“I’ve… Been Through” (w/ Ariana Grande)

Summary

Podcast Summary: Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang featuring Ariana Grande

Episode: “I’ve… Been Through”
Release Date: November 6, 2024
Guests: Ariana Grande
Produced by: Big Money Players Network and iHeartPodcasts

In this engaging episode of Las Culturistas, hosts Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang welcome pop superstar Ariana Grande for an in-depth conversation that traverses the realms of musical theater, personal growth, and behind-the-scenes insights from her latest project, the film adaptation of Wicked.

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1. Welcome and Introductions ([01:00] – [02:00])

Matt Rogers kicks off the episode with light-hearted banter, introducing the theme of the day centered around culture and its multifaceted impact. Bowen Yang complements Matt’s enthusiasm, setting the stage for a vibrant discussion.

Matt Rogers [01:00]: "Calling tactile as fuck."

Bowen Yang [01:08]: "Tactile. Af."

The hosts establish a playful rapport, immediately drawing listeners into their dynamic chemistry.

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2. Theme Parks and Wicked ([02:00] – [05:00])

The conversation swiftly transitions to theme parks, particularly focusing on Rockefeller Center’s transformation into a themed entertainment hub. Matt Rogers shares his excitement about conceptualizing a Wicked themed ride for Epic Universe.

Matt Rogers [03:00]: "I've been thinking about the Wicked theme park ride all day. I've seen the film and I wanna unveil what I think the experience of the theme park ride at Epic Universe would be."

Ariana Grande expresses her enthusiasm for the project, highlighting the blend of nostalgia and innovation.

Ariana Grande [05:00]: "This is a blessing and a half and three quarters."

The hosts discuss the potential of integrating Wicked into the theme park, envisioning immersive experiences that honor the original material while introducing fresh elements.

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3. Behind the Scenes of Wicked ([05:00] – [15:00])

Delving deeper, Ariana Grande recounts her journey in portraying Glinda in the Wicked film. She emphasizes the meticulous preparation, including extensive script readings and vocal training.

Ariana Grande [07:00]: "Finding that balance between honoring the iconic Glinda and bringing myself to it was crucial."

Bowen Yang shares anecdotes about on-set interactions, highlighting the collaborative atmosphere and the emotional depth of the project.

Bowen Yang [12:36]: "It was too much. It lives on its own, but in the most brilliant way."

The trio reflects on the challenges of adapting such a beloved character for the big screen, ensuring authenticity while infusing personal touches.

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4. Wicked and Personal Growth ([15:00] – [25:00])

Ariana Grande delves into how her role in Wicked has influenced her personal and professional growth. She discusses the emotional toll of portraying a character grappling with internal and external conflicts.

Ariana Grande [20:02]: "It's emotional because it's like acting and I'm not going to, you know, whatever you. We hit our marks and do our thing."

Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang commend Ariana’s dedication and emotional intelligence, acknowledging the transformative power of her role.

Matt Rogers [21:22]: "What you're doing is incredible. I love you both so much. Thank you for having me."

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5. Exploring Ariana’s Interests: Horror and Creativity ([25:00] – [40:00])

The discussion shifts to Ariana Grande’s interest in horror films. She shares her favorite movies and expresses her appreciation for psychological horror over gore for the sake of gore.

Ariana Grande [25:55]: "I would want to do a great job. I want to do an incredible job. I love horror that's psychological and thoughtful."

Bowen Yang and Matt delve into her creative processes, exploring how her multifaceted talents extend beyond music and acting.

Matt Rogers [32:20]: "Quince offers affordable, high-quality essentials for any wardrobe..."

Ariana Grande reveals her passion for painting, highlighting how creative outlets like drawing and painting provide her solace and inspiration.

Ariana Grande [64:08]: "I paint with my dad sometimes. We do little paint and sips."

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6. SNL Hosting Insights ([40:00] – [50:00])

Ariana Grande reflects on her experiences hosting Saturday Night Live. She discusses the challenges and rewards of performing on such a prestigious platform, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and maintaining a positive mindset.

Ariana Grande [35:03]: "I find comfort in getting to know everyone and being open. It’s a really safe and fun experience."

Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang admire her ability to infuse joy and authenticity into her performances, drawing parallels to her work in Wicked.

Matt Rogers [34:38]: "You can tell it leads from a joy that you have to do it and like a motivation to work hard and get it right."

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7. Creative Collaborations and Personal Stories ([50:00] – [70:00])

The hosts and Ariana Grande share personal anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories from various projects, including memorable moments on set and collaborative creativity. Ariana opens up about her supportive relationships and the emotional connections forged during filming.

Ariana Grande [57:07]: "I love meeting people and talking, but sometimes I can go and stay, overstay my welcome."

Bowen Yang highlights the significance of these moments in fostering a supportive and creative environment.

Bowen Yang [85:10]: "It was so sweet. We both kind of looked at each other and it was very sweet."

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8. "I Don't Think So, Honey" Segment ([70:00] – [98:00])

In the signature Las Culturistas crackdown segment, the trio humorously rants about calamari, poking fun at its lack of versatility as an appetizer compared to wings.

Matt Rogers [90:41]: "I don't think anyone agrees with me. See, I agree. I don't think. I mean. But I also never had it."

Ariana Grande adds her quirky take, agreeing that while calamari is popular, it doesn't quite hit the mark for her.

Ariana Grande [91:53]: "I don't want to eat them. I think it's better for the world."

The segment concludes with light-hearted banter, blending humor with genuine appreciation for diverse culinary tastes.

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9. Final Reflections and Farewell ([98:00] – [105:00])

As the episode winds down, Ariana Grande and the hosts reflect on the interconnectedness of their creative journeys. They express mutual admiration and gratitude for the collaborative spirit that makes projects like Wicked and episodes of Las Culturistas so impactful.

Ariana Grande [105:19]: "This was so much fun."

The episode closes with heartfelt goodbyes, reinforcing the bonds formed through shared creative endeavors.

Matt Rogers [105:53]: "And our music is by Henry Kabirski. Hey, everybody, it's me, Matt Rogers, letting you know tickets are on sale now to see me on tour..."

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Notable Quotes:

• Matt Rogers [03:00]: "I've been thinking about the Wicked theme park ride all day."
• Ariana Grande [07:00]: "Finding that balance between honoring the iconic Glinda and bringing myself to it was crucial."
• Matt Rogers [21:22]: "What you're doing is incredible. I love you both so much. Thank you for having me."
• Ariana Grande [25:55]: "I would want to do a great job. I want to do an incredible job."
• Matt Rogers [34:38]: "You can tell it leads from a joy that you have to do it."
• Ariana Grande [57:07]: "I love meeting people and talking..."
• Matt Rogers [90:41]: "I don't think anyone agrees with me."
• Ariana Grande [91:53]: "I don't want to eat them. I think it's better for the world."
• Ariana Grande [105:19]: "This was so much fun."

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Conclusion

This episode of Las Culturistas offers a rich tapestry of conversations that blend pop culture, personal anecdotes, and deep dives into creative processes. Ariana Grande’s openness and authenticity provide listeners with an intimate glimpse into her artistic journey and the collaborative magic behind her role in Wicked. Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang skillfully navigate through various topics, ensuring an engaging and insightful listening experience for both long-time fans and newcomers alike.

Transcript

[Ariana Grande]

Hey, comedy fans. The funniest comedians in the world are on tour, and you can get tickets to see them live near you. Laugh at the biggest names in comedy like Atsuko Okatsuka, Chelsea Handler, Corey Holcomb, Matt Matthews, Nurse John, Ralph Barboza, Ronnie Chiang, Sarah Silverman, Sebastian Maniscalco, Wanda Sykes, and so many more. All kinds of shows, all kinds of venues, all kinds of funny. Head to livenation.comcomedy to get your tickets today. That's livenation.comcomedy.

[Matt Rogers]

Hey, everybody, it's me, Matt Rogers, letting you know tickets are on sale. Now to see me on tour. The Prince of Christmas tour, that is. I'm doing my whole album have youe Heard of Christmas? Plus a lot more with the whole band, all throughout December. Go to www.mattrogersofficial.com to see me in a city near you. And now, las coach drums. Look, man. Oh, I see my. Oh, my. Bowen, look over there.

[Ariana Grande]

Wow.

[Matt Rogers]

Is that culture? Yes.

[Bowen Yang]

Goodness.

[Matt Rogers]

Wow.

[Bowen Yang]

Las ding dong. Las culturistas.

[Matt Rogers]

Calling tactile as fuck.

[Bowen Yang]

Tactile. Af.

[Matt Rogers]

Af. I've been smiling and beaming all day. I woke up with a giggle.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, my God.

[Matt Rogers]

I sort of leapt out of bed. And then I looked at myself in the mirror. And then I immediately got sad because I think I'm actually developing a stye.

[Bowen Yang]

Blepharitis. No, if you develop a stye, you just nip it in the bud and you put rice in a sock. You put it in the microwave for 30 seconds and then you just. Warm confidence.

[Matt Rogers]

Is that the cure?

[Ariana Grande]

Mm.

[Matt Rogers]

All right, good. I was all nervous today. Cause I.

[Ariana Grande]

So.

[Matt Rogers]

I literally was so excited for this. I got a facial yesterday. I got a facial for the episode.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, fun.

[Matt Rogers]

I went to the Equinox Spa and Hotel. I loved it. Cause in Hudson Yards, really the best area of New York. Remember when I was looking for an apartment in Hudson Yards?

[Bowen Yang]

I don't think I gave you any guff for it. I was like, if that's where Matt is happiest, Matt belongs at the theme park of New York City.

[Matt Rogers]

And this is what I wanted to tell you.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, go, go. But are you. What do you. How do you feel about Rockefeller center making at being the only real technical, zoned theme park in New York? Because that's what they're trying to do.

[Matt Rogers]

As the Prince of Rockefeller Center, I actually have to say, we actually are the royal court of Rockefeller Center. If you think about it, we're the.

[Bowen Yang]

Jesters in the court.

[Matt Rogers]

So as a representative of the Zone, I couldn't be prouder of my sisters who are making that place a theme park. They really are happy about it.

[Bowen Yang]

It's ticketed rides. You gotta strap on a seatbelt.

[Matt Rogers]

You know, I've gone to the top.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

Rockefeller Center. And, like, you go on the beam and it spins around. It's very thrilling. You would love it. I think. Not yet, though.

[Ariana Grande]

Is that my cue?

[Matt Rogers]

No, not yet.

[Ariana Grande]

So never mind.

[Bowen Yang]

Don't worry, we'll get into it.

[Matt Rogers]

So if you sort of just, like, heard the voice. What?

[Bowen Yang]

No. Come on.

[Ariana Grande]

I just need you to stay, Dave.

[Bowen Yang]

You got it. How would you like me? This way. No, Bone, you're actually leaning to your right, which you.

[Ariana Grande]

I know you feel natural.

[Bowen Yang]

Can we go a touch to our left?

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

Sorry to break the flow, guys.

[Ariana Grande]

I'm so sorry.

[Bowen Yang]

Just the tiniest. I'm getting a lot. So what do you want me to do?

[Ariana Grande]

I just need you to go to your.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes, of course.

[Ariana Grande]

Thank you so much.

[Bowen Yang]

Perfect. No problem.

[Ariana Grande]

No, it's okay. I'm really glad it's that and not what I thought it was. I thought she was coming in. Like, guys, there's a fire. We gotta get out of here. Come on.

[Matt Rogers]

Use all this.

[Ariana Grande]

Stairs only.

[Matt Rogers]

Wait, I'm.

[Ariana Grande]

My mind codes. She came in and I was like, something's happening.

[Matt Rogers]

She had the energy of like, it's an emergency.

[Ariana Grande]

Well, yeah, that was emergency energy.

[Bowen Yang]

The way the hair moved was urgent.

[Ariana Grande]

Gorgeous.

[Bowen Yang]

Gorgeous.

[Ariana Grande]

Stunning.

[Bowen Yang]

Curtain.

[Matt Rogers]

Excited and scared.

[Bowen Yang]

Here we go.

[Matt Rogers]

No, we're back. We're using all of that.

[Bowen Yang]

We're using all.

[Matt Rogers]

All of it is being used. And I won't.

[Bowen Yang]

Even the part where I got a little snippy. I was like, I'm getting a lot. What do you wanna.

[Matt Rogers]

No, honestly, like, that's authenticity, Beau. And that's why people love Lost Culture with Matt Rogers and Bo and Yang. Cause this is a real ass show.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, yeah, I get it.

[Matt Rogers]

And that was a real moment. And here's what I really wanna say. You've said the theme park thing. Do you know how I spent my morning? I've been thinking about the Wicked theme park ride all day. I've seen the film and I wanna unveil, like, what I think the experience of the theme park ride at Epic Universe. Epic Universe. Put it in between. There's a spot for it. You put it in between. Super Nintendo World and the Dark Universe. I feel like that's a perfect meeting for Wicked. It's Emerald City, Oz, whatever they wanna do. And I can't wait to pitch to our guest. My Idea for the theme park ride. The story of it.

[Bowen Yang]

Okay.

[Matt Rogers]

Cause I know we're with one of the true girlies.

[Bowen Yang]

We're with one of the true Floridian girlies. Let's bring her in.

[Matt Rogers]

Talk about your pal.

[Bowen Yang]

She literally saved my life. I can't even look at you. I fucking love you. She's the legend. She's playing Glinda in Wicked Part one, maybe part two. She's playing Glyndon.

[Matt Rogers]

You'll have to wait to see what happens at the end of Act 1. Does the character die?

[Bowen Yang]

Who knows, John? And they're a death.

[Matt Rogers]

Imagine the twist of, like, they killed Glenda in the world. Oh, my God. They really took a swing.

[Bowen Yang]

Fuck, that sucks.

[Matt Rogers]

We loved her performance from the first.

[Bowen Yang]

I know. If the munchkins in Munchkinland.

[Matt Rogers]

It's like a dark. Wicked. Like the Dark Knight.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, my God.

[Matt Rogers]

Our guest is a singular talent and icon. I mean, I am a fan. I've always been a fan. This is surreal. I can't believe she's here. I mean, Eternal Sunshine, one of the albums of the year, like, to say nothing of everything else she's ever put out. I mean, I can't believe this is happening. It's the film of the year, Wicked. And this guest you're about to welcome into your ears is the one, the fucking only, Ariana Grande.

[Ariana Grande]

That's my cue.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

I've been tempted to jump in every third sentence.

[Matt Rogers]

That's sort of the vibe, so.

[Ariana Grande]

Sorry. I know, but it's just been so tempting.

[Bowen Yang]

We really work our guests up and then they chime in and then they're ready to go. Okay, so pitch. Hi.

[Ariana Grande]

Thank you for having me.

[Matt Rogers]

This is a blessing and a half and three quarters.

[Ariana Grande]

Weird. Is it sor. Am I weird? Let me start over.

[Matt Rogers]

No, this is perfection.

[Ariana Grande]

Okay.

[Matt Rogers]

Do you want to know the Wicked theme park ride? Tell me now, because you want this to happen.

[Ariana Grande]

Of course I do. And I have ideas as well.

[Matt Rogers]

Okay, so let's collab. I think you go to, like, it's not shiz, it's the Emerald City. And the vibe is like, Galinda live today is going to address everyone. The Azians. It's like, we're all going.

[Bowen Yang]

We're already taking a.

[Matt Rogers]

Okay, so it's.

[Ariana Grande]

I'm already thinking about when we're going to have to shoot that.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, God. Yeah. We can figure it out.

[Ariana Grande]

I think about that sometimes, you know?

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

Shooting the theme park B roll.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah. Shooting like, you know, Hermione being like, don't forget to wear Your seatbelts?

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

You know, like that vibe.

[Matt Rogers]

Sometimes I feel like. Are they still doing that? Are they gonna go out to, like, D. Radcliffe?

[Bowen Yang]

And I think they're on contract and they're locked into something. Can you do your Hermione impression? Do you know what I'm talking about?

[Ariana Grande]

Ron's been spinched.

[Matt Rogers]

That been spleeched.

[Ariana Grande]

Harry, Ron. Harry. Ron's been splinched.

[Bowen Yang]

Perfect. Whatever.

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, my God.

[Bowen Yang]

There is something in the notes.

[Ariana Grande]

Ron.

[Matt Rogers]

Ron, there is. What is that?

[Ariana Grande]

No, you can't. I love the vocal frays.

[Bowen Yang]

It's so good. The vocal what?

[Ariana Grande]

The vocal fray.

[Bowen Yang]

The fray. Oh, my God, this is true.

[Ariana Grande]

I love it so much.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah. Okay, so Glinda's today. Glinda is addressing today.

[Matt Rogers]

Glinda live. Like, it's you. And then we, as the guests coming in, are gonna see the speech, and then something is, like, happening. So this takes place between Wicked 1 and 2.

[Ariana Grande]

Okay.

[Matt Rogers]

So in that area.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, that's fun. That's fun.

[Matt Rogers]

So it's like we believe that Elphaba's like a foot.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

Like, there's signs that are like, get the witch. You know what I mean?

[Ariana Grande]

Like that.

[Matt Rogers]

And then we get in the ride and I don't know the rest of this, but that's the setup. And you are get ready to speak. And then there's like, weather.

[Ariana Grande]

Weather.

[Matt Rogers]

Morble start to move. We think it's Alpha butt, but we know it's Morrible Michelle.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeoh. Going.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes.

[Ariana Grande]

Listen.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes.

[Bowen Yang]

Don't let her get away.

[Ariana Grande]

If you want to keep it. That's the best shot in the whole thing.

[Bowen Yang]

That's the best. When she turns.

[Ariana Grande]

When she turns and the monkeys go, oh, my God, Fuck this. It's the best shot of any movie I've ever seen in my life. She's so hot.

[Bowen Yang]

So hot.

[Ariana Grande]

She's so beautiful and regal and powerful.

[Matt Rogers]

And when she goes. Wicked Witch.

[Ariana Grande]

Yes. What a choice to get quiet.

[Matt Rogers]

Wicked witch. Oh, please. I love Michelle.

[Ariana Grande]

She's brilliant.

[Matt Rogers]

I've seen it. I DM'd you. I'm blown away by the movie. And it's just like you guys just to leave the fake world of the theme park right now. We'll figure it out. TKTK Theme park ride. The very real film is so brilliant. And you know it. You know it.

[Bowen Yang]

You knew.

[Matt Rogers]

Wicked's is a film about fanny.

[Ariana Grande]

It is.

[Matt Rogers]

He's a gay boy.

[Bowen Yang]

He's a gay boy who wants to.

[Matt Rogers]

Make it big in the world, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

He knows that the media landscape Of Oz is not ready for a fop. Very homophobic city, a homophobic country.

[Ariana Grande]

I have the best video in the world of you rehearsing it. Is that I. It's been in my drafts for two years. Post of him, his little pink, like, cap over your hair because we weren't ready to film yet with your little clips in. And he's, like, half in wardrobe, half in, like, some cute, like, Bowen thing.

[Bowen Yang]

Yep.

[Ariana Grande]

And he's just like. What did he say? Wait, what did Madam Horowitz say? Elfm isn't gay. All right, fine, I'm gay. Shiz.

[Bowen Yang]

Shiz. I'm gay.

[Ariana Grande]

But I don't want that to be the most interesting thing about.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah. Cause I've tried it.

[Ariana Grande]

I've watched it 300 times.

[Bowen Yang]

Honestly, how do we feel about the. Who read for Fanny at the table read for Wicked was Sutton Foster.

[Ariana Grande]

What?

[Bowen Yang]

Have I desecrated Sutton's name?

[Ariana Grande]

Wait, no. What are you talking about?

[Bowen Yang]

So, like, in the original sort of, like, table read for Wicked, before any of the shows, any of the whatever.

[Ariana Grande]

Any of the trials, that was Sutton Foster.

[Bowen Yang]

They had Idina and they had Kristen, but then they had Sutton Foster was as Fanny.

[Ariana Grande]

You know, that is the most important thing I've ever heard.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

It's crazy.

[Ariana Grande]

That is so spectacular, like, circa 2001 or whatever. How did I not know this?

[Bowen Yang]

No, I didn't know this either until people, like, were sending to me.

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, my God. I mean, she's gonna be so floored and proud, and no way she's going. Absolutely.

[Matt Rogers]

She won. So you could run. And I've been saying that for years.

[Ariana Grande]

It has brilliance in this film.

[Matt Rogers]

I mean, he lights up the screen. Like, he lights up my life every time you come on screen. I'm, like, in a word, period.

[Ariana Grande]

Just so incredibly brilliant. And I also just want, like, a string out of everything you said, because.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, string out.

[Ariana Grande]

I just. I really do. I want to string out. Let's bring string out back.

[Matt Rogers]

I love string out. String out today.

[Ariana Grande]

I want a string out. Let's go in of everything he said on that set.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

I got to see last night. Cause Cynthia and I went to go do, like, watch along and make commentary things.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, fun.

[Ariana Grande]

But while we were there, they showed us deleted scenes. Oh, and I got to see. I've been through.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, my God.

[Matt Rogers]

Wait, they kept through talk about that. So everyone knows.

[Bowen Yang]

So they did. Spoiler alert. They did cut the scene where Glinda meets Fanny and Shen Chen again.

[Ariana Grande]

But it's very cute, and you will get to see it.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, really?

[Ariana Grande]

You will get to see it.

[Matt Rogers]

It's coming out because I want to see it. But that was my one notice. I was like, well, who are they?

[Bowen Yang]

Who are these guys?

[Ariana Grande]

We kind of just made it all up. We kind of just like. Jon was like, all right, you guys meet here and maybe you do a little, you know. And we were like, perfect, we'll do it. And so we did the weird dance thing. Whatever it was.

[Bowen Yang]

We did the weird dance thing.

[Ariana Grande]

And then I, I, oh, how are you guys, really?

[Bowen Yang]

And, yeah, so. So Ari is. Glinda goes, so how are. Oh, it's been so long. How are you guys, really? And then I, for some reason, made the choice to go, I've. I've been through.

[Ariana Grande]

And we said, I've been through for two years after that.

[Bowen Yang]

I've been through. And then the other phrase was, I have had scandal.

[Ariana Grande]

I have had scandal.

[Bowen Yang]

I have had scandal.

[Ariana Grande]

Belong to the movie.

[Bowen Yang]

I have had scandal.

[Matt Rogers]

Title.

[Bowen Yang]

I have had scandal.

[Ariana Grande]

I have had scandal. I've been through. I've. I've been through.

[Matt Rogers]

With title of it.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, I've been through. Which I love.

[Ariana Grande]

Been through I've been through is not it. No, I've been through.

[Bowen Yang]

I've been through.

[Ariana Grande]

Just. I've been through. And we just all collapsed. It was so ticklish. It was so funny.

[Matt Rogers]

There was the coolest waitress I used to waitress with would always say, oh, my God, that person is so. And never ever said the word after.

[Ariana Grande]

That's the safe thing to do.

[Matt Rogers]

That's really safe new, you know, oh, how was Ari? She was so.

[Ariana Grande]

And then you get to, you know.

[Bowen Yang]

Fill in the blank.

[Matt Rogers]

It's a lot about how you say. So.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah. It's an invitation for more projection.

[Matt Rogers]

It protects and projects.

[Ariana Grande]

Yes, it protects and projects. Wait, but you saying I've been through is so funny to me because that's like, minute three of the film.

[Bowen Yang]

It's too much.

[Ariana Grande]

It's so funny.

[Bowen Yang]

I understand why it's cut because it makes no tonal sense with the rest of the film.

[Ariana Grande]

It lives on its own, but in the most brilliant way.

[Bowen Yang]

Right, but why?

[Ariana Grande]

The same way that I don't see color lives on its own.

[Matt Rogers]

Do we think.

[Bowen Yang]

Do we think that that comes to her? I.

[Ariana Grande]

No, it's so funny and it's so brilliant. And it also is like, yeah, we're commenting on what we're commenting on in this film. It's actually the most brilliant comedic way of saying, yeah, that's what this is about.

[Bowen Yang]

I can't believe I find it miraculous that that stayed in the final film.

[Ariana Grande]

It's the best. I was hoping and praying I had literally my fingers and toes crossed. It was sitting in the audience watching for the very first time and I literally. John Chu was sitting right next to me and I literally was like, thank you, thank you.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes.

[Ariana Grande]

I was like, thank God. Thank goodness.

[Matt Rogers]

Honestly, Bowen Yang ad libs in the final cut.

[Bowen Yang]

You guys, there's something terrible about an ad lib that you do on set because you're with like a friend and you're disarmed and you're being stupid and then you see it and then you go, well, fuck. A gajillion people are going to watch me do this stupid and have a.

[Ariana Grande]

Lot of feelings about it as well and be, you know, totally, totally. It's like once you, once you leave the set and you're like, the fuck did we just. What does the fuck did we film?

[Matt Rogers]

That's what we filmed, right?

[Ariana Grande]

Hope anything's okay, right?

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

Wow. I feel like I blacked out for two years and now I'm like, oh, right. Good morning.

[Matt Rogers]

Now the people are.

[Ariana Grande]

Come in, Come on in.

[Matt Rogers]

Fans of Wicked are going to sit there and be like, we have a lot of feelings about what this has always been to us. And now this is the film which.

[Ariana Grande]

Is such a beautiful. Which is such a beautiful blessing and responsibility to have as people who also love it and have lived for this for 20 years and have done the research, like read the L. Frank Baum books and done their homework and have lived it and loved it and, you know, it's such a beautiful celebration.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes.

[Ariana Grande]

And we welcome. We welcome the feelings.

[Bowen Yang]

We welcome the feelings.

[Ariana Grande]

I am a fan girl with those feelings about the things I love.

[Matt Rogers]

Totally.

[Bowen Yang]

Of course, to quote the show, I ask you a question. What is this feeling now for you?

[Ariana Grande]

Like, so sudden and new.

[Bowen Yang]

So sudden and new. It was like two years of your life where you were like, monastic. You were a monk being like, I'm gonna, like, be so disciplined about this. And now I feel like it happened yesterday. And now all of a sudden we're like, oh, fuck. We have to, like, in a way, like, relive what happened and then also, like package it into a way that like, feels good for a soundbite.

[Ariana Grande]

Right. And promote and sell the thing. And it's just like, it takes this, this transition from being this intimate, really real feeling thing to us talking about it like it's a product. And it's a very strange shift. But I'm really trying to hold on to the humaneness of it all and kind of just like, let that be what we talk about. Because it's so exciting to be able to talk about it. So it doesn't feel like a press tour the way it has. Maybe when I was doing it for music or something like that. Because it feels. I don't know, it feels a different. For a million reasons, of course. I don't know.

[Bowen Yang]

Cause, you know, what we kept saying when we shot it was like. It just feels like we're shooting a little indie, a little student film. A student film. Right.

[Matt Rogers]

Like, all of a sudden there's, like, a mark.

[Ariana Grande]

Yes.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm stepping on tape to do Wicked. Like, it's never been done like this before, and yet we're committing it.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah, that wall broke when there was, like, a man on a hang glider with a camera in the sky. And it said, like, Daily Mail on a parachute. We were like, oh, wait, yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

So.

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, sure, sure, sure, sure, sure, sure. Oh, it's that. Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

So someone flew in to try to get footage.

[Bowen Yang]

Multiple people got a lot.

[Matt Rogers]

I actually saw it on Twitter and I was like, wait, what? It was like, literally from hundreds of yards away, I think you could hear you doing your coloratura.

[Ariana Grande]

That was one of the rehearsals. And they were all the way across the water. There was a little river pond thing.

[Matt Rogers]

There was a body of water.

[Ariana Grande]

They were big on water.

[Matt Rogers]

There was small water signs.

[Ariana Grande]

One thing about Ariana, she knows her bodies of water. This cancer.

[Matt Rogers]

She knows water.

[Ariana Grande]

Yes. And she'll talk about it. Yeah, I will. Across the way there was.

[Matt Rogers]

We're gonna call it a brook.

[Ariana Grande]

Across the brook.

[Matt Rogers]

Over the brook.

[Ariana Grande]

Yes. There was a ladder.

[Matt Rogers]

There was a gay guy in a.

[Ariana Grande]

Parachute with a camera. There was a gay guy with a camera.

[Bowen Yang]

The worst kind.

[Matt Rogers]

A flying gay guy with a camera.

[Ariana Grande]

Bowen, what are you doing over there?

[Matt Rogers]

Get down from there. We need you for the shot. Damn it.

[Bowen Yang]

I was doing my fanny coming out of the closet. But no, it was a guy. It was a guy sending a drone. It was a guy sending a drone up.

[Matt Rogers]

I believe this.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah. But my favorite thing about it was, like. I was like, I'm easy peasy. I was like, oh, it's, you know, whatever. If Mark doesn't have a problem with it or John is. Okay, Like, I'm gonna just, like, do my job. I'll ignore it and I'll block it out. Blinders on, whatever. But, like, you know, a lot of people were concerned because it's a big deal, you know, for that to come out before it's supposed to come out. But no one really cared that much.

[Bowen Yang]

Did anything about it.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah, they were like this. They were like this.

[Matt Rogers]

Well, what are they gonna do exactly?

[Ariana Grande]

And I was like, yeah, no, totally. I mean, I think I heard that there's people, and I think I just saw some stuff and they were like, oh, man. Well, from the top, everyone. And I was like, oh, that's amazing. That's really cool.

[Bowen Yang]

It is cool.

[Ariana Grande]

I was like, if you don't care, I don't care.

[Bowen Yang]

Exactly. That's nice.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah. Freeing.

[Bowen Yang]

And we love and we bless the people whose concern and job it is to make sure things are secure and safe. And not safe.

[Ariana Grande]

Absolutely.

[Bowen Yang]

But sometimes it is other people kind of working you up right into thinking that it's a huge problem when you're like. When deep down, like, in your person, you're like, oh, it's fine. I'll just keep doing what I do.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah. And we were all kept very safe, and there was never any sort of danger in that way. And there's only so much you can do when we're shooting on these massive outdoor sets. So instead of having everyone stress about it and become anxious like you said, and if there wasn't anything that we could do, we just started to have fun with it. Like when the drones would come, me and the munchkins would be like, hello. And then I started taking my wand and being like, okay, that's enough.

[Matt Rogers]

Go away.

[Ariana Grande]

Trying to make. Make it fun, but, you know, it's crazy.

[Matt Rogers]

When did this happen? Like, when did you guys know it was friendship and not just like a colleague I enjoy?

[Ariana Grande]

I mean, I was so, so over the moon excited that you were going to be able to. I called Lauren.

[Matt Rogers]

You did? You got.

[Bowen Yang]

I knew about.

[Ariana Grande]

Is that okay. That I.

[Bowen Yang]

No reveal. It's almost like you're comfortable.

[Ariana Grande]

Well, because I knew that it was a huge, massive ask ask, and also probably an impossible one. And I didn't have anything. Any sort of resolution to pitch him, but I just called him and I was like, hi, Lauren. Oh, my goodness. How are you? And he was like, hello, Ariana.

[Matt Rogers]

What's going on? Really good.

[Ariana Grande]

Is there any way. Is there any way we can scoop the doll? That was the most nervous.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

I've ever been. But, you know. Yeah, we made it work.

[Bowen Yang]

He made it work.

[Ariana Grande]

You made it work. You exhausted yourself and worked yourself to the bone.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes. It's the only time that I've ever pulled, like a pouty face in front of him to be like, I really Want to do this? And then he was like, okay, okay.

[Matt Rogers]

We'Ll do that again. Because it was cute as fuck. Show them what you did.

[Bowen Yang]

I was like, I really want to do this. And then I did. I basically did that.

[Ariana Grande]

It was really tough what you put yourself through.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes.

[Ariana Grande]

Amazing.

[Bowen Yang]

Zero regrets.

[Ariana Grande]

And I think the answer to the question is the minute you got there, I was just kind of like, oh, my goodness, I hope that he is having the same experience that I'm having, because I really want to be friends. You know what I mean?

[Bowen Yang]

It was a star shower. When I saw you, when we met for the first time, the stars exploded.

[Ariana Grande]

Collision.

[Bowen Yang]

The stars exploded. It was at Leavesden. We were doing rehearsals.

[Ariana Grande]

Yes.

[Bowen Yang]

And then I remember I was in my little room, I was reading a book, and then you came in and barged in. No, it was so perfect.

[Ariana Grande]

I was too excited. I was too excited.

[Bowen Yang]

No, you weren't.

[Matt Rogers]

I love it.

[Bowen Yang]

Cynthia came in and gave me, and she was so fucking sweet. I'll never forget it. And then. And then you came in and then, like, it was like. I just. Like it was a meteor shower around you. And I was like, oh, this is so fun. I think the moment that it was like, friends, I think, was when we watched Mommy Dearest together. And then vhs.

[Ariana Grande]

Yes.

[Bowen Yang]

Ari loves you guys. Don't totally line on this, but Ari is a huge horror freak.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, you're a horror freak.

[Ariana Grande]

I am. And the way you said that.

[Bowen Yang]

Ari is a huge horror freak. Does that sound bad?

[Ariana Grande]

No.

[Bowen Yang]

Great. Okay.

[Ariana Grande]

I've heard a lot worse, but, yeah. No, that's lovely. Thank you.

[Matt Rogers]

You're a horror freak.

[Ariana Grande]

Kindness. A master kindness. Thank you.

[Matt Rogers]

What's your horror pick? What's. What's the best horror film?

[Ariana Grande]

I don't know. I really like.

[Matt Rogers]

What are you seeing?

[Bowen Yang]

You loved vhs. And I'm just thinking, because I watched Smile last night alone in my apartment.

[Matt Rogers]

Smile 2 or 1?

[Bowen Yang]

Smile 1. Because I want to see Smile 2 and Smile.

[Ariana Grande]

I would go tonight. Let's go as soon as we can go.

[Matt Rogers]

I wish I could.

[Ariana Grande]

And how would you. How did you feel?

[Bowen Yang]

It was disturbing.

[Ariana Grande]

It's a good one. You like really good one?

[Bowen Yang]

I do so see Bacon star love.

[Matt Rogers]

So good. She is a talent.

[Bowen Yang]

She's a talent. But, God, that ending is crazy.

[Ariana Grande]

It's a lot.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, it's a lot.

[Ariana Grande]

But I love that.

[Bowen Yang]

I love that.

[Ariana Grande]

I love Heart. Wait. Apparently.

[Matt Rogers]

Well, because apparently Smile 2 also ends in a way that you're like, yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

Let'S go, let's go. You don't like Though I get really.

[Matt Rogers]

Anxious, upset, scared, freaked out, frustrated.

[Ariana Grande]

I gotcha.

[Bowen Yang]

She got me.

[Matt Rogers]

You got me. You're gonna protect me out there. You know what? You know what I do do, though?

[Ariana Grande]

What?

[Matt Rogers]

Haunted house. And we just did the sickest.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, my God.

[Matt Rogers]

Talk about this. We were truly in the woods in Pennsylvania.

[Ariana Grande]

Where in Pennsylvania?

[Matt Rogers]

The Poconos.

[Bowen Yang]

The Poconos.

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, my gosh. Okay.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah. So Sudie Bowen and I went just to, like, get a little fall moment, right? It was like an unassuming haunted house. Like, it's like, oh, this is like in the middle of nowhere. It's not gonna be like a bunch of people.

[Ariana Grande]

No, but those are gonna be like. Those are the ones.

[Matt Rogers]

Those are the ones.

[Ariana Grande]

Those are the ones.

[Matt Rogers]

Because there wasn't that many people there. Which mean when you're traveling through were small. It's not like Halloween horror nights, where.

[Ariana Grande]

It'S like, you have to sign a waiver.

[Matt Rogers]

Thousand people are there, and you have.

[Ariana Grande]

To sign, like, waivers and stuff.

[Bowen Yang]

See, we didn't sign a waiver.

[Ariana Grande]

No waivers. That's what I'm saying. When there's no waivers, all bets are off.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, but it's gonna be scary.

[Matt Rogers]

Usually, though, if they touch you, you're supposed to have signed a waiver. We were getting really harangued by these people, and I loved every second of it.

[Ariana Grande]

But that's what I'm saying. There's no waiver in place, so they really can.

[Matt Rogers]

So they cancel the Wild Poconos?

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

We were in the Wild Poconos at the craziest haunted house you can think of.

[Ariana Grande]

I want to go now.

[Matt Rogers]

It was what, 40 minutes long? How long was it? I swear to God.

[Ariana Grande]

No breaks.

[Bowen Yang]

No breaks.

[Matt Rogers]

No breaks. Relentless horror. How do you feel?

[Ariana Grande]

How much space did that take up?

[Bowen Yang]

It was a big footprint.

[Ariana Grande]

Was it like a two mile extravaganza?

[Bowen Yang]

Big, big footprint, like a compound? Basically, we stayed at this resort, and the guys, as they bring you in, they're like, okay, guys. So it's a bunch of actors, but, like, they're just doing their job. So.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, these people work in the kitchen at the resort.

[Bowen Yang]

They said, these people work in the kitchen. So it's like, low. So we were like, okay. So it's low stakes. Not at all. It was insane.

[Ariana Grande]

Well, they're letting it out.

[Bowen Yang]

They're letting it out.

[Ariana Grande]

They're letting it out.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, the screams were not safe, Right. Let's just say they came from here. Like, it was like a woman flying out of a corner. Like it was you. I'LL do it. It was like this. It was like, get out.

[Ariana Grande]

Help.

[Bowen Yang]

Leah.

[Ariana Grande]

I love screaming.

[Bowen Yang]

I love screaming.

[Matt Rogers]

The only way you can respond to that is with a scream at that level yourself. So we were just like, ah, right.

[Ariana Grande]

I love when you scream.

[Matt Rogers]

She's the best screamer than.

[Ariana Grande]

Much.

[Bowen Yang]

How do you feel as a professional celebrated vocalist?

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, wow.

[Bowen Yang]

Sure. What is your.

[Ariana Grande]

Sure. Thank you.

[Matt Rogers]

Is this the first time you're hearing of this?

[Ariana Grande]

That is. I needed that.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah. What is your opinion on screaming? Cause some people, it's devices.

[Matt Rogers]

How do you scream?

[Ariana Grande]

Ooh, ooh.

[Bowen Yang]

Like that.

[Matt Rogers]

Like that.

[Bowen Yang]

See?

[Matt Rogers]

And wait for that to have happened in the second. Wait, by the. By the way. We saw how she screamed and it's like this. Oh, it was giving the soft palate.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes.

[Matt Rogers]

Look at her. She cleans up her own eyes.

[Bowen Yang]

Look at her.

[Ariana Grande]

Look.

[Matt Rogers]

Ariana Grande, everybody. Do we get this?

[Bowen Yang]

Kiss my ass.

[Matt Rogers]

Kiss my ass. Oh, I loved getting that look from her.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh my God.

[Ariana Grande]

Oh my gosh.

[Bowen Yang]

She wins. Wait, what is your opinion on screaming?

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, how do you scream?

[Bowen Yang]

You know, listen, you're at Halloween horror nights and something.

[Matt Rogers]

She kind of did it. So she went, woo.

[Ariana Grande]

No, that's not my. That's not my. That's not that. I think it's like, you don't have to do it.

[Bowen Yang]

I'm sorry.

[Ariana Grande]

I'd like to. I'd like to. I'd like to.

[Matt Rogers]

Please.

[Ariana Grande]

Thank you. No, I'd like to.

[Matt Rogers]

We're coming.

[Ariana Grande]

No, I don't know. I think it depends on the context. But screaming is weird because sometimes I guess I subconsciously scream in a healthy way because sometimes after I scream, like there were several scenes in Wicked where there's lots of screaming and I was like, oh, my. I love screaming. But afterwards I felt like warmed up or something. So maybe I subconsciously scream healthily, but I actually don't know that I intentionally. Yeah, I mean, there are ways to do it, but I don't think it's something I choose when in fear.

[Bowen Yang]

Totally. Does this inspire or motivate you to do a horror movie?

[Ariana Grande]

Like, you know, it depends on the context.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

Depends on the script.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes.

[Ariana Grande]

I'm not like a gore for the sake of gore person.

[Bowen Yang]

Totally.

[Ariana Grande]

And I also, like. I don't know, I would want to do a great job. I want to do an incredible job.

[Bowen Yang]

Of course.

[Ariana Grande]

So it really depends. If I could lend myself to the character in a way that I felt would be really purposeful and great, then sure. But I like horror. That is psychological. Thoughtful. Yeah, thoughtful. Not just Blood for fun.

[Bowen Yang]

Totally. What would you categorize vhs?

[Ariana Grande]

Blood for fun.

[Bowen Yang]

Blood for fun. Would you categorize VHS as.

[Ariana Grande]

Oof. I mean. No.

[Bowen Yang]

We don't have to talk about it. It's actually really rough.

[Ariana Grande]

Why did I make you watch that?

[Bowen Yang]

Because you were being a good friend and I was going through a hard time.

[Ariana Grande]

But that's, like, not the thing to watch when you're going through a hard time. It's so anxious to make.

[Bowen Yang]

It was cathartic.

[Matt Rogers]

Did you feel better afterwards?

[Ariana Grande]

You sure weren't thinking about whatever you.

[Bowen Yang]

Came there thinking about, period. And also, we did.

[Ariana Grande]

It's really scary.

[Bowen Yang]

We didn't enjoy. Not that we didn't enjoy the whole thing, but we did not stick with it because at a certain point, Ari.

[Ariana Grande]

Goes, I've never seen the whole thing. Yeah, I've never.

[Matt Rogers]

Do you turn movies off before they're over a lot?

[Ariana Grande]

No, just vhs.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

No, because it's little vignettes, and I love the first vignette because it's like, fierce Goblin Woman, like, rips seven dicks off and flies.

[Matt Rogers]

Fierce Goblin Woman.

[Ariana Grande]

It's just like. It's really cool. And the face splits, and she's gorgeous and cool and, like, kills.

[Matt Rogers]

Are you gonna see the substance?

[Ariana Grande]

I am gonna see this. I'm dying to see it.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, I heard it's incredible. Everyone I'm talking to that's seeing it is like. I can't stop thinking about it.

[Ariana Grande]

I need to see it.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah. I'm really excited to see October 31st on MUBI.

[Ariana Grande]

But that's not my favorite horror film. I feel like that's gonna, like, lead people to think. I really. I don't know.

[Bowen Yang]

Do you.

[Ariana Grande]

Would you like to have a favorite? Would I like to address this problem?

[Bowen Yang]

Yes.

[Ariana Grande]

What's your favorite horror film?

[Bowen Yang]

I'm not a huge. I don't know it too well. I'm not very literate, but I think I'm gonna say. Oh, God. Recently, I really did love.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, are you gonna say what the one.

[Bowen Yang]

No, no, not the Hills have Eyes.

[Matt Rogers]

No, girl, please.

[Bowen Yang]

No way.

[Matt Rogers]

Not that. The one that was. It was like the demon came out of her head. The one that was on hbo, Max. You know what I'm saying?

[Bowen Yang]

Malignant, Malignant, Malignant, Malignant, Malignant.

[Matt Rogers]

Cause didn't you love malignant?

[Bowen Yang]

I didn't see malignant.

[Matt Rogers]

Joel loved malignant.

[Bowen Yang]

Joel loved malignant. What was the other one?

[Ariana Grande]

It's such a joyfully chaotic scene.

[Bowen Yang]

Totally.

[Ariana Grande]

It's crazy.

[Matt Rogers]

See, I appreciate complete insanity. Back when I was watching them if it would get completely absurd. I loved Saw. The first Saw.

[Ariana Grande]

Right. Cause it's so brilliant.

[Matt Rogers]

It's brilliant the way it comes together in the montage. I was like, oh, my God. I didn't know. I was watching art the whole time.

[Ariana Grande]

I can endure that much gore. If it's that smart.

[Bowen Yang]

If it pays off.

[Ariana Grande]

If it's that smart.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes.

[Ariana Grande]

I love it so much.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

Just to switch gears, I really have to apologize to you in person.

[Ariana Grande]

For what?

[Bowen Yang]

I opened my mouth up too much when we kissed on.

[Ariana Grande]

You absolutely did. I was shaking with laughter. No, no, no, no, no. Not in a bad way. I'm so sorry. Not in a bad way. In just, like, a disarming way. Because you know what?

[Matt Rogers]

Like, the rehearsal, the chemistry was so good.

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, my gosh. Thank you. I mean, it comes from a real place.

[Bowen Yang]

I know it does, but I kissed you too much.

[Ariana Grande]

You know what? That's okay. And I know we were really dropped in. We were dropped in.

[Bowen Yang]

We were dropped. We were dropped in.

[Ariana Grande]

And it felt like what these people needed at that time. It felt like what these characters.

[Matt Rogers]

It was motivated, required. Yes. A little open mouth.

[Ariana Grande]

I'm all for it.

[Bowen Yang]

I just. Should we talk about, like, how we arrived? Because there was not a kiss originally, right?

[Ariana Grande]

No, there wasn't a kiss.

[Bowen Yang]

Whose idea was it?

[Ariana Grande]

Well, here's the thing. Go.

[Bowen Yang]

No, you go, you go. You go.

[Ariana Grande]

No, I mean, I. When we rehearsed it a little, I don't know, something went on. Yeah. In my head, and I was like. I didn't say anything because I was like, oh, everyone's gonna think I'm absolutely insane and too comfortable. But I was like, how funny would it be if we kissed at the end and then Bowen texts me a few hours later? I was like, it's totally fine. This is way too crazy. But we were talking and thought it would be so funny if we kissed at the end. And I was like, wow.

[Matt Rogers]

What if we kissed?

[Ariana Grande]

Thanks.

[Matt Rogers]

How about that?

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah. I was like, wow. I was thinking that. I'm so sorry.

[Matt Rogers]

You were immediately on board.

[Ariana Grande]

Yes.

[Matt Rogers]

So do you rehearse it? Do you do it in dress or, like, what's. Cause I always feel like with rehearsing a kissing thing, it's. I've only had to do it a few times, but it's like the rehearsal of it is like, are we doing it?

[Bowen Yang]

Are we going to do it?

[Matt Rogers]

Like, what is it?

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah. It's like, shit. Are we reading for real this time or.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

Are we kissing this time or.

[Matt Rogers]

No, so what was it?

[Ariana Grande]

We kissed in the dress rehearsal.

[Bowen Yang]

We kissed in the dress rehearsal. But in the. And I will admit we had a.

[Ariana Grande]

Very grown up conversation about it. We said, we doing it or not?

[Bowen Yang]

We did have a grown up conversation. Just like.

[Matt Rogers]

We came out a little bit there, though.

[Ariana Grande]

We did drone talking about her. She comes out sometimes.

[Matt Rogers]

Well, are we doing it or not?

[Bowen Yang]

Well, I also have to pause. I think in the grand scheme of things, I was maybe a little overeager because the run through on Saturday. So on Saturdays in the afternoons, I go looking good. I was like, so, should we do it? I didn't say, do you want to do it for run through. I said. I phrased it in a leading way of like, should we? And you were like, um, shall we kiss?

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, no, I feel like.

[Matt Rogers]

Well.

[Ariana Grande]

Cause there was. We talked about maybe waiting till the real thing just to like. Just to like, swing it and see how it was. Let it be on the live, you know. But then we were like, no, let's be adults. Let's rehearse it just so we know how it feels and not have that surprise on live television.

[Matt Rogers]

And so your take on it and just talk to me.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah, absolutely. Sure.

[Matt Rogers]

So his mouth was a little too open.

[Ariana Grande]

No, no, no. That came from him, not from me.

[Matt Rogers]

But you acknowledged. You said you absolutely did open your mouth.

[Ariana Grande]

It was absolutely too open. No, I'm kidding.

[Matt Rogers]

It was a little too open. But chemistry.

[Ariana Grande]

But for the characters, I think it was perfectly open.

[Matt Rogers]

I would agree. I was watching it and I'm thinking.

[Ariana Grande]

I did start shaking. Giggling.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. See?

[Matt Rogers]

Well, you got it.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah, absolutely. I broke. I was like, you're like, what is.

[Bowen Yang]

This gay guy doing?

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah, you're with him.

[Matt Rogers]

It seemed incredibly purposeful and motivated and it felt incredible.

[Ariana Grande]

As long as that's how it felt for the audience.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes.

[Ariana Grande]

Come on, it's all good here.

[Matt Rogers]

Have you ever told Aria and no beef here. No beef here.

[Ariana Grande]

It's official.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm happy we put it to bed.

[Bowen Yang]

Thank you.

[Ariana Grande]

Me too.

[Bowen Yang]

Matt. I'm so excited for so many wardrobe items for fall.

[Matt Rogers]

It's the best time to dress. And you can remember that I said that. You know, we love summer, but the thing is, like, bathing suit season is over and it's time to upgrade to cozy cashmere sweater vibes and leather jackets. And, you know when you can get all these cool weather essentials from a place like Quince, then go to Quince, get these items from Quince.

[Bowen Yang]

Quince offers affordable, high quality essentials for any wardrobe that includes seasonal must haves like Mongolian cashmere sweaters from $60 and comfortable pants for any occasion.

[Matt Rogers]

Quint's only works with factories that use safe, ethical and responsible manufacturing practices along with premium fabrics and finishes, and they.

[Bowen Yang]

Partner with them directly, cutting out the cost of the middleman and passing the savings on to you.

[Matt Rogers]

That means Quint's Items are priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands, so you can update your look without breaking the bank.

[Bowen Yang]

I just love shopping for not only clothes but also kitchenware, home goods, everything to offer on Quint.

[Matt Rogers]

Upgrade your wardrobe with pieces made to last with quint. Go to quint.com culturistas for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. It's Q U I N NCE.com culturistas to get free shipping and 365 day returns.

[Bowen Yang]

Quince.com culturistas do you like podcasts, music and audiobooks? Because when you subscribe to Amazon Music Unlimited you get all three in one app. Imagine listening to your favorite podcasts and music on the go to work, school, the gym, or better yet, Vacation. I love those. Now imagine being on vacation with your favorite audiobook from Audible and then listening to a new one every month from a huge selection of popular titles while not on vacation. That sounds like a pretty good vacation, right? Audible is now included on Amazon Music Unlimited. Download the Amazon Music app now to start listening terms. Apply Wait, can we quickly brief about how SNL was for you? Because that was. That was a top tier, a all time perfect episode.

[Ariana Grande]

Thank you. That's it really was. Thank you. I had the time of my life. I would have done it right after we finished at 1am Again, like I really love being there. I love every single person there. Like I just had the loveliest, best time with everyone. And I love laughing. I love comedy. I love bits.

[Matt Rogers]

You're so good at it.

[Ariana Grande]

Thank you.

[Matt Rogers]

And also you can tell it leads from a joy that you have to do it and like a motivation to like work hard and get it right. And I also can't believe you've only hosted twice. You give the energy of someone that's been there again and again. It throws back to like how good JT was at the show back in the day of like, you know, coming in. Like what do you think it is that prepares you to do something like Saturday Night Live so well?

[Ariana Grande]

Oh my gosh. I don't know. I mean that's really nice. I think I find like a comfortability and getting to know everyone I love getting to know people. When I come to a place, I want to, like, befriend everyone and be open. And when you're meeting all the writers and collaborating with everyone, everyone is super. Just kind of open and talk about where you can go, like, trying things and whatever. It just is a really safe and fun experience. I don't know. It's, like, constant, but it's the best, and it's so much fun. And I think I just love comedy, so maybe that is, like, why I was so excited to go. And I felt very excited. I think when it comes to doing big, exciting things, sometimes, you know, it can become, like, a scary, daunting thing. But if you hold on to excitement and gratitude and let that, like, fuel the whole experience, it can really change the tone of everything.

[Matt Rogers]

Right.

[Ariana Grande]

It's something I, like, learned in my late 20s.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

But, no, I don't know. It's just. It felt really fun.

[Matt Rogers]

Brought joy.

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

It brought comfort.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

Texting with Bowen, constantly having a literal best friend there. And in the weeks leading up, I felt like I was bothering you because I was. It's my turn to apologize. No, I felt like I was apologizing. I felt like I was blowing you up because I couldn't stop, like, texting insane, like, ideas for bits and, like, silly, silly things. And I was just so excited to get there.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

So maybe that's why I think when you're excited about work. Yeah. And your work.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

It shows. I don't know.

[Matt Rogers]

It's a team almost, like, it's like. It's like. And with Wicked, too. And I was just gonna, like, posit that maybe, like, when you get the audition for Galinda. Right. That has to be a thing where you're like, holy fuck. Like, it's something I've thought about for a very long time.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

Like, it's one of those roles that's gonna be. Someone's gonna get it, and it's gonna feel like, yes. Incredible. That person. But, like, a little part of you is like, oh, God. And so when you get that audition, I wonder, is it all just, like, joy and, like, how do you approach the comedy of something that's so iconically done and, like, you respect, but you bring yourself to it because you do do that.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes.

[Ariana Grande]

Well, thank you. I think it's kind of like, it was one of the most important parts to me was finding that balance between, like, honoring the iconic Glinda that we have had on our. On the soundtrack for 21 years. And that was like, Written really, by Winnie Holtzman and Kristin Chenoweth, like, you know, honoring what made it so iconic, which is, like, the original material, and, you know, people, while also kind of, like, bringing myself to it. And it's interesting because knowing something and being a fan of something for such a long time is very different than having to become it and sort of take it on. So, I don't know. I mean, a lot of just, like, trying and playing and reading the script 100 times fully through, even before the audition, like, not the movie one, the Broadway one, so that sort of, you know, choices of my own could come through and finding new truths to little beats and moments that play differently on stage because this isn't the stage show. And finding that balance was, of course, the most important thing, because I know, as a fan of it, how important it is to walk that line. And that's really all you can do is the homework. And also trial and play. I have my amazing acting coach, Nancy Banks. You know, we did a lot of playing and grounding my vocal placement and even finding, like, okay, like, what inflection? How far do we want to go with it? And older vocal versus younger Glinda vocals, and what's the tonal shift when she's young versus when she's old? And, you know, incredible work in that regard, too.

[Matt Rogers]

Like, I have to say, one of my favorite things about the movie just holistically, and I think it's so funny that you guys didn't chemistry test because the chemistry between you two is just nuts. And one of my favorite things about a vocal choice in that movie is that Cynthia's, like, singing her whole part very clean until you get that note, and it has so much gut in it.

[Ariana Grande]

Well, it is a war cry.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes. And that ends it. And you know that everything has changed in the way that note is sung. And that intentionality is just brilliant. Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

It's so beautiful.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

I was in the room. I got to be there when she.

[Matt Rogers]

Actually was doing it. Like, you mean the studio?

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah, to hear her sing Defying Gravity. I mean, I was there when she did the rehearsal track, but, you know, I was also on set when she was flying above me Singing Defying Gravity.

[Bowen Yang]

Is, you know, you had to be there to witness it. And also, just, like, this is not a spoiler, but it does cut to Galinda pretty frequently during that moment.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

And I think the way. Cause you have an impossible thing to do in that moment, which is just to, like, internally project that outward as everything in your world and your circumstances Changing, like even hearing you just talk about the prep and the consideration that went into this, you have the most expansive knowledge of this character. And thank God it's you because you're rising to every occasion with it. Like you rose to the audition obviously in such a storied way. I love the lore behind it now that people know about and thank you. I just know. Yeah. It's fucking amazing, you know that the.

[Matt Rogers]

Movie is like about. You forget sometimes, like especially seeing it now in the way that you guys have like made it brand new. Like you really remember what it's about. And it's about like speaking truth to power and how hard that is.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

And what your character is going through, what Glinda is going through at the end of at least this movie is she's not able to be strong enough yet to really be a face of like dissent and rebellion. Like she's seeing a truth and she's. It's like the journey that you have to go through there of like, I know what's right, but I'm just not there.

[Ariana Grande]

It's also just like a different. I mean. Yes. But also there's a different version of that which is that she is strong enough to know that she will never choose that because she can't. She doesn't have the tools and she knows what is thing important to her.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes.

[Ariana Grande]

And it's like it's not that she's not ready to do that. It's just that she's not a person who's going to do that.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh.

[Ariana Grande]

And having the strength to know that the. Oh my God. Annoying. I'm so sorry.

[Matt Rogers]

No, I'm so curious about what you're expecting.

[Ariana Grande]

No, it's just like emotional because it's like of course it's acting and I'm not going to, you know, whatever you. We hit our marks and we do our thing and we sing our songs and we do what we're supposed to do. But it really felt so real and it feels how it feels in real life when you really love someone. But the paths that you need to take for your own truth and life and who you are, it's like you can't actually. You can't actually continue growing together. You're growing apart and you can still love that person so much and acknowledge that that's gonna be best for them, but it's not gonna be best for me. So I do have to not self abandon in this moment and I have to stay where I am and I want you to go there. But I Can't join you. So I think it's certainty. I think she's really sure in that moment. And I think that that's strength.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

God.

[Ariana Grande]

I don't think that it's. That she's not strong enough to go. I think that she's strong enough to not go.

[Bowen Yang]

Right. Because there were. This is not to switch gears, but, like, there were so many moments. There was one moment, I think it was during the I've been through.

[Ariana Grande]

I've been through.

[Bowen Yang]

It was during the I have been through scene where, like, we were just, like, ad libbing and I, like, I was. I forgot what I pitched you, but I was like, okay, maybe like, we do our dance from school. And, like, I don't know, like, I pitched you a line and then you looked me in the eyes and this was done with such love and care and response.

[Ariana Grande]

Wait, what was it I pitched you?

[Bowen Yang]

Like a stupid fucking line of like. Like we do, like an accent or something. And then you just look at. You look me dead in the eyes and you go, I'm not gonna do that.

[Ariana Grande]

Did I really?

[Bowen Yang]

It was so funny. We were dying laughing. Cause I was like, oh, of course. I was like. It's like, this is me playing too much with my friend. I was like, I'm not gonna do that. She's playing Galinda in the Wicked movie.

[Matt Rogers]

I can't tell her.

[Bowen Yang]

I can't tell her to do bits.

[Matt Rogers]

Well, you can.

[Ariana Grande]

Yes, you can.

[Bowen Yang]

No, but literally, we always tell each other. We always did that. But at that point, it was like, you know, four months into this process.

[Ariana Grande]

Do you remember the strawberry bush?

[Bowen Yang]

The strawberry bush.

[Ariana Grande]

The strawberry bush broke me. And John can't find it. But I've been anxious to see it forever.

[Bowen Yang]

So in the scene when it's Dilliman's classroom and Dilliman's giving the lecture about the history and what happened.

[Ariana Grande]

And food grew scarce, Right?

[Bowen Yang]

Food grew scarce and people were angry. And then. What's the line? What did people.

[Ariana Grande]

And people were looking for. And she's like, something to.

[Matt Rogers]

Someone to blame.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah, someone to. And then something to. Whatever. But there's one about food.

[Bowen Yang]

There's one about. So. Yes. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. So he was like, the great famine occurred and.

[Ariana Grande]

Right, right.

[Matt Rogers]

And people.

[Bowen Yang]

And people wanted to. People were very angry.

[Ariana Grande]

People were looking for something to.

[Bowen Yang]

People were looking. What do angry people look for? And then. And then Elphaba says, someone to blame. But then it was on our coverage. On our coverage. It was a three shot of me, Bronwyn, and you we did an ad lib. It was like. And. And because he mentions the famine and then. What do angry people do? What do angry people try to find? I'm butchering this terrible. And then I go, wait, I'm ruining this. Literally this setup.

[Ariana Grande]

He said, like a strawberry bush. I smacked him laughing. I literally.

[Matt Rogers]

Strawberry bush.

[Ariana Grande]

I took my paper and I smacked him with it. It was hell. It was so good. I wish it were somewhere.

[Matt Rogers]

We have to find it.

[Bowen Yang]

We have to find it. The strawberry bush.

[Ariana Grande]

The strawberry bush was incredible. And also so was when Nessa flies up in the sky.

[Bowen Yang]

That's my scream.

[Ariana Grande]

I know that's your scream. And that's your scream. And everything is flying around and things are falling and the thing falls from the ground and what are you doing?

[Bowen Yang]

And then I literally.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm like, ow, ow. I know how you scream.

[Ariana Grande]

It was the best.

[Matt Rogers]

It was so powerful.

[Ariana Grande]

It was the best thing ever.

[Matt Rogers]

Before we ask you the question that is the central question of this podcast, I also want to say one other thing, which is that this scene of the year for me is dancing through life when she comes in to the asda's ballroom. And that moment. Wow. Can you talk about shooting that?

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

Like, what, what was that experience?

[Ariana Grande]

Well, I mean, I love, first of all, I love the little shot of her peeking around the corner, like with her little. And she's so excited and whatever. But it's just. It's hard to describe because how it feels to watch. Picture that a solid 12 hours of that and four days or something. Yes, like three.

[Bowen Yang]

Three days.

[Ariana Grande]

That particular section, the main bulk of it was like one and a half days, but it was like one and a half days of utter pin drop silence. And every single person in the room was absolutely just right there with Cynthia and kind of holding a very warm space, you know, for how much she was giving the whole time. And it's such an isolating and painful scene.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

You know, and even if you're acting, you know, it's just like. It's such a heartbreaking feeling. And I had such flutters and butterflies that whole. That whole day. And it's just like holding space for her and then having this guilt and this realization that I'm responsible for this and just sort of like looking at a friend and trying to course correct it just so much. It was a really intense day and I feel the same feelings when I watch it back that I did in the room on the day. Like, so emotional to watch. Yeah, it was. It was a really intense day. And she's so beautiful in it. And I just remember at the end of, like, the 12th hour, me and Mark and John all just, like, took her aside, and we were like, go home. Go home. And, yeah, it was just a very, very, very powerful, emotional day. And she did such beautiful work, and everyone just held the safe of spaces for her. And, yeah, I, like, feel it when I watch it back. Certain scenes, like, when they start happening, my body has, like, a physical reaction when she peeks around that corner. I, like, get anxious for what I know is going to happen, because I know how it felt on the day. And I think that's a sign of what beautiful work was done, because I feel like when you watch it back, you feel how it felt in the room.

[Bowen Yang]

And it's a wonderful reminder that you were so dropped in and present in that. In that span of time, which was a very long time. And I say four days because it was, like, with all Yazda stuff.

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, yes, yes. With the dancing and stuff. I'm talking about this part you were.

[Matt Rogers]

Talking about, specifically talking about the loneliness that Cynthia is going through of. I'm gonna, you know, have this dancing moment, and everyone's watching her being, like, what's happening? And it's your realization that, like, this is a human being who I've hurt, and now I'm gonna show up for her. And the really wordless connection that you guys foster in that moment is so beautiful. And everyone's gonna love the movie so much, obviously.

[Ariana Grande]

She's so, so, so, so, so unfathomably spectacular in this film. It's so great, the choreography. I actually, even though we rehearsed it, like, once or twice before that day, I never learned it. Like, I didn't want to remember it because I just literally wanted to be, like, following her hands and, like, letting her lead the way because I felt, like, the more awkward it looks on Glinda, like, the more beautiful it can be. You know, we're both just like little, like, wild deer greeting each other and trying to figure out how to speak the same language. And it's so beautifully awkward. And I love it very much.

[Matt Rogers]

It's very successful.

[Ariana Grande]

Very much. And, yeah, it's a ride. This movie. Going from that into Popular is such a ride. And then back again and then back again. And, you know, it's just like. It's. It's a wild ride.

[Bowen Yang]

Popular is everything. Everything. God, you're so fucking good.

[Ariana Grande]

Thank you. Wait, can I just share one more of my favorite memories from the asda's Ballroom? Yes, Other than the fun stuff that we did, the dancing and everything in the Ozdas. We had so much fun in the Ozdas ballroom. It really was like a week.

[Bowen Yang]

It really was a week.

[Ariana Grande]

It was a week. Yeah, I was. Yeah. But they gave us these like universal iPhones for behind the scenes stuff. It was actually only one. And I think you and Bronwyn had it.

[Bowen Yang]

Bronwyn and I had it for a day. Yeah. For that whole week. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

And I just remember the vibe that day and Bronwyn and you both being like, not, no, not because it was this time. Because we were like, you know, like, this is intense shit. And everyone's like, it's like, okay, we're at the Oz, at the ballroom. The dance is happening like, no, we're not. It's not the day actually for that.

[Matt Rogers]

What's up, guys? This is Bowen Yang and I'm so excited because today is the day.

[Ariana Grande]

Hi, G14.

[Matt Rogers]

We're here.

[Bowen Yang]

We're about to group bully Cynthia Erivo for three days straight. I was like, are you kidding me?

[Ariana Grande]

They were like, are you guys getting fun stuff? And it was like, no, no, no, not today. In fact, not today.

[Bowen Yang]

It was like universal social media people, lovely doing their job, like, giving, being so accommodating.

[Ariana Grande]

I just remember you and Bronwyn being like, not right now.

[Matt Rogers]

Because it also is a little bit. Your characters, like, your character doesn't get it. And by the way, you play a really good natural bully. You really.

[Ariana Grande]

Can I say your coverage in the onsets. I remember I got to sit behind the monitor and watch you and Bronwyn experience that scene. And it was just so beautiful. You two are so brilliantly hilarious. But also just everything was so palpable. The shift. It was so funny and so beautiful and I loved it. I have an iPhone video. That whole take if you'd like it.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, my God. Cause you had the iPhone. Oh, I sure do. That wasn't the universal.

[Ariana Grande]

This is my personal one. I filmed everything that happened in the whole two years.

[Matt Rogers]

Well, that was against the rules.

[Ariana Grande]

I understand. But I'm a very honest thief.

[Matt Rogers]

He sent me some videos from the set.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, don't tell.

[Matt Rogers]

Can I say yeah?

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

Well, it's over now. What are they gonna do, edit you out?

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, I hope not. I perish the thought. But not to place myself in that moment in that scene, that very intense scene. But like, I kind of feel a degree of that same thing where I watched it back and I was like, God, I feel like absolute shit. Because even in Doing it because acting is acting. Whatever. But even in, like, bullying Cynthia throughout this movie, like, there were so many times where I went up to her and I was like, I'm so sorry. This feels so rotted in my soul to treat you this way.

[Ariana Grande]

Right.

[Bowen Yang]

I think it's just a testament to, like, the way she's being so completely raw and beautiful and vulnerable in every frame of this. And. God, you're both. You couldn't ask for two better people to do this.

[Ariana Grande]

That's beautiful. And God bless you.

[Bowen Yang]

Let's ask you the question. Do you like podcasts, music and audiobooks? Because when you subscribe to Amazon Music Unlimited, you get all three in one app. Imagine listening to your favorite podcasts and music on the go to work, school, the gym, or better yet, vacation. I love those. Now imagine being on vacation with your favorite audiobook from Audible and then listening to a new one every month from a huge selection of popular titles while not on vacation. That sounds like a pretty good vacation, right? Audible is now included on Amazon Music Unlimited. Download the Amazon Music app now to start listening Terms of Plastic.

[Matt Rogers]

Ariana Grande.

[Ariana Grande]

Okay, sorry.

[Matt Rogers]

What is the. Why are you apologizing?

[Ariana Grande]

Because I am. Dilly dally. I'm taking us miles back.

[Bowen Yang]

I know.

[Ariana Grande]

I still have so much more to say about everything.

[Bowen Yang]

We'll talk about it. We gotta talk about figment.

[Ariana Grande]

What's the one question?

[Matt Rogers]

The one question we have to ask you is, what was the culture that made you say culture was for you? If you can look back in your life and you think Ari Grande became Ari Grande as a result of this influence, this thing in pop culture, this moment, whatever it is. Can you speak on that?

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah, I mean, I think musical theater.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

Like, I think Sherri Renee's God.

[Matt Rogers]

Wow.

[Ariana Grande]

That is my answer.

[Matt Rogers]

I love that answer. Did you see Aida?

[Ariana Grande]

I did. I mean, I loved the soundtrack. I was really little. I don't think I actually saw it.

[Matt Rogers]

I saw it with Toni Braxton, but.

[Ariana Grande]

I. Oh, my God. Word. Can you believe? No, but I saw her in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Yeah. And I remember being like, that's life changing to see. She's the best in the world.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

You look at someone doing musical theater at a level like that, and you're like, oh, well, I'm watching the most talented person on Earth.

[Ariana Grande]

Yes. I mean, her and Kristen and Sutton Foster and just these ladies who I grew up just listening on repeat and just like my musical theater goddesses, you know? I don't know.

[Matt Rogers]

Does it feel like. Yeah, absolutely. And I guess my question for you is, like, you know, I'm watching Wicked, and I had that feeling of, like, well, she needs to act more.

[Ariana Grande]

That's true.

[Matt Rogers]

But then also at the same time, it's like, you are probably the most, like, just important, gifted, like, relevant pop artist. No, but let me say it, because I believe it. And then you're like, does Broadway fit into that? Like, is it something that would make sense for you? And is it in your heart to actually go to the stage and do that?

[Ariana Grande]

It is my heart. You know, it is. Like, I'm gonna say something so scary, it's gonna scare the absolute shit out of my fans and everyone. But I love them, and they'll deal and we'll be here forever. I'm always going to make music. I'm always going to go on stage. I'm always going to do pop stuff. I pinky promise. But I don't think doing it at the rate that I've been doing it for the past 10 years is where I see the next 10 years. I think I love acting. I love musical theater. I think reconnecting with this part of myself who started in musical theater and who loves comedy, and it heals me to do that, finding roles to use these parts of myself, you know, and put them in little homes and characters and bits and voices and songs. Like, it really does, in a different way than songwriting and writing about my own pain because it's just kind of like constantly reliving that one thing that you wrote the song about or that is, you know, and finding a character and putting the pieces there and finding little homes for them there, and then them coming back and feeding you and teaching you new things through performing the act of being Glinda, whatever, you know, and taking pieces from her back. It really feeds you.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

And I think that I would love to, in whatever makes sense or whatever roles that we see fit or where I could really do a good job or honor the material. I would really love to, because I think. I think it's a lot better for me.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, I hear you especially. No, but I want you to know, like, when. And I've been listening to. I listen to you all the time. But, like, so many of my favorite songs of yours, I can tell, are unbearable for you to put out there. Like, I listen to. I won't even say the song titles.

[Ariana Grande]

No, get. My God. I'm sorry.

[Matt Rogers]

I mean, imagine. I mean, like, I wish I hated you. Like, I had such an experience. And I have my own theories about, like, what we can't be friends is. But I think the video, like, is something that spoke to I know, me personally and so many people in such a visceral way. And there's that moment in the video, which, by the way, is the video here, and everyone knows it. So there's that moment where you hesitate in the process of having your memories removed and you're. It's like, I don't wanna let go. I'm actually uneasy. Like, maybe my pain is really important, and if I lose that, like, where am I going next? Like, it's scary. And I think that that's such a specific thing to get across. But, like, has to be painful to literally fixate on the idea of eternal sunshine.

[Ariana Grande]

Right?

[Matt Rogers]

Because the idea is that we wanna. We feel this way. We want to create something called eternal sunshine because we're fixating on wanting to remove. And yet here we are literally performing them. And I think that you're so sensitive and such a. You know what you could say cancer vibes or whatever. But, like, you're so in tune to your work and you're so giving of yourself that it has to feel fucking exhausting. And so if you have other talents and other, like, interests, like, I get too. I love you back.

[Ariana Grande]

That was such a thoughtful parade of, like, thoughtfulness. I love you. Thanks. I don't.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, yeah, I hear you.

[Bowen Yang]

He's good at that. He's got the thoughtful parade of thoughtfulness.

[Matt Rogers]

Well, I mean, I. I don't know, but. No, I guess what I'm saying is, like, it's not even. The thing is, I'm not even asking you a question. I guess I'm just acknowledging and seeing. And I want you to know that as your fan, like, we just want you to feed yourself and, like, do what makes you feel good and evolve.

[Ariana Grande]

I love that.

[Matt Rogers]

And you are evolving. Like, in this movie. Like, I'm telling you, like, now am I gonna cry? Like, I just feel like it's so amazing to see someone do something they were born to do. Like, And I don't know, I've always felt like. Especially because you've been such a good sister to my sister. I just, like, want you to be happy and I. Oh, my God.

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, my God.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm sorry, man.

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, my God. Okay.

[Matt Rogers]

I feel like. I feel, you know, you're just. But this is, like, what you do. You're such an available, open, emotional person. And I deeply.

[Ariana Grande]

We're so far away. That was weird. But thank you for taking the risk.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, my God.

[Bowen Yang]

By the Way you yanked her down.

[Ariana Grande]

I think my chair is, like, cemented to the ground.

[Bowen Yang]

No, no.

[Ariana Grande]

Okay, I got you.

[Matt Rogers]

That just reminded me of when I did Celebrity Wheel of Fortune with Paula Abdul. She's so small that she would. She would do the wheel and the wheel would take her. So it was like, she's in the middle and, like, I'm here. Like, this is Paula. She goes, all right, here we go. And, like, flew away and, like, her leg went up. She's a good sport.

[Ariana Grande]

Can I just thank you for saying that? Just because it was so incredibly kind and I really appreciate it and I am gonna carry it with me. Art also is what feeds me, of course. So in whatever capacity it is, I'll always be doing and creating six different things at once. You know what I mean? I don't see that going anywhere. I just see it kind of, like, shifting and becoming a little different.

[Matt Rogers]

Write chapters, you know what I mean? Like, there's. I'm thankful to you for positions, because that was my fucking fuck album for the pandemic. And I'll look you in the eyes.

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, my God.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm telling you, there's not a better piece. Like, thank you for R and B pop.

[Ariana Grande]

Thank you, thank you.

[Matt Rogers]

She can't handle.

[Bowen Yang]

We can be locked in. I opened my mouth too.

[Ariana Grande]

No, I know.

[Matt Rogers]

But, like. Yeah, you didn't.

[Ariana Grande]

It was beautiful. The characters needed it. But, yeah. Thank you.

[Matt Rogers]

Thank you.

[Ariana Grande]

That's such a funny thing. The life cycle. That album is taken because when it came out, it was kind of, like, bizarre. It didn't go so well.

[Matt Rogers]

Did it feel like it came out in a soft way? Whereas. Thank you, next. And sweeter had been such moments. Or do you care about that at all?

[Ariana Grande]

No, no, no. Not even like that. I just mean as far as, like, what my fans were saying and, like.

[Matt Rogers]

As far as, whatever.

[Ariana Grande]

I feel like in the beginning of the Positions of it all, like, it kind of was. I got a little. I'm not gonna, like, use this word as I'm bullied, but, you know. You know. Yeah, I just got, like, a little bit of this is not what we want vibes, I think. And I remember that, really. I'm such a sensitive artist. Whatever. This is the point. You put art there so that people can tear it apart and do whatever they want with it or celebrate it or whatever. I understand. I'm very grateful and in acceptance to be here. When I preface this, I need to preface it with that because I know it comes with being an artist, but I also am a Cancer and very sensitive. So I just remember that really, like, put me in a cage of, like, judging every single piece. I scrapped so many things that I was gonna put out for it, and now people are just. They love it. Like, it's the best thing I'll ever make. And I'm like, what is that? I'm like, how is that fair?

[Matt Rogers]

Sometimes, especially when they really get worked up in their heads that we're gonna get a certain thing and then it's a little different, but I love them.

[Ariana Grande]

For it, and it's okay, and it's fine, and it's not mine anymore. And that's the thing that I also have to. Because I am aware it's, like, a part of it. And I'm grateful for the voices and for the passion. I am. I really am.

[Bowen Yang]

You release it.

[Ariana Grande]

But I'm also a person, of course.

[Bowen Yang]

And so this is what makes you a true realized artist, is that you are incredibly emotionally intelligent. I think eq, you're the highest eq, Einstein.

[Matt Rogers]

Eq period.

[Ariana Grande]

That is. Wow.

[Bowen Yang]

I think that, like, every artist. Not every artist, but, like, it kind of is this fun little jewel now on everyone, on every artist's crown, where it's like, oh, you put out a body of work that ends up being, at the time, mischaracterized or misinterpreted, and then over time, it develops the patina, and people are like, oh, my God. This was always great.

[Ariana Grande]

It's strange to watch happen. It's kind of interesting.

[Bowen Yang]

But I feel like with what you're saying about being an artist, I mean, we've had conversations about this, especially when Eternal Sunshine came out, we were like, God, this is really. Everything is so considered. And I was even watching you do your makeup video for the Boy's Mind. And I'm like. And I want it. This is the stupidest question, but I have to ask you.

[Ariana Grande]

Okay. I bet it's not.

[Bowen Yang]

No. Because you're so good at makeup. Do you have an interest or have you explored drawing?

[Matt Rogers]

Do you know what I mean?

[Ariana Grande]

Drawing?

[Bowen Yang]

Like, you're so dexterous with your. Like, you're able to. No, no. Look at me, Bowen.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm not dexterous. What if we have crayons and we're just like, could you draw?

[Bowen Yang]

Would you consider draw.

[Matt Rogers]

Drawing us a picture?

[Ariana Grande]

Painting me today? He brings out an easel and some oil paint. I actually. I paint with my dad sometimes. We do, like, little, like, paint and sips sometimes. It's really cute thing with watercolors. And I painted for Cynthia, actually. I painted a cute little thing of Munchkinland and it's like the tulips with the yellow brick road up the middle and then there's a little bubble in the sky and there's a green like cloudy behind it and a little tiny little elfie and the monkeys behind. So I painted that for her. But I don't have that much time to color a paint, so I don't. But I love to. And I'm very creative. My dad is like an artist in every way. Graphic designer, photographer, painter. Yes. And he's super creative in that way. And I thought that's so nice. No one's ever talked to me about painting, coloring.

[Bowen Yang]

Right. But I'm saying, like, it makes sense to me. Like, you're so precise with the hand.

[Matt Rogers]

Coloring is amazing. I love a coloring book. I love a coloring book, especially like when it's a funny concept.

[Ariana Grande]

Like it's like the one of Oz for Cynthia.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, that's great.

[Ariana Grande]

Yes.

[Matt Rogers]

And the thing is, my mom. That was the way I said that. And the thing is, is that when you get a wicked coloring book, you kind of think like, oh, I know what everything should be. And so then you just do it your own way. Suddenly Elphaba is not green, she's purple. Think about that for once.

[Ariana Grande]

But my mom recently was like, oh, is that a coloring book? She came over and I was like.

[Matt Rogers]

I've seen one in all the time.

[Ariana Grande]

And she self proclaims, yeah, I haven't seen one of those, I haven't seen one of those in a while. But no, she says she's not creative and that she doesn't like things like that, but she loves it. And I was like, mommy, you don't need to be creative. She's a business brilliant person. But I gave her the colored pencils and the coloring book and she loved it. But also picture the character from snl and she was coloring so hard, she was like, I love this. And I was like, mommy, that was based in reality. Oh, yes, wait there we talk about.

[Matt Rogers]

Talk about the origin story of that.

[Bowen Yang]

And this is why you should not apologize for like you did not text me a bunch before in the lead up. Like, this is. Thank God you did because like literally.

[Matt Rogers]

Like we're helping write this happen two.

[Bowen Yang]

Months before the show, before you came on.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah, I was, it was, it was Labor Day weekend and Hill and, and my brother in law Hale's family was visiting and we had a lovely, fun game day and it was so fun and funny and sweet and my mom is, by the way, the most generous, kindest, giving person in the entire world.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes.

[Ariana Grande]

She is like the hostest with the mostest. You will walk in and there are like a million fruit trays and vegan options for vending people. The vegan people being me and Hale only. Yeah, yeah. But even that deserves, you know, she wants to take everyone everywhere and she's just the best. She's the kindest, most generous person in the entire world.

[Matt Rogers]

But competitive.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah. And fiercely protective of her children.

[Matt Rogers]

I see.

[Ariana Grande]

So even if we're playing, you know, charades and whatever, you don't fuck around. So this is what happened. And I excused myself immediately to send a voice note to Bo and I said, okay, well.

[Matt Rogers]

There is something brewing here.

[Ariana Grande]

Could be something. Yes. We were playing, we were playing charades and Hill's brother, my brother in law's brother, who they're all so sweet, they're amazing, was like, haha, we're winning vibes. The extent of it was like he was like, we're ahead.

[Matt Rogers]

Throwing it back.

[Ariana Grande]

We're ahead. And my mom goes, tiny dick syndrome, huh? And I was like this.

[Bowen Yang]

Mommy.

[Matt Rogers]

Tiny dick syndrome, huh?

[Ariana Grande]

Mommy, wait, like that's not funny. I was like, mom, that's intense and harmful. That's like so intense. And we all were laughing and of course like he laughed and everyone was laughing, but she was like, well that's a sign of what that is. And I was like, mommy, this is insane. And then I started doing it as a bit for Jesse, hell's other brother. And he was like crying tears. Tears. And like it lasted the whole day. So I was like, bowen, we have to do something with this, please. It's just so silly.

[Bowen Yang]

And my jaw dropped. I was like, yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

And also we have like a very aggressive game playing family too. I'm like the opposite. So where my mom and Frankie and Hale sit on the spectrum of I'm an alien in my family a little bit. Because I'm like, I don't care. I just want to have fun and I want to be there and I'm here for a good time.

[Matt Rogers]

Gotcha.

[Ariana Grande]

You know, I'm okay. I just want to play the game. I'm happy to be there. I don't even know half the rules. I'm just.

[Matt Rogers]

Winning is not your culture.

[Bowen Yang]

No, no, it's participation.

[Ariana Grande]

Being here is a great time and I miss everyone when I'm not home. And you know, this is a great time.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

Not for Hale or Frankie or my mom. It is real. It's real deal. You're right. Hale's a real gamer, though. He knows games that no one's ever heard of in the history of the world. He's like a genius nerd person who loves games. And Frankie can't. Can't lose a game. Mommy can't lose a game.

[Bowen Yang]

Because you know what?

[Ariana Grande]

First of all, they can't lose a game.

[Bowen Yang]

Ari's vibe on Jackbox.

[Ariana Grande]

They don't like it.

[Bowen Yang]

A plus plus.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, I love Jackbox.

[Ariana Grande]

We need to shred, please.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, that's what we need to do.

[Bowen Yang]

We need to do that.

[Matt Rogers]

Okay. Jackbox. We need to get J and A.

[Bowen Yang]

J and a Josh and Aaron to do Jackbox.

[Matt Rogers]

I see it in my mind.

[Ariana Grande]

I love them. I love your whole.

[Matt Rogers]

They're the best. They're the best. They really, truly are the funniest. Have you seen fucking identical twins? I watched Dicks.

[Bowen Yang]

We watched Dicks.

[Ariana Grande]

We watched Dicks together. I mean, I'm obsessed with them. There are angels from heaven.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, that's like a truly fun game too, because really, who cares if you win? Like, it's fun if you win, but it's really more just about making each other giggles. Yeah, but I think Frankie was about.

[Bowen Yang]

Frankie was about the points, though. It's always about the points.

[Ariana Grande]

It is about the points too. It was so fun.

[Matt Rogers]

You know what that might be, though? Because I also am, like, I'm the oldest and I'm a gay son. So there's that little bit thing of, like, best little boy in the world. I'm gonna win the game because, like, you know what I'm saying? That might be a thing. You're not really competitive. Need to win.

[Bowen Yang]

No. Never.

[Matt Rogers]

You're really not.

[Ariana Grande]

Can we wait? Sorry. I'm sorry. But speaking of, Frankie, can we go see Rocky Horror?

[Bowen Yang]

Yes.

[Ariana Grande]

While it's still happening, please?

[Matt Rogers]

How long is it happening? How long is it happening?

[Ariana Grande]

I don't know. I think we'll go tonight. That's it.

[Matt Rogers]

You know what I'm getting tonight? Cabaret.

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, my God.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm seeing Marty in Cabaret.

[Bowen Yang]

Really?

[Ariana Grande]

I'm so jealous.

[Matt Rogers]

I know. I saw it in the West End with Jake Shears.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, great.

[Matt Rogers]

And it was great. And I'm seeing it again. I haven't seen it yet in New York. I love Cabaret. It's one of my favorites.

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, my God. I wish. Are you coming to the screening tonight?

[Bowen Yang]

I wasn't told the details, and so I wasn't. I would love to.

[Ariana Grande]

I'll tell you the details.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, that's actually gonna be really fun. Cause it's Gonna be all the Broadway people seeing it becoming with you.

[Ariana Grande]

We wish we could do both at the same time. I want to see Marty in Cabaret.

[Bowen Yang]

They're my favorite mc.

[Matt Rogers]

Really love that. I cannot wait.

[Bowen Yang]

What a beautiful person inside and out.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, absolutely. Goodbye.

[Ariana Grande]

Absolutely.

[Matt Rogers]

Isn't it great when, like. Cause you're like a Drag Race fan.

[Ariana Grande]

Yes.

[Matt Rogers]

You watch every season?

[Ariana Grande]

I watch almost every. I mean, I try to. Yeah. I'm a big Drag Race fan.

[Matt Rogers]

Have you been judged twice or once?

[Bowen Yang]

Twice. Season seven. Season twice.

[Matt Rogers]

Because I remember season seven iconically. That was a really amazing episode. The first time you were there. And they did break free at the end.

[Ariana Grande]

I wish I remembered more of that experience.

[Matt Rogers]

You were great. And they did break free. And it was Candy Ho versus Mama. Who won? Mama.

[Bowen Yang]

Who won.

[Matt Rogers]

Not who won the show, but won the lip sync. I'm forgetting her name.

[Bowen Yang]

I. Jaden Dorfierce.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes, Jaden. Dwarf years.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah. That was crazily. The morning after we shot the Bang Bang video, and I had no sleep and I came straight there and it was like a full 12 hour.

[Matt Rogers]

It's a surreal thing to be. We. When we were there, we also had a really good episode.

[Bowen Yang]

We had a great episode, but it was. Those were. Those were long days.

[Ariana Grande]

Your episode. Oh, my God. Yeah. No, it was beautiful.

[Bowen Yang]

That was fun.

[Matt Rogers]

And we got hallucinated by. Dua was the lip sync. And we are screaming the whole time. We. They cut to us and we are living the fantasy because it was Jasmine Kennedy, of course, like, really ripping it up.

[Bowen Yang]

It was. That was a great, great, great episode. We'll figure it out. We'll go see. Okay, so, Marty, wait, hold on. We need to talk about something before we go move on to. I don't think so, honey. And then.

[Matt Rogers]

I can't even believe we're gonna move on. Why is. Why could this. This should go on for six more hours.

[Bowen Yang]

I know.

[Matt Rogers]

Where's the.

[Ariana Grande]

Can we do, like, a little more. What's. Hold on.

[Matt Rogers]

No one has to be anywhere.

[Ariana Grande]

You have two or 20. No one has to be anywhere.

[Bowen Yang]

You sure?

[Ariana Grande]

No, I haven't.

[Matt Rogers]

Are you sure? Cause this isn't like a press day for you, or is it.

[Ariana Grande]

This is a press day for me. But this is the most important part.

[Matt Rogers]

What else are you doing?

[Ariana Grande]

I do have to leave at 3. That's perfect.

[Bowen Yang]

Okay. No problem.

[Ariana Grande]

No, it's.

[Matt Rogers]

You hear that?

[Ariana Grande]

It's 2:20. If I can leave by 3, we're good. I'll be completely early and on time.

[Matt Rogers]

You know what else you need to Go see. And you need to go see is Sunset Boulevard with.

[Ariana Grande]

No, I know, I know. I mean, that's. That's everything I could want for a person. I love this moment for her.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes.

[Ariana Grande]

So much. She is so in her element. So dropped in. So beautiful. So fucking talented.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes.

[Ariana Grande]

And I love that the pictures of her in blood at the stage door, it's iconic me.

[Matt Rogers]

That's a mood.

[Ariana Grande]

That's a mood.

[Matt Rogers]

But, Nicole, I love watching someone. It's like seeing you in the Wicked movie. It's like when you watch someone and you go all.

[Ariana Grande]

That's where they're supposed to be. How beautiful that it's happening.

[Matt Rogers]

And I'm telling you right now, I was at the opening night of Sunset Boulevard. I sat next to Kandi Burruss. Oh, my God, the legend, like, literally star studded. So many people there, like, sitting there watching her. And I thought, wow, she is stepping into destiny right now. She is giving one of those performances. Everyone will always talk. And it is. It is amazing.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah, it's beautiful to see, even, like, from afar. As a person who hasn't even seen it yet, I'm like, oh, I know exactly what's coming.

[Matt Rogers]

Yep.

[Bowen Yang]

We need to talk about figment.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, well, let's talk about.

[Ariana Grande]

We do need to talk about figment.

[Bowen Yang]

So this. This is also another moment where I.

[Ariana Grande]

Was like, oh, we're supposed to be in each other's lives.

[Bowen Yang]

We're supposed to be in each other's lives. And I was. And then I also thought. And I. Did I not tell you? I was like, you need to meet my friend Matt Rogers.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That was actually the moment.

[Bowen Yang]

That was the moment.

[Matt Rogers]

We need to go to Disney.

[Ariana Grande]

Absolutely. Absolutely. Which one? Which one? Florida.

[Matt Rogers]

I mean, I'm an Orlando girly.

[Ariana Grande]

Okay.

[Matt Rogers]

I mean, I'm connected to me, too.

[Ariana Grande]

We share that. Yes, we share that.

[Matt Rogers]

I mean. Okay.

[Ariana Grande]

And also, it's where the Tower of terror remains 100%.

[Matt Rogers]

And can you speak on this? Because this is really important because, you know, this came up with Mariah.

[Bowen Yang]

We mentioned you on the Mariah episode.

[Matt Rogers]

And speak on Tower of Terror. Speak on Disney.

[Ariana Grande]

Whoa. Okay. I want to speak on the Tower of Terror.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes, Start there.

[Ariana Grande]

Because I love, I love and I respect Guardians of the Galaxy. Yeah, of course I do. I think it's a beautiful experience. A beautiful thing.

[Bowen Yang]

Loves that little raccoon.

[Ariana Grande]

It's impressive. It's amazing. I'm like a big Baby Groot person.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, I love it.

[Ariana Grande]

Really cool. I don't remember, you know, much about her, but I love her.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes.

[Ariana Grande]

And. And I just think that it is.

[Bowen Yang]

That was a zipper. That was not a fart. I'm sorry.

[Matt Rogers]

There was a noise over there. There was a noise down here. Which could have gone either way.

[Bowen Yang]

No, but I have to tell you, I'm sorry.

[Matt Rogers]

It had to be called.

[Bowen Yang]

No, no, no. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

[Ariana Grande]

No, please. This space is yours. I'm in your home.

[Matt Rogers]

No.

[Bowen Yang]

And you're literally about to meditate on Tower of Terror.

[Ariana Grande]

Honestly, I'm glad that happened because something needed to break the tension of what I was feeling inside. You talked about the Tower of Terror.

[Matt Rogers]

You're angsty about this because you feel.

[Ariana Grande]

It's not angsty.

[Matt Rogers]

No, it's an endangered species.

[Ariana Grande]

It's not angst. It's. It's dire. Desperation. It's like real desperation.

[Matt Rogers]

Existential.

[Ariana Grande]

To protect and preserve. What is the Tower of Terror?

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah. I believe it should be a historical landmark.

[Ariana Grande]

Absolutely. And I think it's really important and great that there is the Guardians of the Galaxy ride in California. I think that's perfect. And you know, Aurora's castle. Keep it. All of. That's great. And I love that. That's the first. And it's there. When it comes to Florida. When it comes to the Disney and Florida.

[Matt Rogers]

Don't do it.

[Ariana Grande]

First of all, we get Cinderella's castle, which is, you know, so cunty. Also a landmark.

[Matt Rogers]

She's large and in charge.

[Ariana Grande]

Yes, she is. My mom tells us too often that she wants her ashes sprinkled over it. And I'm like, mom, it's Christmas. Do we have to talk about this right now? And she's like, yeah, you have to make sure that that happens. And I'm like, mom, I don't want to make sure that that happens.

[Matt Rogers]

Wow.

[Ariana Grande]

Also, like, I think that. I think there's actors back there working and stuff. You're gonna be sprinkled on people's heads who are dressed as Tinkerbell, waiting for their cue.

[Bowen Yang]

Totally. There's, like, a hotel room in there.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah, absolutely. There's lots happening back there. I don't think.

[Matt Rogers]

It's kind of small.

[Bowen Yang]

Right.

[Matt Rogers]

I've heard what you think. The experience of staying in that.

[Ariana Grande]

I've been in there.

[Matt Rogers]

Have you?

[Ariana Grande]

I've been in there because I performed at the castle one time, and I got to change in there, which was really cool. And it's really beautiful, and it feels very real.

[Matt Rogers]

Do you have a Club 33 membership?

[Ariana Grande]

I don't.

[Matt Rogers]

But you've been in.

[Ariana Grande]

I'VE been there.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

I've been through.

[Bowen Yang]

I've been through.

[Ariana Grande]

I've been through. But, yeah. Feels a little extreme to me.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, sure.

[Ariana Grande]

To have that.

[Matt Rogers]

What? The 30 year. Wait, do you have it? I've somehow gotten in.

[Ariana Grande]

But you have a thing.

[Matt Rogers]

No, I know, but I am like the kind of mental illness where it's like, I will one day.

[Ariana Grande]

Sure.

[Matt Rogers]

Like, I have a sick disease that no one can figure out what it is where. Like, I will go there. Something happens to me when I go there.

[Ariana Grande]

If you do it, I'll do it.

[Bowen Yang]

Okay.

[Ariana Grande]

I'm in.

[Matt Rogers]

We'll get on the list.

[Bowen Yang]

Okay.

[Matt Rogers]

Put us on the list. Yeah, Whoever the powers that be.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, put us on the list.

[Ariana Grande]

But we have to make that happen.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes, absolutely. Keep talking.

[Ariana Grande]

No, I just. I think it's actually one of the most important things.

[Matt Rogers]

It's art.

[Ariana Grande]

That it stay.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Matt Rogers]

Did you ever tell Ari about when we had to be evacuated?

[Bowen Yang]

It broke on us.

[Ariana Grande]

The tower.

[Matt Rogers]

It literally a metric ton of edible. What did we do? The Rice Krispies Treats.

[Bowen Yang]

Edible Rice Krispies.

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, my goodness. And it broke down.

[Bowen Yang]

And it broke down. Not like as you're about to go in.

[Ariana Grande]

When she goes forward.

[Bowen Yang]

When she goes forward.

[Ariana Grande]

Right.

[Bowen Yang]

It broke down.

[Ariana Grande]

That's so scary.

[Bowen Yang]

And we were stoned out of our gourd, being like, yo, is this happening?

[Matt Rogers]

Honestly, it was not.

[Ariana Grande]

That's not fair. That's not good.

[Matt Rogers]

We were between worlds.

[Ariana Grande]

Right, right, right.

[Matt Rogers]

While we were, like, between worlds. And so what they ended up doing was someone kind of comes in out.

[Bowen Yang]

Of the shadows, out of the proscenium.

[Matt Rogers]

And goes, you guys need to get up.

[Ariana Grande]

How do they get up? Wait, how do they get in there?

[Bowen Yang]

Stairs.

[Ariana Grande]

Whoa.

[Matt Rogers]

So. And I hate an illusion being shattered. I know what it was, but it was kind of fascinating because they go, you guys need to get up. Walk into the Twilight Zone and step out through the exit door. Exit door.

[Bowen Yang]

Take a real elevator down.

[Ariana Grande]

I don't want to know where the exit door is.

[Bowen Yang]

We're not going to tell you. But isn't that crazy?

[Ariana Grande]

That's really crazy. I'm so glad that you're safe and that it was fine.

[Bowen Yang]

I hope one day you experience this.

[Ariana Grande]

I don't want to know where the exit is.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, oh, oh. That's.

[Matt Rogers]

I don't like when any ride breaks down. I mean, like, breaking news.

[Ariana Grande]

Yes.

[Matt Rogers]

Have you been down there to do the Guardians roller coaster in Epcot?

[Ariana Grande]

Amazing.

[Matt Rogers]

Another piece of art.

[Ariana Grande]

That's what it should be.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes.

[Matt Rogers]

Close.

[Ariana Grande]

That's what it should be. That's incredible. And the music is different every time and it's just fabulous.

[Matt Rogers]

When conga plays crazy, crazy, it goes crazy.

[Ariana Grande]

Absolutely. So glad you brought that up, because I was gonna bring it up.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, so you. This was funny. So we ended up going a bunch of times and I was like, God, I wish it was conga. And they go. They say that it's gonna happen in two things and they can put you on the train for conga. And we did it. And it was the best. And then what was it that you wanted?

[Bowen Yang]

I really wanted Tears for Fears. Everybody wanted to rule the world.

[Ariana Grande]

Right, right, right, right, right.

[Bowen Yang]

And they. We never got it.

[Matt Rogers]

They couldn't figure it out from Owen.

[Bowen Yang]

No problem. And it.

[Ariana Grande]

Well, we'll have to go again.

[Bowen Yang]

We'll have to go again. On set on Wicked, there is a sculpted sort of thing, a gigantic sculpted Jeff Goldblum. A thing of Jeff Goldblum as the wizard.

[Ariana Grande]

Wait, do you remember when we discovered his head and we didn't know about it?

[Bowen Yang]

We didn't know. And then I. I remember I have pictures of it.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah. Because we were going for a walk. We were going for a walk, talking about life.

[Bowen Yang]

And then we. We happen upon this gigantic face of Jeff Goldblum.

[Ariana Grande]

It's Jeff Goldblum's face. And we were like, dear God. Oh, my goodness. Jeff.

[Bowen Yang]

Basically a two story tall, sculpted face mask of Jeff Goldblum. And we were like, wow, this is crazy. And then it's in the mood. It serves a purpose.

[Ariana Grande]

Yes, it serves a beautiful purpose, but we just had no idea. And we were so disarmed by it.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes.

[Matt Rogers]

Was this Figment?

[Bowen Yang]

No figment.

[Ariana Grande]

No. But in a way, one day we were on set.

[Bowen Yang]

We were on set and we. And we were just like, talking about our favorite. Talking about our Jersey ride.

[Matt Rogers]

You said you loved Journey into the Imagination.

[Ariana Grande]

Yes, because we were like, oh, my gosh. Like, oh, my gosh.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, my gosh. We had said, oh, my gosh. You know who I love? That Figment.

[Bowen Yang]

That Figment guy.

[Matt Rogers]

No.

[Bowen Yang]

Get up, girl diva down.

[Matt Rogers]

Wait, no. Here's the actual question I need answered. Absolutely right now. If they were to add one of your songs to Guardians of the Galaxy, I don't want.

[Ariana Grande]

They don't have to do that. Don't do that.

[Matt Rogers]

Because I want it. No, don't worry. Why is it into you? Why is it into you? Can you imagine? So, like, I would be gagging.

[Ariana Grande]

You're like, I would love to ride the Ghosten. Guardians of the Galaxy version.

[Bowen Yang]

Ghosten No, I can be needing.

[Matt Rogers]

I was watching for some reason, sometimes as I want to do, I'll watch, like old clips of the Voice.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes.

[Matt Rogers]

Would you ever go back and do that again? And do you think you mostly did it because the chair spun so.

[Ariana Grande]

No, but it was a perk.

[Matt Rogers]

It was a perk.

[Ariana Grande]

It was a good perk.

[Matt Rogers]

The theme park thing of this.

[Ariana Grande]

Yes. Is so crazy.

[Matt Rogers]

It feels really fun to me.

[Ariana Grande]

It is really fun.

[Matt Rogers]

Clearly to you too.

[Ariana Grande]

You have to go do it at some point.

[Matt Rogers]

I would love to hit the button.

[Ariana Grande]

It's really fun. It's really fun. I got so emotionally attached to everyone. That's my problem. I can't really do that because I really get in. I really get in there with everyone. And I love everyone so much. I love meeting people and I felt so invested and I still do. Like, I see them all on Instagram.

[Matt Rogers]

You keep in touch with.

[Ariana Grande]

Yes. I mean, not. I've been busy. I haven't really been in touch with anyone. But I love them and I'm in touch with them on Instagram. I like their posts. I see their things. I see what they're up to. Bella had a baby. Sasha's putting out solo music. Sasha of Jim and Sasha.

[Bowen Yang]

Incredible.

[Ariana Grande]

And, you know, I mean, like, he sent me his project last year and he's so talented.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

And so I'm still in touch with some of them, but I. It's just like, I get very involved.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah. And also, like, for a non competitive person, like, the. The rest of those judges were really competitive. Like, Kelly is really competitive.

[Ariana Grande]

I love her. I love it. She's the best in the world.

[Matt Rogers]

Is she the best singer in the world?

[Ariana Grande]

She's fucking incredible.

[Matt Rogers]

I think it could be Kelly Clarkson. Yeah. It could be a thing.

[Ariana Grande]

She's unbelievable.

[Matt Rogers]

Just wild.

[Ariana Grande]

She really is one of the greatest vocalists that there ever has been, ever.

[Matt Rogers]

So were you being young when she was on American Idol? Was that a trip for you? I wonder when you meet these people that are now your peers or now these. Well, it feels probably odd to say.

[Ariana Grande]

It feels crazy.

[Matt Rogers]

You as someone who's like a really reverent, like, respecter of these vocal legends, like, now, to hear them, just to be able to engage with them, like, right. Where. How do you approach that?

[Ariana Grande]

I mean, so many things that have come to be in my life feel like such a dream. Like, I can't really fathom a lot of things. You know, even getting to know Imogen Heap, just kind of meeting her was one of the best things that has ever Happened ever. You know, I was so in shock and awe. The first time I went to go meet her. I thought it was me and catfished.

[Matt Rogers]

Wow.

[Ariana Grande]

I didn't really think it was gonna be her. I was really scared. And then I got kind of, like, lost in the woods, and I was like, this is it?

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, this is it.

[Ariana Grande]

I'm done. It was in the woods. Well, the journey there.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, I see.

[Ariana Grande]

I'm not gonna, like, give. I'm not gonna, like, drop it.

[Bowen Yang]

It was in the woods.

[Ariana Grande]

I'm not gonna, like, drop. She said, meet me in Emmy's house.

[Matt Rogers]

She's like, I'm in the Poconos.

[Ariana Grande]

No, but it really is a trip.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah. Yeah, of course.

[Ariana Grande]

I just feel so deeply grateful because so much of the art that I have loved, I've developed an interesting relationship with or artists that I've loved. And, you know, when they say, don't meet your idols, I've had so many positive experiences of that, and I'm so grateful for that, you know?

[Bowen Yang]

Can I share what the moment was that I got to witness of you meeting Stevie next?

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

It was for promos on Thursday, and.

[Ariana Grande]

She had written me a letter a few years ago. So we had spoken.

[Bowen Yang]

We had been in contact.

[Ariana Grande]

We had spoken once before, but we had never met. But. Sorry to interrupt.

[Bowen Yang]

No, no, no. And Ari and I were already on the floor just, like, giggling, being stupid, and then they bring Stevie on, and I just kind of immediately knew to back away.

[Ariana Grande]

No.

[Bowen Yang]

Took Ari's hands and was like. I have to tell you that I loved your video for We Can't Be Friends. It reminded me of so many people that I have come across in my life.

[Matt Rogers]

Probably brought Lindsay Buckingham up.

[Bowen Yang]

Sure. Totally. And, like, for whatever the song means, like, for her to.

[Ariana Grande]

That was such a surreal moment.

[Bowen Yang]

I couldn't believe anything.

[Ariana Grande]

I couldn't believe anything. She's so kind and so cool and so beautiful. I can't. I can't really get over what that was like, spending those few days together and sharing a space with her. Just such a warm, beautiful, good witch in every sense, you know? You know, just overly generous, like, overly friendly, overly kind. And, I don't know, I feel like I love meeting people and talking, but sometimes I can go and stay, overstay my welcome. I feel it. And I felt like I wasn't doing that. She just wanted to keep going with me. And I was like, oh, my goodness. We're both going and going and going. And she's such a sweet, kind, kind energy. And I just. I Couldn't wrap my head around it.

[Matt Rogers]

What she's offering right now, too, with this new song. Like, I was watching an interview with her a couple days ago, and, you know, the song is about, like, women, like, acting right now and, like, you know, us voting and fighting the fight, like, and really making sure that we don't lose rights. But she was really talking about it in a way of, like, service. She said this line in this interview where she was like, I was given this gift, and I'm doing my job. She's like, I'm out here. And you get the sense that it's just, like, she didn't have to do Saturday Night Live.

[Ariana Grande]

No.

[Matt Rogers]

You know what I mean? I would imagine that's a pretty daunting thing to be asked. And she spoke on how nervous she was, but you get the sense that she's like, no, I'm being given.

[Ariana Grande]

People need to hear this song.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm being given this opportunity. I have this to offer. And she kept saying, like, you know, I tell a good story, so I'm gonna go out there and tell the story. And it was just like, there was, like, a selfless, like, artist mentality that she so clearly had and has had.

[Ariana Grande]

There's work to be done, and I'm gonna do it. Yeah, she's unbelievable. Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

There's a serviceability in what she does that she knows about. You know, she's like, I'm gonna, like, be the vehicle for this message. That's. God, I just love her. I loved seeing you guys together. That was really fun.

[Ariana Grande]

It felt really special.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

The BTS I loved, because I remember we got to be on the floor for address 17, and so there was a moment where, for some reason, they had to hold it back for a second. Like, I guess maybe some commercial was going too long or whatever. And there was a moment, but I was watching you guys interact with each other and have a moment of play in that moment, and I was like, this is very. It's like a obviously a cool live TV moment, like, where they get to count down a few different times. But just watching you guys together was a really fun.

[Ariana Grande]

It was really sweet. We both kind of looked at each other. We were like, yeah, and it was very sweet. And, you know, when live things like that are happening, it's. Everyone gets a little, like, nervous. And we felt like the audience get a little tense, too. So we started doing, like, a bit with them, too. It was really fun.

[Matt Rogers]

You could play her in a biopic.

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, my.

[Matt Rogers]

If that not to. Not to not to be like that should happen in the way that you can cut it if you want, but you could.

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, my goodness. There are so many girlies that would be perfect for that.

[Matt Rogers]

Well, I'm just saying you'll be one of the girlies.

[Ariana Grande]

Stevie should play Stevie.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, there you go.

[Ariana Grande]

No one can do Stevie.

[Matt Rogers]

But it's like when Fantasia played herself.

[Bowen Yang]

Absolutely.

[Matt Rogers]

Remember that? It was years ago. Fantasia played herself in her own biopic for Lifetime.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes, yes. Genius should happen more.

[Ariana Grande]

Do you remember when Cher played everyone in west side Story? West side Story, Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

Iconic.

[Ariana Grande]

Fabulous. You could pull that off. That's really fun.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

I wanna know what that meeting was.

[Bowen Yang]

You think it was just one meeting?

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

Just.

[Ariana Grande]

Yes. Yeah, I do.

[Bowen Yang]

Do you like podcasts, music and audiobooks? Because when you subscribe to Amazon Music Unlimited, you get all three in one app. Imagine listening to your favorite podcasts and music on the go to work, school, the gym, or better yet, vacation. I love those. Now imagine being on vacation with your favorite audiobook from Audible and then listening to a new one every month from a huge selection of popular titles while not on vacation. That sounds like a pretty good vacation, right? Audible is now included on Amazon Music Unlimited. Download the Amazon music app now to start listening terms apply.

[Matt Rogers]

With our final 20 minutes, let's cross into I don't Think so, Honey, because I Don't Think so, Honey always provokes conversation and I want to leave room for it. So I Don't think so, Honey is our 60 second segment where we all rant, rail and rave against something in culture that just bothers us. And we. It's a cathartic moment and we're all gonna be made better for it. I have something that I'd like to do.

[Bowen Yang]

Okay.

[Matt Rogers]

I don't really have, like, I haven't planned anything out. I just have my emotions on this thing.

[Bowen Yang]

Okay, that's good. This is Matt Rogers. I don't think so, honey. His time starts now.

[Matt Rogers]

I Don't think so, honey. Calamari. Can I ask you a genuine question? Who actually cares?

[Bowen Yang]

I.

[Matt Rogers]

Do you actually care about calamari? You think that you. I don't think so, honey. That it's ever different one place to the other? Don't get me wrong, it's a really good appetizer. There's no versatility. And if you get into being versatile with your calamari, what's going to happen is it's not fried. Then it's just like, what, boiled calamari?

[Bowen Yang]

Sure.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm sorry, but I'm vegan It's boring. It's boring. The things we can do with other appetizers.

[Ariana Grande]

30 seconds.

[Matt Rogers]

Look at wings.

[Bowen Yang]

Look at my girl wings.

[Matt Rogers]

You can have her lemon pepper. You can have her buffalo. You can have her barbecue. And I've only listed three. I don't have time to list the rest. But what I'm saying is the versatility. Now, I hear you at home, Matt. What about buffalo calamari? You have a point.

[Bowen Yang]

15 seconds.

[Matt Rogers]

But you don't see it. You don't hear about it. Calamari feels like something that's on the table constantly. And I'm like, that's great, but are we just not using our imaginations? Put Brussels sprouts on the table as an appetizer. I'm saying it, but he is nodding. And I want to say, let's get more creative with appetizers, seafood restaurants. I'm looking at you like, come on, let's get the raw bar together.

[Bowen Yang]

That's quite enough. That's one minute.

[Ariana Grande]

Wow.

[Matt Rogers]

I just. Just feel. I don't think anyone agrees with me.

[Ariana Grande]

See, I agree. I don't think. I mean. But I also never had it. I don't want to eat them.

[Bowen Yang]

You don't want to eat them?

[Ariana Grande]

I don't want to eat them. I think it's better for the world.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, No, I hear that deeply.

[Ariana Grande]

But to each their own.

[Matt Rogers]

To each their own. Because you're right. It is better for the world. I mean, when Natalie Portman came out with that documentary that was. Did you ever watch her doc?

[Ariana Grande]

No.

[Bowen Yang]

Eating Animals.

[Matt Rogers]

Eating Animals. It was what it was called. And it was so crazy to watch her do a press for it because she was like, listen, my documentary does talk about how it's much, much better for the world for us to not do it. But I'm not telling you not to. I'm just here with my documentary and, like, watch it or don't. This is the choice I made for myself. But I will let you.

[Ariana Grande]

It's not that you're wrong. I'm just right.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, it's not that you're wrong. I'm just right was really the vibe.

[Bowen Yang]

Which is a vibe.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

Two things can be true. Totally. Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

Two things can be true.

[Matt Rogers]

It's not that you're wrong. I'm just right.

[Ariana Grande]

Right. Absolutely.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm right.

[Bowen Yang]

And. And you might be wrong.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm big and you're small.

[Bowen Yang]

What's that from?

[Matt Rogers]

Trunchbull. Oh, the legend's name. Trunchbull.

[Bowen Yang]

Trunchbull.

[Ariana Grande]

I Have a question?

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

Should my thing be about my. The Tower of Terror?

[Bowen Yang]

Absolutely.

[Ariana Grande]

Should I read it?

[Bowen Yang]

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

[Ariana Grande]

Hold on. I need to get it.

[Matt Rogers]

Do you want to go in there?

[Bowen Yang]

I'll go. You need to pull it up. I just. I do want to say. I want to push back and say that. You cannot say that. Anyone who likes calamari is not. Is unimaginative when it comes to appetizers. I just think that all the sauces you named for wings can easily be slathered onto.

[Matt Rogers]

But you don't talk about it like that.

[Bowen Yang]

I'm just offering up my rebuttal, that's all.

[Matt Rogers]

Are you calamari queen?

[Bowen Yang]

I love calamari.

[Ariana Grande]

Have you ever watched the, like, my best friend, the Octopus?

[Bowen Yang]

Yes.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, my octopus teacher.

[Bowen Yang]

My octopus teacher.

[Ariana Grande]

My octopus teacher. That's what it's called.

[Bowen Yang]

That's a movie for dads, for sure.

[Ariana Grande]

My dad loves that for dads and me.

[Bowen Yang]

Dads and Ari.

[Matt Rogers]

You know what I've seen, like, four times? Blackfish.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah, That's a doozy.

[Matt Rogers]

And I stay watching it.

[Ariana Grande]

Doesn't it stay with the after one.

[Matt Rogers]

Mental illness that no one can tell me what it is. The things I do sometimes.

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, Twitter will tell you. They'll tell you.

[Matt Rogers]

I know they will.

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, come on.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh. One day, they all came for me. They were like, matt has adhd. And I was like, stop. And then I was. Now I'm like, I do.

[Bowen Yang]

No, you cannot.

[Ariana Grande]

They tell me I have a lot of things. God, you know something? No, I'm kidding. I'm joking. You're actually invasive and scary.

[Matt Rogers]

I look at the computer, I'm like, what do they say? I help and write that down. That down?

[Ariana Grande]

No, just wrong and loud and unhealthy.

[Bowen Yang]

Wrong and loud?

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

Wrong and loud.

[Ariana Grande]

That's toxic.

[Matt Rogers]

You ready to be right and loud?

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah. I don't think so.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

So here comes Bo and Yang. Flat. By the way, I was showing Ari the intermediate Mariah playlist.

[Ariana Grande]

This is good stuff. Please send that to me.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, I will, I will.

[Ariana Grande]

It's a good one.

[Matt Rogers]

Okay, so Bo and Yang. Locked, loaded, ready to rip, roar, and ride. I don't think so, honey. Time starts now.

[Bowen Yang]

I don't think so, honey. Ginger, I don't like the way you're shaped. I go to the grocery store, you're shaped like branched dicks. And I don't like how you slice into it and you leave it on the counter and it becomes stringy. And then Nigella Lawson describes Ginger as having a Spicy warmth. I go, shut up. It is. It doesn't do anything. When was the last time a ginger shot kept you from having a cold?

[Ariana Grande]

Me?

[Matt Rogers]

I. Yeah. Hi.

[Bowen Yang]

Damn it.

[Matt Rogers]

30 seconds. It is.

[Ariana Grande]

It is not.

[Bowen Yang]

It is not pulling its weight anymore. Ginger. You think it's the placebo, y'all, I'm telling you for a fact, it is not actually doing anything. You're eating something spicy and gross and it's not actually good anymore. And Big Ginger is making all these candies now that make you feel like you're supposed to be healthy. No, I don't think so. Any. Ginger, you're shaped weird.

[Matt Rogers]

Five seconds.

[Bowen Yang]

I don't think we're ever supposed to have eaten you. We're supposed to have letting you grow in the ground and take roots.

[Matt Rogers]

That's one minute be buried. Look at the faces of your friends.

[Bowen Yang]

They're laughing. They're laughing next to me.

[Ariana Grande]

That couldn't have been at us.

[Matt Rogers]

No, I think they're laughing at us. If you're laughing at us, say woo. Oh, no, no.

[Ariana Grande]

Thank you.

[Matt Rogers]

Thank you, guys.

[Ariana Grande]

Thank you.

[Matt Rogers]

Well, I think.

[Bowen Yang]

Well, now we're both embarrassed. You stand by your calamari? I don't think so. Honey. This is a disaster.

[Matt Rogers]

Ginger.

[Ariana Grande]

Ginger is fabulous.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, I'm sorry.

[Bowen Yang]

I've always thought so until I used it for a dish yesterday and I.

[Ariana Grande]

Went, what was the dish?

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, tell us.

[Bowen Yang]

It was a curry.

[Ariana Grande]

It belongs. It has to be in curry, doesn't it?

[Bowen Yang]

You would think too much. Well, much too much.

[Matt Rogers]

Did you just put too much in?

[Bowen Yang]

That's on ginger.

[Ariana Grande]

That can happen.

[Bowen Yang]

That's on ginger.

[Ariana Grande]

Much like star anise has a big presence. Sucks up all the space in the room. Certain flavors really can't be. You can't share a dish with them. No, I think they're very self conscious about it. I think star anise comes into the room and is, Hi.

[Matt Rogers]

Hey.

[Ariana Grande]

I'm sorry.

[Bowen Yang]

It's good to see you.

[Matt Rogers]

Sorry to take up so much space.

[Ariana Grande]

And celery's like, fuck.

[Matt Rogers]

I don't think people know you as a culinary icon.

[Bowen Yang]

You are.

[Matt Rogers]

Has it been something you're holding back from the world?

[Ariana Grande]

Well, I mean, I don't think I'm a culinary icon. I'll say Giada is shook.

[Matt Rogers]

Giada is shaking.

[Ariana Grande]

I do like to.

[Matt Rogers]

Don't you feel Giada's shaking?

[Ariana Grande]

What do you mean?

[Matt Rogers]

I think Giada De Laurentiis is shaking.

[Bowen Yang]

What does Giada de Laurentiis have anything to do with?

[Matt Rogers]

I think Giada de Laurentiis is watching this right now being like, fuck, Ariana is good. She's coming for me.

[Bowen Yang]

She's cooking.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, she's cooking now.

[Ariana Grande]

I am cooking. I am cooking. I like to cook. I do you. That's enough of that. I don't think there's life there. I don't think that's interesting or adds value to this podcast. Who cares? Who gives a shit? What am I going to sit here and talk about, like, roasting mushrooms for the next 10 minutes?

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, my God. Whoa. That's amazing. Tell more about that.

[Bowen Yang]

No.

[Matt Rogers]

Well, you know, honestly, anyone can.

[Ariana Grande]

Do you like King Oyster trumpet? Like the trumpet ones?

[Bowen Yang]

The trumpet mushrooms?

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah, the trumpet ones.

[Bowen Yang]

I do like those.

[Ariana Grande]

There's so many different ways you can work those guys, you know?

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, they're beefy.

[Matt Rogers]

So many different ways you can work those guys, you know, crazy sounds.

[Ariana Grande]

Especially something that looks as phallic as it does.

[Matt Rogers]

There's so many different ways you can work with them.

[Ariana Grande]

No, but you can make them into little, like, scallops. You can make them scallops if you can saute them like that, or you can chop them.

[Matt Rogers]

I wish you would have Seafood Queen because you normally.

[Ariana Grande]

And when roast, like, bake them in their little chips.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, I want to take her to Brooklyn Crab.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

I used to work at this restaurant in Red Hook.

[Bowen Yang]

She can't eat that.

[Ariana Grande]

Take me.

[Bowen Yang]

You can't eat?

[Matt Rogers]

No, you can have a drink.

[Ariana Grande]

I can have the sides. That's the one thing about being vegan. You really get to know the sides.

[Matt Rogers]

Sides Queen, right?

[Ariana Grande]

It's like, can I have the satisf. Is it in butter? You know, you gotta ask me, you know.

[Matt Rogers]

Well, speaking of.

[Ariana Grande]

I told you that wasn't gonna go anywhere.

[Matt Rogers]

Speaking of serving up a dish, here it is. So are you ready?

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, yes.

[Matt Rogers]

So this is the moment, and it feels like you've now thought, well, I.

[Ariana Grande]

Didn'T know what I was gonna do, but I feel like now that we've talked about it, I should use my letter.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes, absolutely.

[Ariana Grande]

Now is the time.

[Matt Rogers]

Use the letter. It's time for everyone to hear the letter.

[Bowen Yang]

This is Ariana Grande's. I don't know things. I don't hear time starting.

[Matt Rogers]

Wait, so this is gonna be a different take on. I don't think so, honey. This is an historical artifact. It's a written document that really serves as an. I don't think so, honey. And here we go.

[Bowen Yang]

Here we go. This is Ariana Grande's. I don't think so, honey. Her time starts now.

[Ariana Grande]

I don't Think so, honey. The Guardians of the Galaxy ride in Disneyland, California. No offense said, with much love and respect for it, an open letter to Disney World, Orlando. Hello. I hope this finds you well. My name is Ariana Grande. I've been a frequent visitor and a great admirer of your partner since I can remember. Some of my fondest adult but professional memories have been collaborating on my cover of Alan Menken and David Zippel's tremendous hit, Zero to Hero, and performing in front of Cinderella's castle along a magnificent choir that you so graciously provided. Further, some of my oldest and warmest personal memories include spotting hidden Mickeys across the parks, driving up from Boca on the weekends, counting the purple signs, knowing we were nearing your parks, and alas, riding the absolute masterpiece that is the Twilight Zone, Tower of Terror for the first time once I was finally tall enough. Perhaps this message comes prematurely, but I would be remiss if I did not reach out with a potential matter of grave concern in the wake of the most recent alterations that have befallen your historic Paulson park in California. Yes, I am referring to the calamitous loss makeover of the Tower of Terror ride here. I humbly implore you to not follow suit. Please allow the iconic and tremendous Tower of Terror to stand tall permanently. In the name of historical preservation, spooky honor, and good old fashioned fun, I hope that you'll consider this humble plea from a passionate fan and. Am I way over? No, no.

[Bowen Yang]

Go, go.

[Ariana Grande]

While asking that my own passionate and devoted fans sign the attached Change.org petition just in case. I never posted this, but I really wanted to con.

[Bowen Yang]

That's one minute.

[Matt Rogers]

One minute.

[Ariana Grande]

Are you my best friend? Aaron and I worked on this together during the pandemic.

[Matt Rogers]

You can tell it went through drafts.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Matt Rogers]

The vocab.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah, we were calamitous loss. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

And did they. So you never sent it?

[Ariana Grande]

No, I never posted it.

[Matt Rogers]

Now it's out.

[Ariana Grande]

But I was ready. But it felt like there were more important things going on in the world, so I didn't always want. I don't know. This was really up there. I'm kidding.

[Matt Rogers]

Here's the thing. I'm joking, but it's not a joke. I once created a Change.org petition for Disney World and it actually got a lot of signatures, which was. I did not want them to make Donald Trump in the hall of Presidents.

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, good.

[Matt Rogers]

I was like, this would be ridiculous to do it. And then they did. No, they did.

[Ariana Grande]

Oh, they put him there.

[Bowen Yang]

They put him there.

[Ariana Grande]

That's crazy.

[Matt Rogers]

So famously, they. You know what I'm gonna say. So they started to make a Hillary animatronic because everyone was so positive, they scrapped it. So when you go down to. If you ever go to the hall of Presidents and you see the Donald Trump animatronic, he kind of has Hillary's face.

[Bowen Yang]

No.

[Ariana Grande]

What are you talking about?

[Matt Rogers]

I'm talking about exactly what I said, Ariana. I'm talking about exactly what I said.

[Ariana Grande]

Scary times, everyone.

[Matt Rogers]

But literally, he's got the face shape. You can confirm this, right? 100%. So he's got her face. I can't say anymore. Sure, I'll post it. But, like, I did a change.org and it did some numbers, and we will post.

[Bowen Yang]

And we will post the Change.org petition that you're referring to.

[Ariana Grande]

You know what? I don't want to rock the boat.

[Bowen Yang]

No. Too late. This is a duty.

[Ariana Grande]

It's true. It is too late.

[Matt Rogers]

Consider the boat rocked as fuck.

[Ariana Grande]

It is too late.

[Bowen Yang]

No, it is too late.

[Ariana Grande]

It's okay.

[Bowen Yang]

As we say goodbye.

[Matt Rogers]

Why was this so good?

[Bowen Yang]

I literally.

[Matt Rogers]

I had been waiting to meet you.

[Ariana Grande]

Like, ever since we finally met.

[Matt Rogers]

I know. And also, I felt like it was the SNL afterparty, and it was so. There was so much going on, and.

[Ariana Grande]

I literally, like, you had a glow around you. You had a halo around you coming towards me, and it felt like an angel descended from the heavens. I was literally, like this person. Wait, I literally. Because we've messaged and we. I know you and we know each other.

[Matt Rogers]

We have DMS every now and then.

[Ariana Grande]

Yeah, absolutely. But I was just. I told Bo, and I was like, oh, my goodness. He has such a disarmingly warm energy. I am so obsessed with him.

[Matt Rogers]

Well, I mean, I felt like I was like. I was, like, meeting Ari, and so it was just like, I give her a hug, and I'm like, the biggest. I just want to say that, you know, and I started to, like. I was like, I can have this conversation with her later about how meaningful it is to me that you were there for him when he was going through things. And I just, like, I've, like. You know what I'm saying?

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

I just always felt very connected to you because I could tell that my friend had a friend.

[Ariana Grande]

Same.

[Matt Rogers]

And so anyway, that's how I feel about that. And you just are such a. A sensation in this movie and in everything you do.

[Bowen Yang]

And we love you because we knew you.

[Ariana Grande]

I.

[Matt Rogers]

You know, we used to sing for good.

[Ariana Grande]

I need to Hear that?

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah. I was Alphabet. That was Glinda.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm Glinda.

[Ariana Grande]

That's tracks.

[Bowen Yang]

Tracks.

[Matt Rogers]

It does.

[Ariana Grande]

It really does.

[Matt Rogers]

We actually had. We had. We had it together there for a while.

[Bowen Yang]

We had a great rendition.

[Matt Rogers]

There was once a video of us.

[Ariana Grande]

Like, I feel like I have seen it, but I want to see it in person.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

You know, we gotta do it.

[Bowen Yang]

We'll do it soon.

[Matt Rogers]

We'll do it someday. But it's so emotional to get through. Oh, forget about for good. That must have been crazy shooting that.

[Ariana Grande]

I was hovering outside my body for two weeks. And also we shot it on a rain cover day, so it wasn't even supposed to be when we were shooting it.

[Bowen Yang]

Got you.

[Ariana Grande]

Which I loved because I love not over rehearsing or knowing fully. You know, when you know the girls, you can just jump in and do what you're supposed. You know, it's fine. And we just were. It was a lot we had to do. Movie two's gonna be a lot.

[Matt Rogers]

I can't wait.

[Ariana Grande]

We're not allowed to talk about it much, but I just will say it's gonna feel different.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

Everyone.

[Ariana Grande]

I haven't seen it.

[Matt Rogers]

Everyone that was like, it should be one movie. Like, you're gonna feel silly, you know.

[Ariana Grande]

Like, I think you'll understand once you see it, that there's just simply too much. There's too much to get through that deserves and needs to be honored and explored and fully, fully represented. We got one shot to make these movies, you know, until they remake it and, you know, whatever.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Ariana Grande]

But we had to get it right. There's so much story that deserves the time.

[Matt Rogers]

Got it right.

[Ariana Grande]

Thank you.

[Matt Rogers]

So did you.

[Ariana Grande]

You are brilliant. I love you both so much. Thank you for having me. This was so much fun.

[Matt Rogers]

We end every episode with a song.

[Ariana Grande]

Mm.

[Matt Rogers]

Switching the positions for you. Kitchen in the bedroom. Not you. Not knowing it in front of her.

[Ariana Grande]

He.

[Bowen Yang]

Don't I know it. I was coming for you.

[Ariana Grande]

You just picked. You picked a strange key.

[Bowen Yang]

We're done.

[Matt Rogers]

Bye.

[Ariana Grande]

Maybe it was just the key.

[Bowen Yang]

Las Colteristas is a production by Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and iHeartRadio podcasts.

[Matt Rogers]

Created and hosted by Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, executive produced by Anna Hosnier and Han Sani, produced by Becca Ramos.

[Bowen Yang]

Edited and mixed by Doug Babe and Monique Laboratory.

[Matt Rogers]

And our music is by Henry Kabirski. Hey, everybody, it's me, Matt Rogers, letting you know tickets are on sale now to see me on tour. The Prince of Christmas tour. That is I'm doing my whole album. Have you heard of Christmas? Plus a lot more with the whole band all throughout December. Go to www.mattrogersofficial.com to see me in a.