In October, Ariana Grande wowed the audience with her comedy acts while hosting Saturday Night Live — and in a new interview with her Bad Co-star Bowen Yang breaks down how one of the audience's favorite skits came directly from Grande.
In one Magazine Interview conversation with SNL Starring Will Ferrell, Yang explained that the original idea for the sketch was inspired by an actual game night that happened at Grande's house. “We were hanging out and she said, 'I have some ideas for the show. We were playing the other night with my mom and my brother-in-law's brother and he was pretty much triumphant about his win. And then my mom cut him off and said, 'You must have a little c–k or something,'” Yang recalled. “What a perfect, boring start to a case, to do it in a very mundane setting. And it was so much fun.”
Yang continued, adding that while performing with Grande on stage, he struggled trying to match her comedic energy. “Ariana has been very precise with timing and delivery, but I either focus too much or let myself go,” he explained.
Ferrell praised both Yang and Grande for their performances in the sketch, saying the writing and acting made the simple premise work. “The slow build, the back-and-forth dynamic, and how cocky you are, but then you have to immediately backtrack,” Ferrell said. “And then the weird kiss at the end – it's what I love, surprising at every turn.”
When asked about his friendship with Grande, Yang explained that his relationship with the singer was a lot like his relationship with Ferrell: “In a way that's so organic and reminds me of you — not to get too tanned, I'm like, “I can't believe I have this really wonderful professional and personal relationship with Will, someone I've respected and adored for so long.” And then it happened twice,” he said.
Watch Grande's 'Charades With Mom' sketch from her tenure SNL below:
