It started with a voice. A breathy, slightly confused, and deeply hilarious voice that echoed through the studio of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2018. When Ariana Grande tilted her head, widened her eyes, and uttered the iconic Legally Blonde line, "I'm taking the dog, dumbass," something shifted. It wasn't just a pop star doing a bit. It was the spark that reignited a legendary career and cemented one of the most wholesome friendships in Hollywood history.
Honestly, we’ve all seen celebrity impressions before. Most of them are... fine. But Ariana’s take on Jennifer Coolidge is different. It’s uncanny. It’s eerie. It’s basically a soul-swap.
Why the World Obsessed Over Ariana Grande Doing Jennifer Coolidge
There is a specific science to a good Coolidge impression. You have to nail the vowels. You have to get the "mhm" just right. Most importantly, you have to capture that specific, distracted elegance that only Jennifer Coolidge possesses.
When Ariana first did the impression on Fallon, she wasn't just mocking a character; she was paying homage to a hero. She’s a massive fan of Best in Show and Legally Blonde. You can hear the genuine love in the way she stretches out the words. It’s not mean-spirited. It’s a tribute.
The internet, naturally, lost its collective mind.
The clip went nuclear. Millions of views. Thousands of shares. But the best part? Jennifer Coolidge herself saw it. Imagine being a comedy icon who’s been in a bit of a professional "dead zone," and suddenly, the biggest pop star on the planet is doing a spot-on version of you for millions of people.
The DM That Changed Everything
Jennifer Coolidge isn't exactly a digital native. She’s joked before about how she thought Instagram DMs were answered by "robots." She figured there was no way a message from her would ever reach Ariana.
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"The robots answer the DMs!" she famously told her friend who encouraged her to reach out.
But she did it anyway. She slid into the DMs to tell Ariana she loved the impression. And Ariana, being the superfan she is, didn't let a robot handle it. She replied.
That interaction led to one of the most iconic music video cameos of the decade. When it came time to film the video for "thank u, next," Ariana didn't just want a lookalike. She wanted the real deal. She cast Jennifer to reprise her role as Paulette Bonafonté. Seeing them together, doing the "bend and snap" and talking about guys with no teeth, was the crossover nobody knew they needed but everyone deserved.
Did Ariana Actually Save Jennifer Coolidge’s Career?
This sounds like hyperbole. It feels like a reach. But if you ask Jennifer Coolidge, she’ll tell you it’s the truth.
In a 2022 joint interview for Entertainment Weekly, Jennifer looked Ariana in the eye and got emotional. She credited the singer with "instigating" her massive career comeback. Before the "thank u, next" video and the Fallon impression, Jennifer said she was "flatlining."
- The Dead Zone: Jennifer had been working, sure, but she wasn't getting the high-profile offers she once did.
- The "Ariana Effect": After the video, suddenly a younger generation knew who she was.
- The Results: Shortly after, she landed roles in Promising Young Woman and, eventually, her career-defining turn as Tanya McQuoid in The White Lotus.
Ariana, of course, tried to downplay it. She called it "the most untrue thing" she’d ever heard. But Jennifer was insistent. She believes that the visibility Ariana provided reminded Hollywood—and casting directors—exactly how much people love Jennifer Coolidge’s unique brand of comedy.
The Evolution: From Fallon to SNL
The impression didn't stop in 2018. It has become a recurring character in Ariana's public life.
In 2022, Ariana took things to another level for Halloween. She didn't just do the voice; she did the full production. She and her Victorious co-star Elizabeth Gillies recreated scenes from Best in Show. Ariana played Sherri Ann Cabot (Coolidge’s character), and the attention to detail was terrifying. The costumes, the lighting, the precise comedic timing—it was a masterclass.
Jennifer’s reaction? "F---ing great." She even joked she’d be Ariana’s dog, Toulouse, for Halloween in return.
The Mirror Sketch on SNL
Fast forward to late 2024. Ariana is hosting Saturday Night Live. Everyone knew it was coming. You can't have Ariana Grande on a sketch show and not have her do the voice.
The "Maybelline" sketch featured Ariana and cast member Chloe Fineman (another incredible impressionist) playing two Jennifer Coolidges talking into a mirror. It was a chaotic, lip-gloss-covered fever dream. Then, just to make it weirder, Dana Carvey showed up as a third Jennifer Coolidge.
Watching Ariana try to keep a straight face while looking at two other versions of her favorite person was pure gold. She actually broke character several times, giggling through the lines. It reminded everyone that, despite being a global superstar, she’s still just a fan-girl at heart.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Impression
People often think Ariana is just "doing a voice." It's deeper than that.
She captures the spirit of Coolidge. It’s the way Jennifer seems to be thinking of three things at once while only saying half of one of them. It’s the slight gasp for air between sentences.
There's also a misconception that this was a calculated PR move. If you look at the timeline, Ariana was doing this voice long before it was "cool" to have a Jennifer Coolidge renaissance. She was doing it because she genuinely finds Jennifer hilarious.
The Actionable Insight: The Power of Public Praise
There is a lesson here for all of us, even those of us who aren't pop stars or Emmy winners.
- Acknowledge your influences. Ariana never claimed she "invented" this humor; she constantly pointed back to the source.
- Use your platform. If you have a following—whether it's 200 people or 200 million—using it to lift up someone you admire can have a ripple effect you can't even imagine.
- Don't fear the "robots." If Jennifer Coolidge hadn't risked sending that DM, we might never have gotten the "thank u, next" cameo or the beautiful friendship that followed.
Jennifer Coolidge is currently one of the most sought-after actors in the world. She has Emmys, Golden Globes, and the adoration of every generation. And while her talent is what kept her there, it was a 20-something singer with a knack for voices who helped open the door for her second act.
If you want to see the best of these moments, go back and watch the 2018 Fallon clip followed by the 2024 SNL mirror sketch. The growth in the impression is clear, but the love behind it hasn't changed a bit. It’s a rare Hollywood story where everyone wins.