Bowen Yang Reflects on His Success in Wicked and SNL

Bowen Yang has spent over two decades building a successful career. The 34-year-old comedian is enjoying his sixth season as a cast member on Saturday Night Live (SNL) and appears in the upcoming film adaptation of *Wicked*. He plays Pfannee, a key sidekick to Glinda, alongside stars Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and Jonathan Bailey.

The film premieres on November 22. Yang recalls watching the movie's final cut with SNL castmates during a special screening this year when Grande hosted. Initially, he was hesitant about viewing it for the first time with colleagues. "I was adamant about not going because I thought I should see this with friends outside the industry for a pure experience," he shared.

However, he changed his mind knowing how connected he felt to both the film and SNL. Recalling a trip to New York at 13, Yang mentioned his longtime admiration for *Wicked*. "When it came out, I begged my parents to take me to the Gershwin Theatre. I just wanted to touch the glass and see the lobby." On that same day, he toured NBC studios and sat in the SNL audience.

The screening turned out to be a special experience for Yang as he shared the film with his SNL family, some of whom had never seen the show. "By the end, all of us were in tears," he noted. "Sarah Sherman was sobbing, saying, 'I didn’t expect to love it this much.' It impacts everyone, regardless of their background, and I've never seen anything like this."

In addition to acting, Yang co-hosts the "Las Culturistas" podcast with his best friend, Matt Rogers. They discuss pop culture and share insights with their followers. To celebrate the holiday season, they created a unique gift guide on Pinterest featuring their favorite items, including celebrity memoirs and vinyl records.

Selecting the first item for the guide was effortless for Yang: "The Meaning of Mariah Carey is a great memoir," he said. "From there, everything just came together as we reflected on what makes the podcast special." New episodes of "Las Culturistas" are available every Wednesday on all major podcast platforms.

Earlier SSP wrote that Khloé Kardashian showed off new brunette hair ahead of Thanksgiving.