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Ariana Grande channeled her inner theater kid — and diva — in her opening monologue for Saturday Night Live Season 50, her second turn hosting the sketch comedy series.
The Wicked star began her three-and-a-half minute monologue-turned-Broadway-spectacle by reiterating that it’s every theater kid’s dream to play Glinda or Elphaba from the Oz-inspired musical.
“Well, it’s every theater kid’s dream to lose their virginity, but their second dream is, of course, to be in Wicked,” she quipped.
Tossing off another joke, the Grammy-winning pop artist recalled her first stint hosting, back in 2016, when another woman presidential candidate was running. “So I guess second time’s the charm,” she said.
She continued, poking fun at the fact that she wasn’t pulling double-duty as a host and musical guest (Stevie Nicks is tapped this week): “I am just hosting. No, I’m not going to make this about me, I’m just gonna have fun, take it easy and, yeah, just keep it lowkey,” Grande said.
“I’m gonna keep it lowkey tonight / promise I’m not gonna sing,” the singer-songwriter begins with an improptu ballad that soon transforms into a full-blown, boisterous cabaret-style number, featuring her seamlessly jump from her signature Britney Spears impression to an homage of Gwen Stefani’s vocals set to the tune of No Doubt’s “Don’t Speak.”
Grande also promises not to talk about Wicked, unexpectedly running into a misplaced Bowen Yang in full Glinda drag. Then comes a particularly campy high-kick line, as Grande abandons all “lowkey” qualities for her renowned voice to shine.
“If you’re looking for a diva, don’t look over here,” she concludes, tongue-in-cheek.
Sure, Grande, sure.
