Bowen Yang Surprises Pokémon Fans With Full Performance of Iconic Theme Song

It’s a universal millennial experience to know the iconic Pokémon theme song by heart. Last night, Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers brought that nostalgia to life during the Las Culturistas Culture Awards on Bravo, proving their vocal chops in a high-energy tribute.

Following Pikachu’s triumphant win for “The Las Cultch 30 Under 30”—besting eclectic nominees like Windows 98, the viral sensation Moo Deng, and, simply, “a baby”—the comedic duo broke into the legendary anthem alongside the franchise’s star mascot. As the stage design parted to reveal the world’s most beloved electric mouse, the hosts channeled their theatrical backgrounds to belt out the song while classic clips from the original anime aired behind them.

The performance was a treasure trove for longtime fans, featuring backup dancers dressed as iconic trainers such as Leaf, Lyra, Hilda, Elio, and Red, all to the delight of a captivated audience.

For the uninitiated, Las Culturistas is the hit podcast co-hosted by Rogers and Yang—the latter a breakout star of Saturday Night Live and Wicked. Since launching in 2016, the show has hosted a prestigious lineup including Lady Gaga, Will Ferrell, and Michelle Yeoh.

The Culture Awards serve as a brilliant satire of the industry’s self-serious award season. The ceremony features 100 absurdly specific, unofficial categories, ranging from “What to Say When the Group Picture Is Taking a Bit Too Long” to “Best Space – Excellence in Outer Space.” Now in its fifth year and second run on Bravo, the show is currently streaming on Peacock.

While the broadcast could only cover a fraction of their exhaustive list of accolades, they ensured the most vital honors were presented, including the “Yesssssssss!!!! Award for Girl We Learned About This Year (And Loved).” Sadly, “Peetsa” (pronounced like the Italian dish) was snubbed for “Most Beautiful Name for a Daughter You Haven’t Even Thought of Yet,” but there is always next year.

Ranked from best to very best—like no one ever was.

Source: Polygon