Bowen Yang Crashes Ariana Grande’s ‘SNL’ Monologue to Sing Holiday Hit

Bowen Yang made a memorable exit from Saturday Night Live during Ariana Grande’s monologue on Saturday, marking his final show as a cast member.

The comedian and Wicked co-star joined Grande as she sang a playful holiday riff on Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” joking about the struggles of buying gifts for her cousin’s boyfriend.

Grande sang about her holiday gift panic, admitting, “I panicked and ordered a Yeti mug, the Christmas equivalent of a shrug. What do I get for Christmas for this dude?” Yang appeared a few lines into the song to a warm round of applause. Grande greeted him with a side-hug after the news of his departure was announced the previous day.

During the performance, Grande complimented Yang, saying, “Can I just say how much I loved your line in ‘Wicked?’” Yang clarified, “Thank you. That was my one line in ‘Wicked: For Good.’”

The cast joined in on the performance, all dressed in Christmas sweaters, adding humor as they tossed out gift ideas like a bath massage coupon or a Cameo from Matthew Morrison, both met with playful rejections from Grande and Yang. You can check out the video on YouTube.

Yang’s exit follows a wave of departures from SNL after its milestone 50th season. Recent cast members who left include Heidi Gardner, Ego Nwodim, Devon Walker, Michael Longfellow, and newcomer Emil Wakim.

Yang first joined the show as a writer in 2018 during Season 44, became a featured player in Season 45, and was promoted to main cast for Season 47. Over his tenure, he received five Emmy nominations, including four for Outstanding Supporting Actor and one for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series.

Reflecting on his time at SNL, Yang wrote on Instagram, “I loved working at SNL, and most of all I loved the people. I was there at a time when many things in the world started to seem futile, but working at 30 Rock taught me the value in showing up anyway when people make it worthwhile.”

Yang’s farewell during a lighthearted holiday performance highlighted both his comedic talent and his connection with the cast and guests. His exit was a fitting celebration of his time on SNL, mixing humor, music, and camaraderie. Bowen Yang leaves behind a memorable legacy on the show, and it’s clear he will be missed. What do you think of his final performance? Share your thoughts in the comments.