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NBC decided to steer its musical special Wicked: One Wonderful Night<\/em><\/a> down a decidedly apolitical path.<\/p>\n At the tail end of Thursday’s two-hour broadcast, Wicked<\/a> <\/em>and Wicked: For Good<\/a> <\/em>star Marissa Bode<\/a> appeared on stage to introduce her screen sister Cynthia Erivo<\/a>‘s command performance of the musical’s high-flying anthem, “Defying Gravity.” Bode reminded the packed auditorium at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles that Wicked <\/em>is “filled with so many incredible songs, but there is one that stands out.”<\/p>\n “It’s connected with so many people from all over the world. I’m talking, of course, about ‘Defying Gravity,'” she continued.\u00a0“The song is an ode to authenticity and about believing in yourself no matter what obstacles the world puts in your way. Performing ‘Defying Gravity,’ please welcome the incredible Cynthia Erivo.” But that’s not exactly how Bode’s introduction played out during the special’s live taping.<\/p>\n The Sept. 24 recording, which was attended by Entertainment Weekly<\/em>, included additional comments that were cut from Thursday’s broadcast. In Bode’s full introduction, she added that the song’s paean to “authenticity” and “believing in yourself” extended to standing up to a “power-hungry dictator.”<\/p>\n EW has reached out to representatives for NBC and Bode for comment.<\/p>\n