- Bowen Yang staged a surprise audition on “The Voice” in a crossover sketch promoting the movie “Wicked.”
- He performed the song “For Good” from the musical, but shockingly, none of the coaches turned their chairs.
- The comedian shared hilarious banter with coaches Reba McEntire, Michael Bublé, and Niall Horan following the brutal rejection.
- Despite the “failure,” Yang jokingly offered his services as a “mega mentor” for the show.
A Lifelong Dream Meets a Harsh Reality
Does Bowen Yang have the vocal chops to win “The Voice”? The coaches delivered a swift and unanimous verdict during the November 3rd episode: a resounding no. In a hilarious and unexpected segment, the 34-year-old “Saturday Night Live” star and comedian crashed the set of the hit singing competition to fulfill what he called his “lifelong dream” of auditioning, only to face a brutal rejection that has everyone talking.
Welcome to Oz: The Ultimate Crossover
The surprise began when coaches Michael Bublé, Reba McEntire, and Niall Horan found themselves on an unfamiliar, ethereal stage. “Reba, are you sure this is The Voice stage?” Horan asked, bewildered. Bublé chimed in, noting, “It smells different.”
Suddenly, Yang emerged from the “Wicked”-themed set, greeting them with, “Welcome to Oz.” The segment was a clever crossover promotion for the upcoming film “Wicked: For Good,” in which Yang plays Pfannee. He quickly seized the moment, interrupting the confused coaches. “No, no Reebs,” he said to McEntire. “Our two worlds have collided so that I can realize my lifelong dream of auditioning for you all. So if you wouldn’t mind, please turn around.”
“I Can’t Have You Looking at Me”
As the coaches obliged and turned their iconic red chairs, Yang added a final, hilarious demand. “I can’t have you looking at me. Especially you, Niall. I can feel your smolder.” With the coaches’ backs to him, the comedian launched into a heartfelt, if not technically perfect, rendition of “For Good” from “Wicked.” The coaches listened intently, but not a single one hit their button.
The Brutal Verdict: “Wow, No Chair Turns”
Upon finishing his song to a silent response, Yang broke the tension with a deadpan, “Wow, no chair turns.” The coaches spun around to offer their apologies and humorous critiques. McEntire admitted she liked his song choice but couldn’t resist whispering to Horan that her own classic, “Fancy,” would’ve “been a better choice.”
When Yang pressed Bublé for his opinion, the crooner jokingly claimed his “button was broken.” Taking the rejection in stride, Yang retorted with perfect comedic timing, “Well, I appreciate your honesty. Just know that I’ll never get over this.” Before the coaches could depart for the Knockout rounds, he made one last pitch: “I am available to mega mentor. Just putting that out there.”
The Voice airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.