Finally, Oscar producers learned to give the people what they want from the start, if they want a telecast that is going to be “Popular.” (Heh)
This year, what the people wanted was a Wicked concert, and that’s what they got. Heck, the people (me) would be perfectly happy if every award presentation was followed by another song from the film’s stars.
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s eight-minute musical medley was spectacular—and I don’t think I’m being hyperbolic, as a member of the exact demographic an opening like this would obviously appeal to.
It was a moving celebration of Hollywood history and, with the tie-in to Wicked, the year in film. It was exquisitely staged, intentional, poignant, and, with the roof-shattering vocals from Grande and Erivo—performing live together for the first time since Wicked was released—thrillingly entertaining.
The telecast started with Dorothy’s iconic ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, clicking as Judy Garland says, “There’s no place like home.” A montage that begins with a shot of the Hollywood sign was followed by clips of classic movies that were shot in Los Angeles, a tribute to the city’s resilience following the recent devastating wildfires.
Then the magic really started. Grande, wearing a devastatingly gorgeous ruby-red gown, took the stage to sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” initially lit by a gorgeous rainbow effect. How did they do that? It was jaw-dropping. She looked visibly moved as she walked to center stage to applause from the audience.
Erivo then took the stage to continue the homage to The Wizard of Oz’s legacy in film history, singing “Home” from The Wiz as the orchestra was revealed behind her. There’s power not just in this being a Wizard of Oz movie song medley, but Erivo, a Black actress cast as Elphaba to much discourse in Wicked, singing the stirring ballad performed by Stephanie Mills on stage and Diana Ross in The Wiz, an interpretation of Oz that incorporates the Black American experience.
What followed was—and I’ll just transcribe my notes here—“THEY’RE DOING ‘DEFYING GRAVITY’ AHHHHHHHH!!!!”
Fans have been clamoring for this, Grande and Erivo performing the song live, something that they never did on their endless yellow brick road of a press tour. So it’s a fitting victory-lap moment for it to finally happen at the Oscars, where both actresses are nominated—something that many were skeptical could happen when the film was announced.
Adorably—and importantly to musical-theater fans—they even did the proper staging of the song, with Grande scurrying to the back of the stage to watch her Elphaba soar at the climax.
The eight-minute medley ended with Erivo not just nailing, but annihilating her “Defying Gravity” battle cry at the end of the song. Before she finished her riff, the celebrities in the audience were on their feet giving a standing ovation. Special acknowledgement to the directors, camera operators, and editors for cutting to Grande and Erivo’s respective partners, Ethan Slater and Lena Waithe, clapping misty-eyed.
One of the last shots before Conan O’Brien’s monologue began was of Wicked costar wiping streaks of tears from her cheek. Honestly…same.
