As a fan, I can’t help but marvel at Bowen Yang’s incredible journey. From folding laundry on a seemingly ordinary morning to receiving an Emmy nomination, it’s a testament to his resilience and talent. His life, far from dull, is a whirlwind of creativity and ambition that leaves me in awe.
Bowen Yang’s Emmy nomination for Saturday Night Live came on an otherwise ordinary day. That morning, he was busy with activities like journaling and doing laundry.
Yang describes that particular moment, when he got the news through a text from his team, as being incredibly sweet amidst his ordinary, daily routine. However, it’s clear that his life is anything but ordinary – beyond hosting Saturday Night Live, he also co-hosts the award-winning podcast Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers. Later this year, you can see him playing Pfannee in the eagerly awaited first part of the two-part film adaptation, Wicked.
Yang’s schedule appears tough, yet he remains composed. He explains, “I front-load my week.” On Mondays and Tuesdays, he engages with Las Culturistas, then moves on to SNL’s table read on Wednesday. During the time he was filming Wicked, he would fly to London on Sundays following SNL, and return for the next week’s show by Wednesday. It’s a cycle of wash, rinse, repeat!
“SNL serves as a constant anchor for me, given all the changes,” he notes. “I’ve grown accustomed to wearing various hats, and now each role feels familiar because of my experience with SNL. I might not have this level of comfort if it weren’t for my time there.”
As a lifelong film enthusiast and someone who has been following the Emmys for decades, I must say that this year’s nomination feels particularly special for me. I have been watching Yang’s career blossom over the years, and to see him recognized yet again is truly heartening. However, what makes this nomination stand out is not just the number of times he has been nominated or the category he was chosen in, but rather the personal journey that led him to this point.
As a fan looking back, I’m particularly grateful this year. The strikes seemed to hit reset on everything, leaving us with an abrupt, incomplete feeling about season 48. It was disappointing not to have a proper farewell or reflect on the season then. But this time around, we’ve been given the opportunity to revisit two complete seasons, and it’s been a deeply emotional and intriguing journey for me.
Last summer, production on SNL‘s season 48 was abruptly ended due to a writers’ and actors’ strike that halted Hollywood. Upon resuming for season 49, Michael Yang delivered standout performances – the “Bowen’s Straight” pretape with Sydney Sweeney, the George Santos cold open, and the “Doctor” sketch featuring Ryan Gosling being some of the highlights.
While critiquing his own comedy, the comedian can’t help but pause and acknowledge the achievements of his peers too, particularly the popular “Beavis and Butt-head” skit featuring Gosling and Mikey Day. “I’m not shy to admit that being recognized in this category is a testament to the entire cast,” he says. “We can only be as strong as our collective team.”
SNL earned four nominations for this year’s awards, reinforcing its status as the most frequently Emmy-nominated show ever, boasting a total of 341 nominations.
“Yang expresses that the show feels exceptionally unique. We’re fortunate to be able to develop our comedic concepts fully, and we have a great opportunity to do so. In fact, it seems like one of the few remaining live shows that viewers still watch as it airs,” he says.
Known for being a hit on Saturdays, the television show led by Lorne Michaels is getting ready to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, and fans can’t wait to find out more about the grand celebration’s plans.
“Yang remarks that even among us, there’s an uncertainty,” he says. “The idea is still a captivating dream in Lorne’s mind. We’ll discover along with everyone else.”
Regardless of its form, Yang is certain that any celebration will have an “eye on the future” element. This leads us to ponder: Where will the realm of sketch comedy head after half a century of SNL?
“Yang remarks that platforms such as TikTok, offering instant gratification and easy consumption, are fantastic as they’ve made many aspects more accessible to people. However, he adds, this also boosts the distinctive, three-cornered identity of shows like SNL even further. It’s less durable than traditional TV, yet it can sometimes be considered more enduring than much of internet content. Essentially, it’s a blend of both worlds, and it exhibits great agility.”
Season 50 will be Yang’s seventh with SNL, his sixth as a castmember after initially coming on board as a writer. The job, perhaps one of the most open to ridicule in the industry, has come with its struggles, but Yang says he’s past that.
He shares, “Last year, I experienced a significant setback regarding that concept. However, since then, I’ve developed a beautiful, all-encompassing perspective about things, and I am extremely pleased with my contributions to the show.”
Lately, on his podcast, Yang expressed that Saturday Night Live is the most awkward spectacle in entertainment. However, it’s this awkwardness that draws him back repeatedly.
“Yang points out a cultural phenomenon where ‘theater kids’ are sometimes ridiculed, but these individuals have learned to rise above the initial embarrassment associated with it. He suggests that this fear of appearing foolish is common and serves as a vital ingredient in developing comedy skills, particularly when working at Saturday Night Live.”
Ever since I stepped into 30 Rock for my initial screen test, it’s been a leap of faith. “As I walked in for that first trial, I felt exposed,” I recall. “I knew no one would chuckle – that’s the myth of the SNL screen test, no one laughs. I remember leaving that first audition, thinking, ‘Well, I’m not anxious. I will never be anxious again.'”
Despite appearing somewhat exaggerated, Yang himself claims this sentiment to be accurate: “My bouts of apprehension have only been limited to my time on Saturday Night Live. In any other setting, I remain remarkably calm, like a composed cucumber.”
I’ve always been a devoted reader of The Hollywood Reporter magazine, and I can confidently say that their Aug. 14 issue was a real treasure trove of insights and stories about the entertainment industry. If you haven’t subscribed yet, I highly recommend it – each issue is packed with informative articles and exclusive interviews that you won’t find anywhere else. Don’t miss out on being in the know! Click here to subscribe now.
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2024-08-18 21:25