Inside Bowen Yang & Matt Rogers’ Unfiltered Friendship Goals
Brace yourselves: Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers just dished out their version of “friendship goals,” and trust me, it’s as earnest as a toddler with a glitter-covered crayon. In an exclusive E! News sit-down at an NBCUniversal dinner during the Cannes Lions festival on June 17, the duo—best known for dishing pop culture critique on their Las Culturistas podcast—laid bare why they’re convinced their bond is the stuff of legend.
Matt Rogers kicked things off by reminding us that he’s totally above gushy compliments… except when it comes to Bowen. “On a gut level, how does someone make you feel? For me, Bowen makes me feel smart, funny, like I’m a valuable part of something,” he told E!’s Zuri Hall. He even dropped the nostalgia bomb that during the pandemic, thousands tuned in to Las Culturistas to stave off loneliness—a fact any PR team would kill for (corroborated by top download charts on Apple Podcasts).
Bowen Yang—or “Pfannee,” as Wicked aficionados know him—wasn’t about to let Matt hog the spotlight. The SNL star confessed that the real reward has been watching listeners latch onto their treasure trove of inside jokes, hilarious bits and random encounters. In his words, “We have a deep well of inside jokes… and we’re building inside jokes for everybody to be in on.” Translation: if you’ve ever snorted-laughed at a reference you didn’t fully get, welcome to the cult.
Speaking of cults, the pair also teased the second installment of Wicked, due November 21, where Bowen returns as Pfannee—promoted from college buddy to Ariana Grande’s Glinda’s assistant. This chapter, Bowen promises, zeroes in on the heartbreaking split between Glinda and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo). “Anyone who’s had to let go of a friendship… will find something to relate to,” he sighed—eye‐rolls optional.
Matt couldn’t resist adding that the Broadway musical’s “Dancing Through Life” finale was his part-one highlight, but now he’s giddy to see the full reunion on screen. And if you’re a Wicked purist, keep an eye out for the Time Dragon Clock cameo and new characters like Dulcibear, the talking bear guardian. Because nothing says universal appeal like a puppet-based prophet.
So there you have it: two guys patting themselves on the back for turning their friendship into a cultural lifeline and a silver-screen spectacle. Nothing shocking here, folks. Let’s all act surprised.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News, NBCUniversal press release
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
