Ariana Grande

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Visit marshals.ca to find a store near you. Hello everyone, welcome to another episode of Good Hang. Boy, we have a superstar on this podcast today. And a wonderful person Ariana Grande is joining us. And you know, I never had the pleasure of meeting Ariana.

And I walked away feeling like the biggest fan, but also like I had met a just a deer, deer, open-hearted, and tender and nice person. So we are going to talk about a lot of things today. We're going to talk about Ariana's love of the Christopher Guest movie, Best in Show. We are going to talk about what it was like singing with Mariah Carey. We're going to talk about how she likes to take a bath.

And she's going to demonstrate what she does in there. And we're going to of course talk about Wicked Two, the film that's out this week, the gigantic hit that she is the star of. But before we get started talking to Ariana, with a person this special, we really need a special person to kick us off. And I wanted to talk to somebody who knows Ariana, who is close to her, who wants to speak well behind her back, and give me a good question to ask her. And we have the one, the only Bowen Yang, Bowen Yang, from SNL, who I just got the chance to perform with a few weeks ago.

Incredible actor, comedian on a terrific podcast with Matt Rogers, Les Culturistas, which we all know and love. So let's hear what Bowen has to say about our girl Ariana Bowen. Hi. This episode is presented to you by Walmart. I'd like to say that I'm a pretty good gift, and for me, it's about making the extra effort to find the perfect gift.

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Go to walmart.com or download the app to get all your gifts this season. Ta-da! I love this print and it's pussy bow. Oh my god, thank you. I really was trying to think about what to wear for Ariana, and I wanted to go a little high femme.

Yes. And this won't come as a surprise, but I don't have a lot of that in my closet. You are the high femme. You don't need adornments for that? Wow, thank you.

She does bring out a real delicate feminine energy. Thank you. Yes, the daintiness. That's really nice to try to get into. OK, we're going to talk to her today, and thank you for this time.

But before we do, I just have to say, once again, confess my love for not only you and all the work that you do, but last called, which congratulations on the award show that you created out of nowhere that I hope is very strong and lucrative IP for years to come. Congratulations on your podcast, which continues to delight, inform, and entertain me in all different ways all the time. The fact that thank you so much, I receive that. The fact that I was watching my heroes, you and Kristen, name-dropping us very casually in your discussion about Salt Lake City Housewives.

I leapt out of bed. I was like supine in bed, maybe flirting with seasonal depression. And then you all cured me right quick. God, seasonal depression is a funny drag name for me. For, I don't know, anyone for me.

Ladies and gentlemen, seasonal depression. Coming at the stage. By the way, before we get to the question, where are we right now? Are we in an office of yours? We are in my home office.

And I feel like I'm a commentator on MSNBC. I was going to say, if we were on a Zoom right now, like a Zoom pitch or something, I would pin your photo, make it on the screen right now. And I would look at everything. Do not do that when you're on Zoom. Listen, if this were my podcast, I would go into my name.

I don't think somebody about blurring your background on Zoom. I get why people do it. I don't like it. I think a blurred background is usually hiding a bed. Yeah, on me.

And on me bed. And I remember those days of COVID where heads of giant film studios were talking in front of their unmade bed on Zoom. I have some respect. Number you for me. You have some respect for me.

I don't want to see that. How does the acromble do they? Get in front of a blank wall babe. Anything but a bed in the background. You're a grown man.

You're grown. And somehow you're under lit, like, except. But congrats on your background. It's beautiful. I love it.

Thank you. So, we're talking to Ariana Grande today. And I have been very heartened and not surprised by the relationship that you two have. Like talent loves talent. And both of you feel like you have just become very genuine and warm friends.

Is that the case? It is absolutely miraculously the case. When did you guys first meet? We first met in Rehearsals for Wicked. And this was after the saga of me maybe not being able to do the movie because of the SNL schedule.

And it has always been, was always in that time, like my top priority are wonderful benefactor, friend, boss. And then I was like, you can't miss shows. If you're going to fly back in Portland, I just don't think it's going to work. And then on the Wicked end, they were trying to figure out how to make it happen. And they were like, OK, I think we're going to deploy Miss Grande to make the phone and call up Lauren and try to convince him to let me do it.

And I think that was the beginning of sealing the deal of finalizing it, right? It's like just imagining that to be a wiretap, fly on the wall for that phone conversation is really thrilling to me. Just hearing the two of them talk to each other. I mean, they have a great relationship, too. Because she's at a show.

She hosted the first time. I thought that was a gangbusters episode for my time there. And so she really, like, she already went to bat for me before I even met her. And one was like, Ariana, Ariana. I get it.

Ariana, I get it. I get it. It's that thing where you're trying to balance. Friendship and your dreams. Are you going to Wimbledon?

Are you going to Wimbledon? You know, I was at Tom Stoppard's birthday. Yes. He's written some of the best plays ever. And I think Wicked is, I think Wicked is, Wicked is a play.

Wicked is a book first. What would you say to play? But, you know, shout out to Lord. He did not need to give you that time off, babe. He didn't need to give you the time off.

And she closed the deal. And she closed the deal. And then that's began. This like a really organic thing. And I was very, this thing that I've learned from working at SNLs.

Like you never step on the gas if you want to, like, make any sort of genuine connection with the host. Never want to force a friendship or a camaraderie. And so I went into that experience being like, I'm going to be boundaries, king, mutually, like respecting other people's and honoring my own. And I was not like forcing this friendship necessarily. That she was just so warm and inviting.

And somehow within a couple weeks, we were like watching Mommy deers together and playing Rummy Cube and baking cakes. And it just happened in most unforced way, I think. And that also speaks to like a tone of the friendship and sort of her personhood in herself. Like she's just a very, I don't know. I think she's someone who is strength in softness.

She is like, you know, incredibly vulnerable. And that is why people adore her. So what question, do you have a question that you think nobody ever asks Ariana or would be an interesting question for her to speak about or something that would be fun for us to talk about? Yeah. I mean, like what does she think the through line of her work is?

Like I think she has had such a varied career, right? Like start off Nickelodeon or start off Broadway. You go to Nickelodeon, you go pop star, you go after. And like there's like fashion, I cannot be on top of that. Like throughout, it's like I want to see what the unifying theory is from her.

She will kind of like squirm at that question. Because anytime I want to like talk to her about like what her favorite album is, she's like, don't do that. Like it's great. It's great. It's like true for us.

She's like, I don't want your not like entertainment tonight. Like what are you doing? I'm curious to see how she would answer that through you through me. And also the second question is, silly dumb question. What's the best note to sing?

Ooh. What's the best note to sing? That's such a good song. It's so good. Because I mean, I'm sure you are the same.

I mean, I just love music and watching the way singers sing. I feel like we went dancers dance. Like it's just like, it's just like, wow, how did you do that? I just can't, it just feels like magic. And there's so many notes that she can sing.

Right. She must have one that she loves. Let's do it. Let's do it. Let's do it.

Let's do it. Let's do it. Let's do it. Keep it in G. Let's do G.

G5 or whatever the octave is. It's like the letter and the number because it's the octave on the piano or whatever. Like I don't know. I'm not a amount of music theorist. But she, I'm sure she has a thought around that.

That's such a good question. It's like, we've done B minor too many times. That old hacky note. Oh, that'll chest. No, no, no.

Get that away. Get B minor away. I need to do major. Well, I can't wait to see you soon. Thank you so much for doing this.

I know she would be thrilled that you did, Bowen. I just adore you. I love you so much. Same, same, same. Thank you so much for your time.

Bye. Bye. I'm so excited to be here with you. I don't even know how to talk anymore. That was not, it's okay.

Do you just use it in the chat? I know. I'm sorry. Do you, I feel like you're a sponge though. I feel like you pick up on the way other people talk.

I think I, I've always loved to do voices. Like, as a little girl, I loved to impersonate and do characters and voices and accents. And you're so good at them. And that's kind of what I wanted to start with today. Because tell me, do you, do I love you so much?

I love you too. I feel like I know you as most people do, but I am thrilled to meet you in person. Me too. And I was thinking about how to start today. And I was thinking, yes, we'll talk, of course, about the huge success of Wicked.

And we'll talk about your music and we'll talk about your life and all that. But I wanted to talk about you as a funny person, as a comedian, as a deeply, genuinely funny person. You're very funny. Thank you. Coming from you, I am, yeah, I'm shitting.

I've been saying since I walked in, but that's really how I feel. I like, I can't adore you. And I, yeah, I look up to you so much. I love SNL. You're so funny.

What did you really? What did you really? When you were growing up, what were you watching? What did you like? My favorite movie was Best in Show from a really young age, which is so strange.

You know, to be the child and to really love that. I don't know. I was really young. Did you love that style of, you know, that like, mockumentary style? I did.

I did. I loved like, dry humor. And it made me feel so close to my family. Like, laughter. My dad and I bonded over our favorite movies.

And what's your dad's sense of humor? We love Jim Carrey. We love, you know, all the Adam Sandler movies and, you know, that kind of thing, the first guest of course, SNL. And that was just sort of how we bonded was through comedy. Do you remember getting your first laugh?

Do you remember like being in getting my first laugh? Yeah, I actually, wow, I've never thought about this in my life. But I was really little. I don't know how old I was, but I was doing stand-up. I forget the name of my persona that I had created, but I was doing stand-up as a guy.

I was like this guy, this old guy. Yes. And my grandparents and I got a laugh from them. And I just remember it felt so special. I don't know.

You were in their house doing it. Yes. And I don't remember the name of the character, but it was full out. I was like, I had disappeared into this man. I'm always interested in a connection between musicians and comedians because I think they have some kind of love for each other.

And I don't exactly know what it is. I think so. I think for me personally, the thing that I love about both so much music and comedy is that they always made me feel so safe and like I can relate to the person. Yeah. Yeah.

And you learn a lot about somebody by what they laugh at. Yes. You do. Yeah. And when you find someone who has the same sort of like ticklish spots as you, that's just the best thing.

You know, we work with someone and you find someone that tickles you. My best friend was Gillies. We look up to you and Tina so much because we are like, oh my God, we should do things like that today. You guys are so funny together. Oh my God.

What I love about what I've seen of your relationship is again, that kind of feeling of play. Like you know each other and you're kind of relaxed, like being stupid. They do love to be stupid. Yeah. What a gift it is to be able to play and be stupid sometimes.

I know. And I mean, I feel that when you do SNL is that you're not afraid to be stupid and you kind of like it. It's the best. It's the best. And it's so vulnerable but you can't be afraid.

It's like, it's just the most thrilling thing about you really have to be down. You do. You can't go in halfway. No. It's impersonating someone or you're doing some stupid idea.

I'm sure you feel this way too. I bet it's similar to singing, which is you have to kind of push through to the other side and make sure you're committing to whatever you're doing. Have to see it through. It doesn't matter. And if you're on the end, if you're locked eyes with someone in the scene is because you've done it.

Now if you're trying to send their bald cat to the side and you're like, what the hell are we doing? Yeah. Or you're like, the scene's never going to see the light of day. Like this is not making the show. You have to be safe with each other.

Totally. It really is where like love, love blooms. It's really good. It really is true. Because if you hang in there with each other, then you're kind of friends for life.

Yeah. It's true. Yeah. We've kind of had some really extraordinary circumstances with slime and bald caps and things. Yeah.

Did you have any things on SNL where it's always fun like the bloopers about show, like where things go wrong or you don't make your change or anything like with a stress dream come true? Did anything ever happen there when you were there? First of all, I am dying for your stories. Can I turn the question after I answer? Absolutely.

Please. There was this catch that didn't air that we did with Taryn Killam. And he went this 1970s hair and he played this like weird musician person. And he wrote this song that was so long and so strained and I don't think Lauren loved it at the end of the day. He was sure that the audience was like, I loved it so much.

You were fighting for it. An audience was on our side as well. But it was cut for time. And that was heartbreaking because it was just so ticklish. I bet he still thinks about it that and appreciates it.

There's nothing better than when the host fights for something of yours. Even if it doesn't make it. Do you know anything that they do? I share a shit my dad watches it every day. It's on YouTube and he watches it every single day without I'm not getting He starts his days with smile. I think it's I don't remember what it's called. I think it's the song was called smile

And he was like a 70s with me the show And she smiled to my face and I was like We were a lot we loved it. We loved it. Oh my god I mean, yeah, one of the people that became a friend to you is Bowen. Yes such a talented nice person the most brilliant the kindest Most caring so so ridiculously otherworldly smart. Mm-hmm. I'm just so funny

I love him so much. Well, we do this thing on this pod where we kind of ask people We have guests who know our guests to come on and we speak well behind their back and they give me a question to ask And so we talked to Bowen today. Oh my god. Yes, Bowen was your person. Yes, and Bowen had such amazing things to say about you and just you that's catch when you two were together as the That was your idea right that when you were basically paying some version of your mom I was I was a version of my mom. So for people that don't remember it was kind of like a game version. Yeah, sure

I'm proud of that too. Yeah, it was a game night that went wrong basically sure was yeah And you came to Bowen with the idea which she said was like being handed a gift yes because sometimes life has to inform art and this was What I was like Bowen there's no reason that this happened if we're not supposed to use it And yeah, so what is your mom like tell us what your mom is like like that guess sometimes just sometimes that's a side of her She's a beautiful gorgeous soul. I love her so much, but she was very proud of that too I warned her 15 minutes before they started the show no wait the show started that night She was like break a leg honey. I was like by the way, sorry. I have to tell you because we arrived and it's your hair I thought it was gonna be like a blonde Bob I didn't know it was gonna be your hair, but it's it is your hair You do have to know I'm you in a sketch and she was like oh, I can't wait and she loved it And I heard her as I was running to my quick change ring like that's about me. She loved it. She loved it. She loved it

but we were having a family game night and my brother's husband's brother was a guest we were playing games and You know my I don't have that I didn't get this thing that my brother and my mom have where playing games is really Really competitive. Okay, I don't have fun. I love to have fun. I love everyone. I love them I'm like really thankful for the time that we get to be together. I'm like, yeah, let's play a game

That's not how they are. Yeah, it's really yeah, and they're really grateful to and it's good vibes until you know someone's losing and then Yeah, my mom just said like under her breath like tiny dick syndrome something else like whoa mommy Mommy, you're inside that went outside. Yeah, ma'am. I was like mom. You didn't just say that and they were like giggling But like nervously I was like this is just joking. She's doing a bit. She was like, no, that's what that is

And I was like coming down the barrel so hard and I was like, excuse me guys bow and high Something has just happened at some point in our lives. We have to use those you were so funny in it I mean you're so funny and so much stuff that you did. I mean that you're singing off key in to vingo Which is hard to do I was hard to do to sing off key. It was fun It was fun and I liked that it got worse every time I came back to them. I guess I started really slowly yeah But but no but with game that I I had to fight for that one like you said like sometimes it's it's the most gratifying when You fight for it and then finally people believe it I feel like I get a sense from you that you know and you've been working long enough now to know that one of the things I think it's nice like getting others you know what you're good at like you're like I think I can do this well like that isn't always the case when we're figuring ourselves out like what we can actually deliver on but I feel That's what I mean about the confidence. I feel like you know what you can do well. Commitically that is such a generous and nice thing to say oh my god

I hope this is okay. Sorry that I'm here. No, but I feel that about you I know what tickles me and I know that I um I know how it feels like with the players like to experience and if it has that like Carbonation that ticklish thing. It's then there's a chance. Yeah, and I am not one too You know, I would never but we were in lorans office I'm going over on a show and he kept moving game night over and I was like lord. I'm so sorry. Please can we at least try to dress?

Can we please try to dress please? I'm so like I promise I owe you forever. Can we just try to dress a little more crew? I mean moved it back. I mean people don't know that that what's so cool and terrifying about the SNL systems It still uses just index cards I love the index cards and you have these index cards with your scenes And then it's just very like high school play you walk in and everyone looks up to see if their card made it into the show It is it's really old school and it is I have a little bit of PTSD when I see index cards because when you just said moving the index card That I just had a moment like oh because I remember many times where the index card was in a safe zone and then you come in and you're like Where did it go? Oh no

Wait, do you have ones that you want to share about? Well, you know, it's also fun about those index cards is there's always kind of a collection at the bottom because the show often runs long And you know sometimes things have to get cut on the fly as people know There'll be like two index cards fighting for the bottom right there'll be two scenes that are in the bottom and you're like see on the mat Like let's see which one makes it and you don't know until you don't know it's just yeah It really does kind of build your I think your tolerance for rejection, right? Yeah, just kind of like you get used to thinking okay. This isn't my last good idea. I have to try again next week I think that's good. Yeah, yeah, but you feel but I feel like well Bowen Bowen was so great talking about you because you know

He's such a friend and also loves talking about how easy it is to talk to you And then his two questions were really funny one. I don't really understand No, they were there one was like um what what would Ariana say is the trajectory of her career? What is the unifying theme? Oh wow? I know it's kind of it might be hard to answer this early in the interview, but no, I feel It feels clear actually. She's ready to answer. It just it feels as clear incredible

Yeah, I don't know I I think I just am feeling a lot more connected to Myself and my art since I started doing different things. I think um You know, I spent so much time only doing pop music But I grew up as a girl who loved musical theater and comedy So I think the thing that will be like best for my soul and also for my art and for what I'm giving myself to is if I'm chasing things that um sort of feel Just very right in the moment even if it's something different like I am doing a movie right now because it's a role that I Read the script and I love it and it's funny and I love the cast and I'm so excited And then I'm going to do a small stint of shows next year because that is Like something that authentically sounded good to me. Yeah, and then you know from there There are other things that are different and I think following those authentic impulses Feel it feels like a really good idea like a a good thing I think it's a sense of like getting older and getting understanding like listening to your own body like figuring out

Yeah, figuring out asking yourself. What do you want first? Which isn't always the case and when we're when we're doing a lot of work We're sometimes doing things because we have to do them and then when you take even a second to say What do I want to do what feels right? Yeah, yeah, that's something that is Learned over time for me. I when I you know sort of came into all of this and my pop career sort of took over my life And I didn't have that at all. Yeah, and I think that is I feel very like privileged and grateful to have learned that that there can be room for

Different creative endeavors. Yeah So that's been a really beautiful thing. I think it will change a lot. I think the first the last you know 10 or 15 years will look very different to the ones that are coming up And I don't want to say any definitive things like I do know that I'm very excited to do this small tour But it might not happen again for a long long long time sure, you know, so I'm gonna give it my all and it's gonna be beautiful And I'm so grateful that I think that's why I'm doing it because I'm like one last hurrah perfect because now for now never say no no no And it'll and also I think to your point like when you're able to Step away from acting or music or writing you can then you really appreciate it when you get to go back to it So much more and like you are able to do better By that art form because you're appreciative and really able to feel present in it Well, this leads me to boughins next question, which was what is your favorite note to sing?

I know okay. I'm gonna play you know you tell me if you like it okay because we got again. I mean I I just got nervous when I just named to note g because I was like that's a note, right? I know that g is a note that was the highest note of my ad lib that I sang in 13 I think g is pretty high it was something that I sang in 13. I know that Can't tell you but I love it. Okay with another one

What about this one I'm supposed to do here we go here we go here's a C. Oh beautiful Okay, so we don't know we don't know the answer we don't know but I did learn a lot about music theory For my one of those notes reminds me of Annie, which I know you were in Which is one of my favorite musicals Yes, what is that note? I don't know I'll never know we'll never know I'll never know but I do know I hear the relation I hear the I know why you thought of that one of my favorite songs and any musical as maybe an Annie I love maybe that it's a good song had one. That's a sad one. That'll do it Yeah, that'll get you going that'll get you going and was that fun to be a little kid and Annie?

What a part it was really a huge undertaking at that age. It's true. I was I was talking to Rachel Dratch we were talking about um musicals that like shaped us and for women my age and my 50s like Annie was just It was kind of like it was about it was just like it was about us like it was like a musical for us It really was it felt like it was not about us. We were not with us But it was for us And it was for you it was a yum. It was a she was the same age as us Right like that part was you know to just to have a young girl be the lead of a Broadway show and it's named after her It's not called daddy warbucks and the little girl. It's called Annie. It shouldn't be called that. I know like that title

Wait, so what are your what are your well? It's funny with my SNL or my musical your SNL like bloopers bloopers What's one of your favorite blooper moments one thing that comes to mind is one time I was doing a sketch where I think Jason Bateman was a host and there was a monkey in the sketch like a I would say maybe a chimpanzee like a Yes I don't like them. Yeah, I don't like them and uh It's too stressful for me and it was like a young chimpanzee and um I keep I'm going like this because I just want to show how strong it was And I walked past the chimpanzee and it reached out and grabbed me by the wrist. Oh, no And wouldn't let go. Oh, I'm in a love a quick change. I think it was like the blonde hair or my vibe

And I started screaming. Oh, that's really dramatic and she means these are very strong. Yeah, I like I Famously, yeah, so that was one where I was like and I couldn't get it to let go of me. I had to yeah, it was all fine That was that was would that be considered a blooper? I don't know. I think it's like PTSD

A different colder. I love it. I'm glad I know This episode is brought to you by cam H if you or someone you love has ever navigated mental health care in Canada You know how easy it is to feel lost and overwhelmed cam H the center for addiction and mental health is Canada's largest mental health hospital and top research center Where they're working to transform care and improve access so everyone can get the support they need when and where they need it But they can't do it alone. It's time for a clearer path to mental health care and we can all be part of building it to learn how Head over to camh.ca Goohang This episode is brought to you by cozy. You know that feeling when you walk in a room and everything just works the sofa the bookshelf the coffee table the rug That feeling is a name and it's cozy cozy is a modular furniture brand built around the idea that your home should work for you Not the other way around whether you're in your first apartment or your forever home cozy sofas shelves rugs dining pieces bedroom sets and outdoor furniture Are all designed to grow and adapt with you?

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With a wide range of vehicles over 700 locations in Canada and a team that's as dedicated as a hockey parent at a 5 a.m Practice whatever life throws at you enterprise is here for it find your ride at enterprise dot c a I do want to talk to you about musicals because I know you love musicals of course I do I think I like them very much I do I like them very much. I feel I can also make them ridiculous Well, what I what I love about them is when I feel transported to me that is the best feeling ever when I watch anything But it's harder for me to get transported in musicals than in other things and I get like, you know It's kind of like improv like there's a vulnerability in that moment and if it's good your sight and it's not good It's tough. It's tough. It's good. It's ticklish. Yes. How do you when you're you've done many musicals

You're you're currently making a film about probably the most famous musical wicked like when you're when you have that moment right before the actor sings Right. It's just like jumping off a cliff kind of you have to stay in the acting moment and then Switch into song Do you know what I mean? What do you do in the preciousness of that moment? Well for wicked. Mm-hmm. Thankfully. I do feel like it's really well

Written yeah for the characters and for the moment so it feels like they have to sing the next thought, you know But I think so that it can be as honest as possible and feel like it's just acting and like this thing Whatever it's vocal training but way long before you get there so that it doesn't even feel like a thought like I trained my voice for Months before my first audition because Linda's voice is so different than mine. How did you train it? I trained with my vocal coach Eric Vitro and it just takes Uh muscle memory so for weeks and weeks and weeks I'd go every day I was I was a coach on the voice at the time and I was going in the mornings to Eric and then I can coach Nancy Banks and we would work on random things not even glinda related things just to sort of get the muscles moving and I hadn't acted in a long time and it was important to me to get ready for the audition and um, you know, I just spent Every day going to retrain that falsetto operatic area of my voice because I wasn't using it Yeah a long time and um you can hear the quality change if you look through like the voice notes from way back then

Like the first week I went there's so much air sleeping out and it's slowly but surely like we have to week there was more purity and more clarity When you get higher does there have to be less air like everything has to be tighter in the vocal cords No, I think it just sounded I guess what what I mean by that was that you could hear like more rasp in my voice Right, so the same amount of air, but just the quality became clearer and more pure as time went on and glinda doesn't have a rasp She's so pretty No, I mean unless there's like an emotional break or something like that Yeah, it can be imperfect but she has a pure tone Yeah, and it's um more classical and I trained really hard so that that that could not be a thought On set so that by the time we were in it and had to move seamlessly into the songs You know that wasn't a stress that wasn't a thing No one was worried about are the notes gonna come out right and if they didn't it probably made sense emotionally You know there are moments where especially in the second one where we have breaks and we have like choked up And you can hear it and that's kind of like the beauty of being able to do it live on set because you get to honor what's happening in the scene Yeah, but It's wicked and I know what you're saying. We're like maybe if it was something else it might be

I don't know it's like that back and forth is so hard to do but yeah, you know, thankfully these songs felt so intentional every single song and wicked feels so purposeful Yeah for the arcs of the characters and for what's going on. Did you speak in a different voice as Glenda? I did. A higher voice so you could stay there when you sang? I did it was kind of um So on days when I'm singing out and also most of the time, this is kind of where my voice sits is like here Yeah, um, but sometimes it'll move lower and then sometimes it'll move higher for Glenda when she's uh Younger it was a little bit pinnier and in the when she's older. It's a little more grounded a little more lived and she's like a public figure now

She's supposed to you know she has this like responsibility so it's a little more and she's been through more So it has a slightly different tone, but then when she's with Elphi again and having fun. There's more pep And um, yeah, I feel like people incredible that you tracked all that it was important Yeah, thank you, but you know it felt really important and helpful because we were shooting both films at the same time Yeah, so just making sure I also I kept a track of all of that with color-coded sticky tabs I think I love a sticky tab which color so that I could bounce back and forth and then you know There were a lot of little tools that helped with the mind set shift between both films But that was um one of them and singing voice-on speaking voice feeling a little different Where that was a really fun thing to sort of figure out. Mm-hmm. Some of her songs in the second movie you get to hear her open up a little more whereas like everything in the first movie is so um controlled and Prim and proper and bubbly Yeah, you get to kind of like peel back so many different Layers she grows a lot in the first movie her arc is she has a big arc in the first movie

In the second one there's a lot more to go. Yeah, because you're so good you're shtamimic You do men's voices very well. I am working on it. I'd like to do more male drag and more male voice You're you do leave you the music Have you seen that from my laptop? Everything is here. No one knows about that. You're can you do a little you do me?

Yeah, you know I the thing about that day is I had I went to a place And I don't know if I'm able to access or fly but I of course I also had put my gum in my in this line Oh, that's helpful. We had teeth, but they weren't like working. They weren't sticking So I put gum in mind this language really and you were playing the character he played in the best in show Eugene it was Eugene is very sophisticated not this character Jerry Fleck. I was playing Jerry Fleck And he was sort of like hold on. I feel like I've like relaxed my body Oh, jean. Um, I like to think that cookie and I it's not as low as I'd like today. I don't have my basement today

It's so good work as a team. So I do nothing. She does all the work with winky Back to I don't know back in the day when I was at constantly on junior high Well, um, I wish you I wish people listening could look at our own face. What is doing? Transforming it's really good. I never have an idea

But you have a you have a way to get pretty you can get pretty low. I sometimes can yeah, and you do have that I mean, I love I love I love I want I like I feel like there's a lot of men's voices. You could do well Oh my god, because you're very you're very high femme as people like to say. I don't know and um, hi femme I think and um, but I think we both are I I didn't think I was but Bowen told me I was I think you are but you also have such comfortability doing great male voices and characters same and I and you know And I think what I love about you is the way in which you're very like open and um uh supportive of the way that gender is its own fluid experience and expression in in in the way you live your life and also the way you Support people who are expressing that fluidity But I think you have a very interesting masculine feminine energy that you're always playing around and it's cool. Do you see it?

It's cool to see it. You have a wide range of how you can play around. That is so nice. Yeah, I'd like to play more men. Yeah, okay Oh, we should have won mustaches. Oh, I love a mustache. I love a mustache as well

With with for dairy for my performance as jerry. I um, I had these big eyebrows and no other makeup and um big The yeah, the end is like I'm pretty it was really fun And then you can do that really breathy You know and also judy garland is up in that world. I know you love judy and she and you have you can do I just I mean, I'm just so nice pointing out your range from you. I feel like I'm dreaming I don't know if anyone's told you you're very talented. That is very kind. You're very very talented. So are you

Well, I mean and you know you it is pretty it's so fantastic to hear your name up with it's like Celine Whitney Mariah. Why are you? You're in that sentence? No, yes, ma'am. No, no, yes, you are in that sentence and what that's crazy It must be I guess because I'm talking about people that you love study and completely like are you know a huge fan and you're also There appear and you're singing with them. Who is someone that you sang with?

That you had to just kind of like keep looking over being like, oh my god. Like I can't believe I'm singing with them. Mariah. Yeah, every time I'm I Cross paths with her which has been like a handful now and that feels just like such a dream. I have to pinch myself and The best part is how kind she has been to me and how she's embraced me and um Just she's a wonderful kind person. I really love her. It's very surreal. What was it about Mariah's music growing up that spoke to?

What was that special sauce about her voice? The vocals and a sense of humor. I think her her her pen and her producing ear I mean, yes, she's the greatest vocalist of course, but the the other pieces are just so are just what make her her, you know, yeah Talk about you know, she's the greatest singer so many people sing beautifully but her her point of view and her sense of humor and her wit in her songwriting and yeah, she talk about male drag. What did she do that? Yes? What is she obsessed video?

Let's look at her. You have to see it. She dressed and lady Gaga also does that as well so well. Yes. Oh my god And I I mean all of these divas I thought she's another as well who's just so I love her so sweetest in the world You that brain on me is so good. Um, thank you and I love seeing you two together because it just felt like too professional

Super talents like I could just with the ear to nerds. Yeah Okay, obsessed Mariah Carey. Oh, she's dressed as a flimsy. She's a living driver. She's obsessed with herself She's playing a Wow, I never saw this. I mean

She's one of us. That is so cool. Who are you seeing in music in film and who are you saying like whoa? They're doing something really exciting. I'm inspired with them. I have to say I'm sort of I'm on set right now filming this movie

Can you talk about your filming? Yeah, I'm filming Fokker in law. Oh, I know it's crazy. That's great The fourth Fokkers movie, but it's like it's such a treat and it's such a privilege I'm learning so much and working with Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro and everyone that is in this cast I'm really enjoying my time with them. It's such a who's directing it John Hamburg. Oh, he's John is awesome. Yeah, he's wonderful

Yeah, he's great and it's just so great to um Sort of experience a new a new journey and like learn from those around me and I'm very inspired by my cast I love and he felt stainless in it. She's so great. I love her so much so funny so funny so wonderful and um Yeah, I'm learning a lot from my cast mates and um, yeah, and it's probably like a lot Less physical It's probably a lot less physically exhausting than wicked which must be nice. I'm not kidding I'm not kidding. I don't know if I'm allowed to say this but I have to say it because you're gonna laugh your ass off my characters I try to have Lee. Oh no

They're always running. I spent yesterday doing burpee is in high. Oh, right. De Niro and he's like good job. I love you Good job, and it's like the crazy Yeah, she's a lot of things And still he's so fit he runs like a couple miles a day before yeah, it's too much No, it's too much. I feel like I'm on the set of the Avengers between him and Bob. Mr. De Niro. I'm like, yeah, you guys

Bob's not running in the morning. You see oh my god I like 330 they got a stop. That's not okay. I do love a good morning Pilates moment. I do feel about running. Yes, yes

You prefer I prefer walking I prefer walking. Oh, and when people are running like too much running. Yeah, what are you running from? I I it's too much running, but I just I just assume that wicked is just so much physical because also the outfits Are a lot of like like wearing an outfit is is heavy like that's just and the everyday was corseted Oh, the only looks the only looks that I had the work corseted were my pajamas, but it was it was helpful Yeah, it kept you feeling yeah I was so eager to get into my course and her shoes because I wanted to find her posture immediately and like her weird stiffness I wanted to jump into that yeah, so I had a rehearsal course and a rehearsal shoes and then it was like fine by the time we you know Yeah, it was great and she seems awesome. He's the best person in the whole entire world You can just kind of tell right away I mean I have to say in general the press that you and said the idea for the door it was so exciting to watch because There isn't like a you know There's this thing that one always has to push against when you're a woman in the business

Which is people are kind of constantly comparing and asking each other like there's just like a little bit of a Electricity in the air that people are looking for conflict. Yes, and what you and Sivia did over and over and over again was so radical Which is you kept getting ahead of it speaking to it and then in the moment really? Reminding everybody about how you made a commitment to each other to support each other through the project It was really cool and in doing so you commented on the bigger idea of like the pressure women feel constantly to be compared to each other and Have conflict with each other. Did you to make that pact together? It feels like you did Did you say it to each other or was it just unspoken? Well, we did you know it was it was really first of all thank you

It was it was really hard work, you know, yeah, not to Commit to that but to kind of Take care of each other firstly through this Incredibly a huge thing that was making wicked, you know, I really wanted to be safe. Yeah in each other, you know I wanted to make sure that she knew immediately like I am a cancer. I jumped in way too fast. I was like hi Time you were like ready to cry. I was like hello. Shall we cry together? Yeah, I'm like the darkest in August

I know I really did want to want to establish that right right away. Yeah, I kind of said hey We're gonna know each other. I you know, we're gonna learn a lot about each other very quickly Yeah, you need to know I want you to know there's nothing that we can't talk about you don't have to face something alone If you need help with something I am on your side already I don't even know what it is yet, but we'll get there together This is a huge undertaking. Yeah, and I want us to stay connected as much as possible Every step of the way and you know, there were so many challenges and the making of and that we checked in and we always stayed Honest you did and we got to see it It was really cool because you have to Deal with a lot of people's energy when they're talking to you about the stuff that you made and the way and also you guys just physically checked in Like it's really sweet how you touch each other you like to touch In a non-sexual way in a loving way like supporting each other You like to hold each other's like hands and and be there. It's very sweet. Yes. You like to do that with people

I do I do I am very I I'm channel a lot of energy through my hands. Yeah, and so yeah, I'm always holding a hand I'm always squeezing something as you've learned Something so many things here that you can squeeze fake food if you want No, but it's often it's often like who I'm with and what yes, like I like to channel support and energy Like whatever I didn't even notice that it was a thing about me until that thing happened And then you're talking about when you grab a little finger so cute I know what the fuck was going on sure and you're like you just reached over a little teeny tiny I was dender and and you're beautiful and I just wanted to be supportive And it was so sweet and I felt sweet again a great example of in a awkward or confusing moment You guys kept turning towards each other Yes, and I think that's something that we've worked hard to maintain and you know There's a lot of time that passes between the wrapping of the film and then the press door happening Yeah, and then you know it's a check in here and there when you can't you know We're both so busy, but we do our very best to stay connected in that way and to take care of each other Let's all take care of each other so that we can honor the project as much as you can be possible and do great work

Yeah, it's like the best lens ever. Yeah, and I'm so lucky that John Chu is the king of that exact thing that we're talking about I mean the fact that he was at his baby's birth and not at wicked premiere Well, I mean thank thank God I know but there's a few people that would have made a different choice I know but he had three over the course of the whole film, you know, I think he had three babies. Yeah Well, let's let's be clear his wife had three Yes, but yes, but how long we've been working on this is not crazy. Yeah, yeah. Wow no twins Okay, all right, okay. I have a lightning round for you. Okay

Okay, so I'm really bad at lightning take lightning doesn't have to be fast I'm like in the middle always because PTSD I build a case for both answers. Yeah, so I'm like very Okay, got it. So why I want to know that this is you don't have to worry about being fast cuz I also don't ask the questions fast Really slow like we're kind of in the sky and it comes down really slowly and it hits the ground really slowly okay around So the first thing I'm gonna ask you is kind of a gotcha question. Okay, give me give me a and this gotcha question is You say you're five three. I don't say that. That's what the internet says

I say I'm five to the Internet does a lot of things true five two that was the question. I'm five two Are you five two I'm five two is it five two on your license? Do you have a license? I've been used to a lot of times. I'm in New York. Do you have a current driver's license? I think so

I'm not trying to know do you like being five two what's the pros and cons of being five two? I asked cuz I'm also five two but my license is five three. I Yeah, oh does it yeah, no it they measured me or somehow someone put it down all day You're having a tall day. I get it and I got I got like it said I was like factory. I was like, okay, and then Yeah, so five two so what do you think about being a tiny a tiny person? I think I'm enjoying my time. Mm-hmm

I wish I could reach more. Yeah, I wish I could reach like the water. What I was gonna reach it Is there anything that you think um you wish you had height for like? Just like it's reaching. No, I mean just reaching. Yeah, you know the highest book the highest water the highest whatever it is

But I believe it that you are you do I mean, I know I know no other way. I know no other way. I know no other way I mean I have heard that shorter people live longer But um not to brag I don't know why So I hope so I hope you all live long I can't all I've loved everyone is a beautiful long life course, but let's have sure people are something. Okay moving on lightning round Do you think you had a past life? Have you ever felt like you've lived before? Oh God you're going here. That's so not lightning

What who was she he was where did you live? Do you have a sense? I have no sense, okay? But I do feel old so that's what people say and they say like an old soul I'm not calling myself an old soul. Okay, I'm just tired actually Everywhere was I I think I might have drowned. Oh, sorry. I just have a thing with like when people hold their breath underwater

I don't like that. Okay, good to know that at all great. But back to the thing when you said is there anything you wish you could do I just have one more I don't get about it I wish I were a person who like had entomology endless entomology knowledge and I could look at a bug I'll look at a doctor up here today, you know that kind of person. Yes I had that who could classify insects insects. Mm-hmm. I mean like, you know the people who do that with birds

I have the bird app the Merlin app. Do you have that? No fabulous? You play you record the sound of the bird and it quickly pops up What it is they can tell by their tone of voice. I love that. I feel like you would also probably be able to impersonate a lot of birds

I think you have a lot of faith in me. They're really kind to me Best Halloween costume you've ever worn. Oh one or one that you've worn I think my favorites are The best-in-show stuff that I did with Liz that we did together that's forever my favorite and I was also the big face from Twilight Zone That was like a yeah, it's an old classic. Yes. I love how people they don't remember there was a Twilight Zone where a woman woke up from The holder yes, and it was she woke up from what was like plastic surgery and everyone started screaming and her face look beautiful gorgeous But they were all pig faces. Mm-hmm

Fabulous chew on that. Fabulous. Um, what about best bath product you love taking baths? What I love lush I'm a lush person. You're like a bath bomb. So you love a fizz

I love a fizz. I love the smell I love like salts and a bath bomb and the trickle of oil like essential oils and do you take um Do you have one of those things on your bathtub like where it goes across where you can put your phone? Do you take your phone to your bath? I do I take my I also take my laptop Big bath person tell you take you off. Yes, we heard you're a big bad person. I'm a big bad person

Yeah, it's like it's like an office ritual. So yeah, it's a ceremony. Yeah, and I talk us through the ceremony I have my I have my I'm in the bath Okay, do you have a tray No, it's just on the edge of the thing It's okay, it's okay. Yes, and I push the bubbles I Do like my approval stuff before I go Look at the links of stuff in the water. Yeah, but it's so interesting and yet afraid of drowning I know but that's a thing so I'm in control in the big control that we're working on and I'm in control in the bath Yeah, I'm a cancer. So I'm very aquatic. I love the water

I love to be submerged but the drowning thing. Yeah favorite Italian food Oh, I have to say pasta. What kind so many kinds some marinara just simple marinara. Yeah, but no one I would make yes I'm sorry about the passing of your no one she seemed amazing. Marjorie. She was so funny

Tell me about her my favorite known a story is Frankie coming out to her and so Frankie your brother is Frankie He is gay and he is very gay. I don't know if you know And he came out to us and you know my first question was like do you have a boyfriend who say I want to me? And you know no one was just trying to figure it out, you know very accepting very loving very celebratory But she was just trying to figure it out because she couldn't believe it and you know in her mind She had plenty of like boyfriends. He had plenty of girlfriends and whatever and so she goes Frankie Have you seen a pair of breasts? And he was like yeah, yeah, no knife. I've seen breasts. Yeah, and she goes didn't do anything for you

He was like no, no, no, and she's like well you're gay Can I just tempt you one more time? Before you go I'd like to remind you what you're missing and Frankie was like, okay, yeah I know I've already asked this question. She seems amazing. She's amazing Your family seems like they're like a really funny like tight group like you seem really connected to your family I mean we are we are you know your typical Italian family like I think so I think so I think like I That's how we kind of grew up in the loud Italian household Yeah, I did hers and cards and yeah, you know I learned poker But like I was saying way before I should have yeah, yeah I was I do feel like I am so right smack in the middle between my mom and my dad I think Frankie and my mom are like very similar than I have like kind of in the middle of it all but yeah They were amazing. I mean grandpa was the best ever

What was he like he was the best and what did you call him grandpa grandpa? I called my no no no and my grandpa grandpa because he thought no no sound to sound it too negative. No no no no He was so no no no no no yeah And he didn't and when Frankie came out to him he was just like what the hell okay is what we got to love money less We got the reservations opposed to tunnel. Let's go perfect It's like that's what you wish for every kid you wish for every kid that they have that kind of like loving Teasing instant acceptance instant love and just like being seen right away now more than ever amen Yes, I wish that for all the kids same and you do you provide that for a lot of people Ariana. You're just so great. I just love you so much

Thank you was there anything we didn't talk about Thanks so much for doing this and these a lot and congrats on wicked to which is gonna be out this week And I'm sure this little indie film is gonna get a lot of people talking No, but congrats on the huge success of it And I can't wait to see all the stuff that's coming up for you and I'm just such a fan. So thanks for doing this. I love you And thank you so much Thank you Ariana It was so great to have you and so great to hear you talk about all of the good things and it is time now for the polar plunge Today's polar plunge is presented by visible when your phone plans as good as visible You've got to tell your people unlimited data just 25 bucks a month join today at visible calm So to plunge into the into the interview today I just want to say that Ariana talked a lot about game night and how how much fun she has playing games and how some For family get competitive and I just I wanted to just kind of do a public service announcement to remind people that a competitive person at game Night can ruin a game night But as kind of a competitive person myself don't come if you're not ready to win

So walk the line be care and try but don't be you know so awful that you make everybody quiet It's a fine line, but I know you can reach it. So today's polar plunge was presented by visible It's one line wireless and Verizon's 5g network for $25 a month That's a top tier network and a budget friendly cost tell your people and make the switch turns apply See visible calm for plan features and network management details. Thank you so much for listening. See you again. Bye You've been listening to good hang the executive producers for the show are Bill Simmons Jenna Weiss-Burman and me Amy Poehler the show is produced by the ringer and paper kite for the ringer production by Jack Wilson cats Elaine hi, I'm a maulin and a liaison heres her paper kite production by Sam Green Joel level and Jenna Weiss-Burman original music by Amy Miles