A lyric flub? Thank goodness! The audience was thrilled to have Cynthia Erivo sing “The Wizard and I” a second time.

What you didn’t see on TV watching Wicked: One Wonderful Night: Extra Remy, an unintentional mashup, and more

A lyric flub? Thank goodness! The audience was thrilled to have Cynthia Erivo sing "The Wizard and I" a second time.

By Patrick Gomez

Patrick Gomez is an Executive Editor at . Formerly at People magazine and The A.V. Club, the Critics Choice and Television Critics Association member has appeared on 'Today,' 'Extra!,' 'Access Hollywood,' 'E! News,' 'CNN,' and 'Nightline,' and can be seen frequently on 'Good Morning America.' Follow the Texas Native at @PatrickGomezLA wherever your media is social for all things 'For All Mankind' 'Top Chef,' and puppy related.

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November 7, 2025 8:15 a.m. ET

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Cynthia Enrivo and Ariana Grande on 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'. Credit:

Not all the magic made it on TV for *Wicked: One Wonderful Night*.

Though taped in front of a live audience, NBC's two-hour television special actually filmed for almost four hours on Sept. 24 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood (the same theater where the Oscars take place).

Much of that extra time was spent setting the stage for the next performance, but there was plenty to keep guests entertained between takes. Rather than looking at their watches, the fan-filled audience was thrilled any time a performer was asked to do a second take on a song.

Here's what you didn't see from home.

An unintentional “Wizard and I” and “Defying Gravity” mashup

Jeff Goldblum and Cynthia Erivo during 'The Wizard and I' on 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'.

Griffin Nagel/NBC

Cynthia Erivo is a renowned Tony winner with hundreds of Broadway performances under her belt — meaning she knows how to power through a flub with the audience none the wiser. And that's exactly what happened during her initial run at "The Wizard and I."

Though vocally on point, something rang odd about the bridge of the song: Erivo accidentally started singing part of "Defying Gravity." It's an understandable flub, given that when Elphaba sings of her future being "unlimited," the orchestration sounds almost identical to the Act I finale.

Even more adorableness from Remington

At most tapings, there is someone tasked with keeping the audience energized throughout the long taping period. During many of the filming breaks, the audience emcee would bring up people in the audience wearing elaborate costumes — including young Remington, whom the audience would later see become an instant sensation filling in as the Elphaba role during Ariana Grande's performance of "Popular."

Just one example of the 4-year-old's effortless charm: The emcee called him to the steps of the stage and asked "How old are you?" To which Remington, apparently mishearing the question, replied, "I'm good."

Remington and Ariana Grande perform 'Popular' on 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'.

Remington's mom revealed it wasn't even the movie that made her son fall in love with the world of *Wicked*, it was seeing all the branded merch at their local Target.

Prior to the "Popular" performance, Grande spent some time chatting with Remington, asking to borrow his broomstick to place it aside during their performance so she could hand him a wand instead, but promising to return it — which she ultimately almost forgot to do until reminded by the audience.

Best and worst moments from 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night' with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande

Why Jonathan Bailey is not on stage for the 'Wicked' TV special

Free dance lessons

Hollywood isn't above paying audience members. Tapings are often long days and the energy of those there just for fun may wane in hour 7 of cheering on the host of *America's Got the Voice Warriors*. But that was not the case at *Wicked: One Wonderful Night*. (In fact, we hear people were selling their tickets for thousands of dollars!)

That makes it all the more impressive that the studio audience — including Erivo's partner Lena Waithe and a very eager Frankie Grande, there with mom Joan to support his little sister — quickly learned some choreography and prop work using flowers minutes before cameras rolled on the opening number.

It probably helped that the routine was taught by *Wicked* and *Wicked: For Good* choreographer Christopher Scott.

A “thank u” to Ariana

In addition to the costume contests and overdosing on Remington cuteness, the audience emcee played music during the downtime — including Grande's hit "thank u, next." The song got an instant reaction from the crowd, who began singing along.

A few lines in, Grande poked her head out from the side curtain with a face of excitement, which elicited a giant cheer from the audience.

Defying gravity takes time

Cynthia Erivo flies above the audience during 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'.

Though much of *Wicked* and *Wicked: For Good* was shot practically, there's still a lot of movie magic needed to, say, make someone fly.

Cathy Rigby makes it look easy (at 72, she's still flying high over audiences as Peter Pan), but performing while harnessed is no joke. So it's perhaps no surprise that Erivo's "Defying Gravity" was shot in segments.

Though every note was pitch perfect both times, Erivo actually flew over the Dolby twice to sing the final portion of the modern classic — to the thrill of the audience, some of whom were in tears watching the star soar both physically and vocally.

Deleting a dictator

Speaking of "Defying Gravity," at the live taping when Nessarose actress Marissa Bode introduced her movie sister's big number, she included a warning about the importance of standing up to a "power-hungry dictator" that was cut from the NBC broadcast. The statement had a clear connection to the musical's plot surrounding the tyrannical Wizard and Elphaba's rebellion. But the politically outspoken Bode's words carried even greater weight in the current political climate and the audience cheered loudly when she made the not-so-subtle declaration.**

A second take of Babs and Judy

*Wicked: One Wonderful Night* concluded with the best rendition of "Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again" since Barbara Streisand and Judy Garland first performed it on *The Judy Garland Show* in 1963. And audiences got to see it twice!

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande duet during 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'.

After the first take (again with tears in the audience), the telecast's director came out and told his stars it was perfect. But Ervio and Grande weren't content. After looking at each other briefly, they declared they wanted the pleasure of singing it again. To the shock of no one, the entire room was happy to oblige.**

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

*Wicked: One Wonderful Night *is streaming on Peacock now.

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW TV”