Las Culturistas Transform a Podcast Bit into a Star‑Studded Culture Awards Sensation

6 August 2025

From a humble podcast sketch to a full blown cultural event Las Culturistas Culture Awards, created by comedians Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers, made its televised debut on Bravo on August 6 in front of a packed audience at the Orpheum Theatre, marking the fourth annual ceremony in the franchise and setting a new benchmark for comedic recognition in pop culture.

What began nearly a decade ago as a recurring segment on Yang and Rogers’s Las Culturistas podcast became a community favourite for its irreverent riffs and cult fanbase. Over time this playful parody of Hollywood ceremonies morphed into a live stage production and now into a televised spectacle complete with red‑carpet moments and real celebrities.

In honour of the show's playful spirit, the “In Absentia” segment paid humorous tribute to celebrities who declined invitations. Names like Charli XCX, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Anne Hathaway appeared on screen with tongue‑in‑cheek explanations for their absence. Hathaway’s entry included a spoofed video message explaining her no‑show: “Bowen I’m not over it” while Jeff Goldblum cracked up partway through his iconically theatrical chest reveal moment on stage.

Inside the 2,000‑seat venue sat an energetic mix of Hollywood luminaries Jamie Lee Curtis, Mindy Kaling, Kristen Wiig, Kenan Thompson and moremany of whom participated in absurd award presentations such as Burnt Chest Goldblum winning “Most Amazing Impact In Film” or Quinta Brunson accepting the “Eva Longoria Award for Tiny Woman, Huge Impact”

Other memorable categories included Best Breakfast, Worst Sticky Feeling, Best Alternative to “God Bless You,” and Most Iconic Building or Structure. Actors like Andy Samberg accepted awards in basketball shorts for “Straight Male Excellence,” and contestants like Sarah Michelle Gellar supported the irreverent ambiance, playing along with the jokes rather than portraying confusion about the concept.

Performances included Bowen and Rogers performing Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra,” Ben Platt covering Addison Rae’s “Diet Pepsi,” and a performance art tribute to Allison Janney featuring dancers recreating her roles from The West Wing and I, Tonya.

Despite the absurdism, many in attendance and at home on Bravo and Peacock felt the show tapped into something emotionally genuine about fan culture and communal participation. As Matt Rogers said it is an opportunity to remind people that Hollywood and awards shows don’t have to be serious all the time. It works because it celebrates connection, not just content.

The awards reflected a broader evolution in the hosts’ careers. They began in 2016 as indie podcasters, describing themselves as amateur cultural consultants. Today they host a brand beloved by a mainstream audience and high‑profile guests like Michelle Obama, Amy Poehler, Mariah Carey and more. For many celebrities, appearing on Las Culturistas has become a badge of cultural fluency rather than a press stop.

Moving to Bravo represents both affirmation and expansion. Television gives the event reach beyond the podcasting bubble, while still preserving its anarchic spirit. Rogers mused that while some publicists still found the concept impossible to explain, the show’s success signals that popularity does not require polish but personality

Las Culturistas stands at the intersection of satire and sincerity, celebrating celebrity absurdity while forging emotional resonance around shared experience. The Culture Awards are less about industry validation and more about collective joy in media commentary and comedic clarity. At a time when traditional awards feel staid and overpriced, this event feels like a joyride through what pop culture could be: inclusive, electric, strange and deeply human.

As cast, crew and stars converge, it becomes clear that Las Culturistas has outgrown its joke origins to become a fixture in the festival of fandom. Its success offers insight into how culture discourse now unfolds through irony, inclusion, irreverence and intentional community. On Bravo night it showed that a parody can be profound, and a joke can be transformative.