Wicked: One Wonderful Night

Wicked: One Wonderful Night
Promotional poster
Also known asWicked: Event Special
GenreMusic
Written by
Directed byPaul Dugdale
Starring
ComposerStephen Schwartz
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
  • Ben Winston
  • Raj Kapoor
Producers
  • Christopher Scott
  • Siena Castillo
  • Rita Maye Bland
  • Dave Piendak
Production locations
Editors
  • Simon B. Bryant
  • Tim Woolcott
  • Guy Harding
  • James Collett
  • Chris Black
Running time93 minutes
Production companyFulwell 73
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseNovember 6, 2025 (2025-11-06)
Related

Wicked: One Wonderful Night is a 2025 American television special promoting Universal Pictures' two-part film adaptation of the stage musical Wicked by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman. Led by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, performances included songs from the 2024 Wicked film, along with previews of songs from its 2025 sequel, Wicked: For Good.[1]

The special first aired on November 6, 2025, on NBC, before streaming on Peacock the following day.[2][3] A live album of the night's performances was also released.[4]

Cast

Performers

Appearances

Pre-recorded

Setlist

  • "No One Mourns the Wicked" – Ariana Grande, Bowen Yang, Ensemble, Audience
  • "The Wizard and I" – Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum on acoustic guitar
  • "What Is This Feeling?" / "Dear Old Shiz" – Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande
  • "Popular" – Ariana Grande, Remington Glass
  • "For Good" – Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, Stephen Schwartz on piano
  • "I'm Not That Girl" – Cynthia Erivo
  • "Dancing Through Life" – Bowen Yang, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode
  • "Thank Goodness" – Ariana Grande
  • "Defying Gravity" – Cynthia Erivo
  • "Get Happy" / "Happy Days Are Here Again"[b] – Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande

Production

Exterior of the Dolby Theatre (pictured in 2015)

On July 9, 2025, during their upfront, NBC announced a two-hour Wicked special titled Wicked: Event Special to air in November 2025. It was confirmed that Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande would be part of the show and that songs from both films would be performed during the show.[6]

On September 24, 2025, the show was filmed at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.[7] During the special, Erivo and Grande wore outfits by Marni and Alexander McQueen.[8] The "For Good" performance was recorded later and filmed at the Gershwin Theatre in New York City, where the musical Wicked has been staged since 2003, and was not shown to the audience during the filming.[9]

In October 2025, the title of the special was changed to Wicked: One Wonderful Night, and NBC set a release date for November 6, 2025, to celebrate the release of Wicked: For Good two weeks later. Marissa Bode, Jon M. Chu, Jeff Goldblum, Stephen Schwartz, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, and Michelle Yeoh were also confirmed to appear.[10]

One significant edit was done to Bode's introduction to "Defying Gravity", where she initially said the song was about standing up to a "power-hungry dictator", which was interpreted as a dig at the second Trump administration.[11]

Release

Wicked: One Wonderful Night was broadcast on NBC on November 6, 2025. Outside of the United States, it also aired in fifteen countries.[12][13] An encore presentation aired on December 31, 2025.[14]

Reception

Viewership

In its original airing, Wicked: One Wonderful Night drew 3.6 million viewers, becoming NBC's second-highest rated special of the year behind the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special.[15]

Critical response

Hope Sloop of Decider wrote, "I walked away from this special feeling genuine sadness that this was not a Woodstock-style concert that would have given thousands more the opportunity to watch it live. To say that Wicked: One Wonderful Night, complete with its surprise appearances, reimagined versions of classic songs, and outstanding staging is something that everyone should watch is an understatement. For those who love the movie or the musical, this is for you. For those who don't love the movie or musical, maybe go get checked by a doctor or something; you're missing out."[16]

Accolades

Award Date of ceremony Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
Art Directors Guild Awards February 28, 2026 Excellence in Production Design for a Variety Special Misty Buckley Nominated [17]
Costume Designers Guild Awards February 12, 2026 Excellence in Variety, Reality-Competition, and Live Television Katja Cahill Nominated [18]
Hollywood Music in Media Awards November 19, 2025 Music Performance / Special Program Wicked: One Wonderful Night Won [19]
Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards February 14, 2026 Best Contemporary Makeup in a Television Special, One-Hour or More Live Program Series or Movie for Television Bruce Grayson, Brielle McKenna, Levi Vieira, and Sean Conklin Nominated [20]
Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling in a Television Special, One Hour or More Live Program Series Edward Morrison, Lillie Frierson-King, Tiffany Bloom, and R'riyana Kline Nominated
NAACP Image Awards February 28, 2026 Outstanding Variety Show (Series or Special) Wicked: One Wonderful Night Nominated [21]
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards September 5–6, 2026 Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) Ben Winston, Raj Kapoor, Paul Dugdale, Lou Fox, Patrick Menton, Rob Paine, Bex Hampson, Christopher Scott, Siena Castillo, Rita Maye-Bland, Dave Piendak, Chelsea Gonnering, Penny Le Vesconte, Cynthia Erivo, and Ariana Grande Pending [22]
Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming Christopher Scott (for "The Wizard and I") Pending
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Variety, Nonfiction, or Reality Program Edward Morrison, R'riyana Kline, Tiffany Bloom, Lillie Frierson, Cyndra Dunn, Sharif Poston, Lisa Long, and Deborah Pierce Pending
Outstanding Lighting Design / Lighting Direction for a Variety Special Bryan Klunder, Noah Mitz, Andrew O'Reilly, Patrick Boozer, Ryan Healey, Alen Sisul, Mike Hankowsky, and Jason Rudolph Pending
Outstanding Music Direction Stephen Oremus Pending
Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork for a Special Brandon Smith, Brett Turnbull, Rob Palmer, Karin Pelloni, Bobby Del Russo, Cary Symmons, Dean Clish, Jorge Ferris, Suzanne Ebner, Andrew Georgeopoulos, Danny Bonilla, Chad Smith, Jonny Harkins, Alex Hernandez, Rob Vuona, Scott Acosta, Randy Gomez Jr., Jeremy Freeman, and Tim Farmer Pending
Set Decorators Society of America TV Awards August 9, 2026 Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Variety, Reality or Competition Series, or Special Misty Buckley and Nia Freshman Nominated [23]

Notes

  1. ↑ "For Good" performance
  2. ↑ Medley arrangement originally performed by Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland on the October 6, 1963, episode of The Judy Garland Show.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Wang, K.L. Connie (November 8, 2025). "Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande Join Other 'Wicked' Castmates in NBC Special 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'". Parade. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  2. ↑ Campione, Katie (October 22, 2025). "'Wicked: One Wonderful Night' First-Look Photos Tease Swankified NBC Broadcast Special Featuring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  3. ↑ Stenzel, Wesley (October 22, 2025). "Here's your first look at Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the 'Wicked: For Good' TV special (exclusive)". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 22, 2025. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  4. ↑ Rosa, Christopher (November 6, 2025). "NBC's 'Wicked Special One Wonderful Night' Has a Live Album (DETAILS)". NBC. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  5. ↑ Willman, Chris (November 6, 2025). "Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Do Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland Proud with 'Happy' Duet on 'Wicked' TV Special: The History Behind the Mellifluous Mashup". Variety. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  6. ↑ "All-New 'Wicked' Special to Air on NBC and Peacock This Fall Ahead of the Theatrical Release of 'Wicked: For Good' on November 21". NBC. July 9, 2025. Archived from the original on August 10, 2025. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  7. ↑ Hall, Margaret (October 22, 2025). "Photos: Get a 1st Look at 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night' NBC Special, Airing in November". Playbill. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  8. ↑ Teti, Julia (October 22, 2025). "Ariana Grande in McQueen, Cynthia Erivo in Marni for NBC's 'Wicked' Special". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  9. ↑ Kluge, Haley (November 7, 2025). "'Wicked: One Wonderful Night': 9 Things You Didn't See on TV, Including Multiple Takes of 'Defying Gravity'". Variety. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  10. ↑ Maglio, Tony (October 22, 2025). "Take a (First) Look at NBC's 'Wicked' Primetime Musical Special". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  11. ↑ Coleman, Ryan (November 6, 2025). "'Wicked' TV special cuts Marissa Bode statement about standing up to a 'power-hungry dictator'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande to lead a once-in-a-lifetime musical event, 'Wicked: One Wonderful Night'". Sky Group. October 28, 2025. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  13. ↑ Brown, Hannah (October 31, 2025). "'Wicked: One Wonderful Night' to broadcast in Israel". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  14. ↑ Petski, Denise (December 1, 2025). "'Wicked: One Wonderful Night' Sets New Year's Eve Encore Presentation, Replacing Snoop Dogg Special". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  15. ↑ Shanfeld, Ethan (November 14, 2025). "'Wicked: One Wonderful Night' Scores 3.6 Million Viewers on NBC". Variety. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  16. ↑ Sloop, Hope (October 30, 2025). "'Wicked: One Wonderful Night' Review: This NBC Special Will Leave a Handprint on Your Heart". Decider. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  17. ↑ Tangcay, Jazz (January 7, 2026). "'Sinners', 'Frankenstein', Taylor Swift's 'The Fate of Ophelia', and Lady Gaga's 'Abracadabra' Lead Art Directors Guild Nominations". Variety. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  18. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (December 12, 2025). "Costume Designers Guild Awards Nominations: 'Wicked: For Good', 'Sinners', 'Avatar: Fire & Ash' in Film Hunt". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  19. ↑ McGowan, Andrew (November 19, 2025). "'KPop Demon Hunters', 'Wicked', 'Sinners', and 'F1' Among Honorees at Hollywood Music in Media Awards". Variety. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  20. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (December 29, 2025). "'Frankenstein' Leads Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards Nominations Over 'Wicked: For Good', 'Sinners' & Others". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
  21. ↑ Earl, William (January 12, 2026). "NAACP Image Awards 2026 Nominations: 'Sinners' Lands Massive 18 Nods, 'Bel-Air' Leads TV with Seven". Variety. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Wicked: One Wonderful Night". Television Academy. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  23. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (June 5, 2026). "SDSA TV Awards Nominations: 'Euphoria', 'Stranger Things', 'Pluribus', 'Bridgerton', 'Outlander', 'SNL' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 5, 2026.
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