Conan O’Brien returned to host the Academy Awards for the second year in a row. He wasted no time diving into the headlines during his opening monologue at the 98th Oscars on Sunday night.
Kicking off the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, the comedian took a playful jab at Timothée Chalamet, referencing the actor’s recent comments that “no one cares” about ballet and opera.
“Security is very tight tonight,” O’Brien joked. “There’s concerns about attacks from the ballet and opera communities. They’re just mad you left out jazz.” The camera quickly cut to Chalamet and his girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, both laughing at the remark.
O’Brien continued the monologue with a series of topical jokes, including a warning that the evening could become political. “I should warn you tonight could get political,” he said. “And if that makes you uncomfortable, there’s an alternate Oscars being hosted by Kid Rock. It’s at the Dave and Buster’s down the street.”
The host also poked fun at Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, joking that attending the ceremony might have been the executive’s first time inside a movie theater. Imitating Sarandos, O’Brien quipped, “Why are they all together enjoying themselves? They should be home alone, where I can monetize it.”
The show opened with a pre-taped comedy sketch featuring O’Brien dressed as Aunt Gladys, the character played by Amy Madigan in the Best Picture nominee Weapons. The segment had the host appearing in scenes from several nominated films before transitioning into the live broadcast, with actors portraying the film’s killer children chasing a stuntman through the theater.
Toward the end of his monologue, O’Brien shifted to a more reflective tone, acknowledging the global audience watching the ceremony. “Tonight’s Oscars are being watched by more than a billion people around the world,” he said. “Everyone watching right now is all too aware that these are very chaotic, frightening times.”
He added that the Oscars remain a reminder of what collaboration can achieve. “Every film we salute is the product of thousands of people speaking different languages working hard to make something of beauty,” O’Brien said. “We pay tribute tonight not just to film, but to the ideals of global artistry, collaboration, patience, resilience and that rarest of qualities today, optimism.”
The ceremony then moved into the evening’s awards, which ultimately saw One Battle After Another take home Best Picture.
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