-praised “Wicked” in theaters right now.
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2024-11-28 02:08