Most of the main cast of Wicked and the upcoming sequel Wicked: For Good assembled for a soaring two-hour musical special that aired Thursday night on NBC.
Wicked: One Wonderful Night featured performances by Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba), Ariana Grande (Glinda), Michelle Yeoh (Madame Morrible), Jeff Goldblum (The Wizared), Bowen Yang (Pfannee), Marissa Bode (Nessarose), and Ethan Slater (Boq).
The thrillifying celebration of all things Oz boasted reimagined musical montages from the movie (accompanied by a 37-piece live orchestra led by the award-winning musical director Stephen Oremus), highlight reels featuring the cast and fans, and a sneak preview of footage from Wicked: For Good, including two new songs written by legendary composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz for Erivo and Grande.
Read on for our list of most memorable moments from Wicked: One Wonderful Night.
BEST: A ‘Popular’ recast
NBC
Although it’s always fun to see Grande and Erivo together, watching the pop star’s Glinda giving her frank analysis to an adorable young Elphaba stand-in — a 4-year-old boy named Remington — was a pure joy. The cuteness overload was even too much for Grande, who collapsed in delight as her new pal Remy agreed to join her from the audience and then she broke into giggles more than once while singing to her cutie patootie costar. Popular indeed.
BEST: Michelle Yeoh everywhere all at once
NBC
We’re always happy to see Yeoh, and even happier the special found plenty of ways to include the Oscar winner, who had multiple costume changes throughout the night and even vogued in one number.
BEST: We have been changed for good
nbc
At the halfway point in the special, we got a delightful segment filmed at the Gershwin Theatre in New York City, home of the original Broadway production of Wicked. It began with Schwartz playing a special arrangement of “For Good” on piano as Grande and Erivo sang. Grande became overcome with emotion, wiping away tears as Erivo sang to her “Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better / But because I knew you I have been changed for good.” If that wasn’t enchanting enough, they were then joined by their original Broadway counterparts, Kristin Chenoweth (Glinda) and Idina Menzel (Elphaba).
WORST: An unsexy lack of Jonathan Bailey
Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
Bridgerton star and PEOPLE’s newest Sexiest Man Alive Jonathan Bailey wasn’t able to make it to the taping of the TV special in Los Angeles due to a scheduling conflict. Although he appeared briefly in a pretaped package featuring the cast sharing memories of filming, Bailey — and Prince Fiyero — were greatly missed on stage. His absence, however, offered Yang, Slater, and Bode a moment to shine as they hilariously competed for lead Fiyero understudy in “Dancing Through Life.”
BEST: Live from Oz, it’s Bowen Yang!
NBC
Although the Saturday Night Live star doesn’t have the largest role in Wicked, the prime-time special made sure to take full advantage of Yang’s charisma and impeccable comedy chops, especially playing off the live theater audience as he’s used to each week at his day job. It was a highlight to see Yang pop up at various moments of the special as comic relief, especially stealing the show through the “Dancing Through Life” performance in place of Bailey.
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Following its Thursday premiere on NBC at 8 p.m. ET/PT, Wicked: One Wonderful Night will stream on Peacock beginning Friday.
Wicked: For Good hits theaters on Nov. 21.