Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers Bring Pokémon Anthem to Life at Las Culturistas Culture Awards
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Comedians Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers delivered a memorable rendition of the classic Pokémon theme song at the Las Culturistas Culture Awards, complete with a live appearance from Pikachu and deep-cut franchise references.
For anyone who grew up glued to Saturday morning cartoons or trading cards on the school playground, the original Pokémon theme song is permanent mental real estate. Comedians Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers proved that exact point during the latest Las Culturistas Culture Awards on Bravo and Peacock. When Pikachu walked away with the prestigious Las Cultch 30 Under 30 award, beating out fierce contenders like Windows 98 and a literal baby, the co-hosts launched into a stirring rendition of Gotta Catch Them All alongside the electric mouse mascot.
The performance leaned heavily into the pair's theatrical backgrounds, hitting every nostalgic note while classic anime footage played in the background. True to the chaotic energy of the event, the stage featured backup dancers dressed as iconic franchise protagonists like Red, Leaf, and Hilda. The moment bridged the gap between internet culture and mainstream television, serving up a heavy dose of cross-generational comfort food for modern audiences who treat gaming nostalgia as a core social currency.
Originally starting as a hit podcast running since 2016, the Las Culturistas Culture Awards have carved out a unique space by satirizing the endless pomp of traditional award season with bizarre, hyper-specific accolades. While the broadcast only skimmed the surface of its usual one hundred categories, giving Pikachu the spotlight alongside deep cuts for franchise fans shows how deeply gaming IP is woven into contemporary pop culture. Original reporting on this crossover moment comes via Polygon, with the full broadcast available for streaming on Peacock.
Tags: Pokemon, Gaming Culture, Television, Streaming, Nintendo
Original article: Polygon