SNL UK just wrapped its first season, and it’s leaving behind a sketch that the internet refuses to let go of.“Nigerian Wicked”is a three-minute Nollywood-style movie trailer set in“LagOz,”with Cynthia Erivo swapping her usual Elphaba role to play Glinda. The details are what sell it: a broke Wizard wearing a“No-lex”instead of a Rolex, over-the-top dramatic pacing, and a Baileys Irish Cream reference thrown in for good measure.
The sketch isn’t just a joke machine. It rebuilds the entire Wicked universe through the lens of Nollywood film culture, and that specificity is exactly why people are calling it one of the sharpest parodies in recent memory. The episode also featured a“Modern Music”sketch and a Rapunzel bit, both of which picked up their own fans online.
Now the big question: has SNL UK already become more culturally relevant than the American original? Fans are making that case, and after one season, the argument is louder than anyone expected when the show premiered back in March. Which sketch has been your favorite so far?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.