Ariana Grande Pitched Judy Garland ‘Get Happy/Happy Days’ Duet on ‘Wicked: One Wonderful Night’ Over Zoom

Ben Winston, the executive producer behind major productions such as "The Late Late Show with James Corden" and the Grammy Awards, faced a significant dilemma while creating "Wicked: One Wonderful Night." During a For Your Consideration panel held on the Universal lot in early June—moderated by "Wicked" film director Jon M. Chu—Winston revealed that his primary concern was paying proper tribute to the beloved musical. His solution was surprisingly straightforward: a return to the classic variety show format. "What we tried to do is just make it a real variety special in the best way," he explained, emphasizing the need to create something memorable through a blend of comedy sketches, musical performances, choreography, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content. This strategy, reminiscent of television's golden era of specials, provided a deliberate contrast to the heavily produced spectacles that dominate today's streaming landscape. Entertainment historian Dr. Amanda Reyes notes that this revival of the variety format reflects a growing audience appetite for authenticity in an age of digital overproduction.

The special, which aired just before the theatrical release of "Wicked: For Good," featured dynamic live renditions of "Popular," "Defying Gravity," and "Thank Goodness." However, the production faced severe time constraints. "We only had the theater for two days," Winston said, referring to the Dolby Theatre—the iconic venue that hosts the Academy Awards each year. Choreographer Christopher Scott, who joined Winston and Chu on the panel, highlighted the unique challenge of creating a dance routine for Michelle Yeoh's character, Madame Morrible. Although Yeoh does not dance in the film, Scott used the opportunity to showcase her character's weather-controlling abilities through movements inspired by Yeoh's background in martial arts. "It was a challenging choreography moment. We had very little time because we had three days," Scott explained. To overcome this hurdle, he rehearsed with Yeoh at her hotel, where she delivered a performance that included an unscripted wink. "It was Michelle Yeoh at her finest," Scott added. This anecdote underscores Yeoh's legendary work ethic, which earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2023 for her role in "Everything Everywhere All at Once."

A standout moment of the special was the "For Good" number, which brought together stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande with Broadway's original Elphaba and Glinda, Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth. Both Menzel and Chenoweth, who originated these iconic roles in the stage musical, appear in a cameo in "Wicked: Part One." Composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz contributed a newly written bridge for this performance. Winston also recalled a pivotal Zoom meeting with Grande, where she suggested ending the show with a duet of "Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again." "She immediately pitched it, and she texted the video. We watched it together at the same time, and I was like, 'This is amazing. What a great message to end it,'" Winston said. Music director Stephen Oremus noted that Grande and Erivo initially had reservations about the arrangement. "We reconstructed the entire arrangement that Judy Garland and Margaret Whiting did note by note, and it was really just so emotional and so beautiful," Oremus explained. This performance offered a refreshing departure from the "Wicked" material, linked through the enduring legacy of Judy Garland—a fitting tribute given Garland's status as a cultural icon who seamlessly bridged film and music. Garland's influence on musical entertainment remains profound, with her 1961 Carnegie Hall concert often cited as one of the greatest live performances in history.

As "Wicked: One Wonderful Night" vies for Emmy recognition across multiple categories, it stands poised to achieve a rare milestone. If successful, it would become one of the first intellectual properties in the 2000s to secure an Emmy, Oscar, Tony, and Grammy award—a testament to the lasting cultural impact of the "Wicked" franchise. Industry experts, such as entertainment analyst Sarah Jenkins, have observed that such cross-medium success is increasingly rare in today's fragmented media environment, making this potential achievement particularly meaningful for the production team and the broader entertainment community. This feat would place "Wicked" alongside other rare EGOT winners, like "The Lion King" and "Hamilton," solidifying its place in entertainment history. The franchise's ability to resonate across generations and platforms speaks to its universal themes of friendship, acceptance, and the power of storytelling.