-You guys, we're back here with "Late Night."
We're chatting with Bowen Yang.
It's very exciting. I know it must be also exhausting.
But when you're off from "SNL," you were going over to London
because you were working on "Wicked."
-Yes! Oh, my gosh. It's so cool.
-This is amazing. This is a film version of "Wicked."
-Yes. -You're not just going over
to do, like, a show over there. -Which I would happily do.
Especially because the cast on the West End of "Wicked"
just fully digs into the British accent
and it's so funny.
They're like, [ In British accent ]
"We're going to see the Wizard of Oz."
[ Laughter ]
It's really funny.
But it's great.
No, we're doing the movie and it's crazy.
-And this is a show that meant something to you.
-Yes, okay.
So the second time I ever came to New York,
the first time I went into Manhattan,
it was 2005.
"Wicked" had just come out a year and a half before.
I was obsessed with it.
I was besotted by the songs.
And then I came to New York
and then I begged my parents to buy tickets.
It was the hottest ticket in town.
We couldn't go.
And I was like, "Well, can we at least drive up
to the Gershwin Theater so I can press my face
up against the glass?"
[ Laughter ]
And so we went.
It was the most pathetic sight.
-'Cause it's not like, I mean,
from my knowledge of Broadway theaters,
the glass, you don't get to see the set or anything.
-You don't get to see the set, but you get to see the lobby.
You get to sort of touch things that touch the floor
that lead to the stage, so you're kind of like,
you're sort of like a couple degrees away.
And so we couldn't do that, but what we did do was,
we came to this building for the NBC studio tour.
We got to go over to the "SNL" studio
and sit there, and I was like,
"This isn't as cool as 'Wicked.'"
[ Laughter ]
-It must be very nice --
Do you ever reflect back on the fact that you're
now working on the two things that you --
one, were on an underwhelming tour of
and two, you couldn't get tickets for?
-Yes, I mean, it's crazy.
It's a crazy full-circle.
It's also amazing that they're both Universal Studios projects.
Watch Peacock.
[ Laughter ]
[ Laughs ] But...
-So much synergy! -So much synergy!
-The synergy is red-hot coming off you.
-I promise it's genuine.
Like, I love Peacock so much. I really do.
"Poker Face" starring Natasha Lyonne
is premiering on it. -Really good.
-It's really good.
But no, it's crazy.
It is full circle, though.
-Obviously, this is a musical.
Is there choreography involved with your role?
There's choreography involved.
So Jon M. Chu is directing the film,
and he is still working with choreographers
that he's been with since "Step Up 2."
And I was really intimidated going into this.
I was like, "I'm not a dancer.
I don't know really how to move."
-I would say, just from watching "SNL,"
I do feel like you are
very good at sketch comedy choreography, right?
-It's just the arms.
They're never panning down.
-Oh, that's interesting.
I have been fooled by your arm work then.
-Exactly.
That's all sketch comedy dancing really is.
But I was really scared to do this, and then I went in
and I thought I was doing okay,
and then these lovely choreographers
are validating you at every turn.
They're going, "That's amazing! Oh, my goodness!"
And then Christopher Scott, the choreographer,
looked me in the eyes and said, "Bowen, you're a dancer."
And I was like, "Wow, I felt that."
[ Laughter ]
The next week, we're all on set and some of the other actors
who are also not trained, professional dancers and I
are talking about the choreography.
We're like, "Oh, it's pretty complicated,
but I think I have a good handle on it."
And then two of them were like, "Yeah, and Christopher Scott
looked me in the eyes and was like, 'You're a dancer.'"
I was like...
oh, so I'm not that special, I guess?
But it's gonna be great.
It's gonna be so good.
-You're not selling this movie!
[ Laughter ]
"I just cannot stress to you
how much the choreographer lies to us."
-Yes!
Lies, but also ultimately gives you the boost you need.
-I think the boost is more important.
In the early days of learning choreography,
I think a boost is far better.
I would respond better to a boost than the hard truth.
-Totally. -Yeah.
-And watch me get cut out of the movie from dancing.
-Well, the best is, every shot of you dancing
is definitely gonna be from here up.
-Yeah. -A lot of arm work.
-And then people at home will be like,
"That's amazing sketch dancing in this movie."
-And then it's gonna cut to, like,
definitely someone else's legs moving real fast.
-[ Laughs ] Yeah.
-You get to go to London.
I know it must be hard because
you're obviously working when you're there.
Are you enjoying the city at all?
-I am. I'm really enjoying the city.
The only note I have for London is that, um,
they don't understand what the concept of iced coffee is.
-Is that true? Even in this day and age?
-I kind of think so.
Anywhere in Europe, you go, "Can I have an iced coffee?"
and they look at you like
you've asked for, like, a lobster thermidor or something.
I'm like, "I just want coffee on ice."
And they go, "So an Americano?"
I'm like, "No, just give me an iced coffee, please."
And they also -- London is trying to like,
veer in the other direction.
They should embrace tradition, reject modernity,
go back to meat pies.
You can't find a good meat pie in London.
-Are you looking? -I'm looking for a meat pie.
And it's not even a Sweeney Todd thing anymore.
There's no, like, worst pies in London.
There's no pies in London.
-Where does this craving for a meat pie come from?
Is it just an expectation you had of London?
-It's that.
It's me being like, a Commonwealth baby,
being born in Australia,
going to Canada.
Meat pies are a thing that, like,
I've accepted is never gonna happen in America.
Americans just don't care for meat pies.
But people who have the Queen's face on their money,
like, love it, you know?
-So bring back the meat pies!
-Bring back the meat pies.
-Alright, well that is --
So if there's anything to take away from this,
it's watch Peacock, bring back the meat pies.
-Yep.
Bring back the meat pies and Lenny Hochstein
is dead in this town.
[ Laughter ]
-Thank you so much.
It's always such a pleasure to see you.
You guys, that's Bowen Yang.
"SNL" this Saturday.
Stream live on Peacock!
With host Michael B. Jordan and musical guest Lil Baby.
We'll be right back with more "Late Night."