So, NBC’s throwing a pre-emptive “Wicked” party, and Kelly Clarkson’s apparently DJing. This special “Wicked” hour is ostensibly tied to the film’s impending release, but it feels more like a general love-fest. Fine by me. Who doesn’t enjoy a bit of orchestrated belting now and then?
Clarkson’s assembled a coven of talent, including Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, the film’s Glinda and Elphaba, respectively. Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, and Marissa Bode round out the guest list, presumably to discuss their own “Wicked” experiences or maybe just their favorite “Defying Gravity” karaoke renditions.
Of course, no Kelly Clarkson show is complete without a Kellyoke, and this episode delivers. Clarkson’s set to tackle “If I Only Had a Brain,” a song choice that, let’s be upfront, has a certain self-aware irony. Though, to be fair, who among us hasn’t occasionally felt a bit Scarecrow-esque?
Naturally, the upcoming two-part “Wicked” adaptation will be a major talking point. Expect some carefully curated behind-the-scenes tidbits and enthusiastic pronouncements about the film’s innovative approach to the source material. How innovative? We’ll see. But hey, it can’t be any weirder than that time they put James Franco in “Oz: The Great and Powerful.” Right?
Tune in to NBC on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 3:00 pm for this special episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show.
