Conan O’Brien is the king. The former late-night host is one of the only comedians I would trust to crack a joke at the Oscars about the controversy involving Karla Sofia Gascón’s X account. Thankfully, O’Brien did not disappoint.
“Anora uses the F-word 479 times,” the 2025 Oscars host said. “That’s three more than the record set by Karla Sofía Gascón’s publicist.” Though the Emilia Perez star seemingly skipped the red carpet, she offered her hands in prayer from the audience after the joke. “Karla,” O’Brien continued. “If you’re going to tweet about the Oscars, remember, my name is Jimmy Kimmel."
O’Brien also turned the laughs on himself, quipping that A Complete Unknown, Nosferatu, and A Real Pain were just “some of the names I was called on the red carpet.” He also kicked off the show with a video tribute to The Substance, crawling out of Demi Moore’s back looking no younger than before. “I know what you’re thinking,” he said, “‘Did Conan not have work done?’ Seriously, he looks his age.”
The Oscars host didn't stop there. He also included jokes about using child labour instead of AI and passed the mic off to Adam Sandler for an extended segment poking fun at the Sandman's wardrobe. The comedian wore a blue sweatshirt and shorts; O’Brien said the fit looked like a professional poker player’s 2am attire. In a fictional fit of rage, Sandler shouted out his friends in the audience, including “the actor from Nostarafu [sic]."
Then, O’Brien led a whole musical number about how he won’t waste anyone's time tonight. The song included an inflatable sandworm from Dune playing piano and even a brief appearance from someone in a Deadpool costume.
Though this is O’Brien’s first time hosting the Oscars, the former Tonight Show star hosted the Emmys in 2002 and 2006, as well as the White House Correspondent’s dinner in 1995 and 2013. He is also the longest-running late-night talk show host of all-time, following his career in the writer’s rooms for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. Later this month, O’Brien is set to receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Ceremony in Washington DC.
Before the show, the Academy posted a behind-the-scenes look at O’Brien’s opening monologue. The comedian joked that if he could give an Oscar to any overlooked film in history, he would choose The Incredible Mr. Limpet, "It’s a movie starring Don Knotts," he explains. "He’s live action. He falls into the water, and he becomes an animated fish… I wish I could have handed an Oscar to Don Knotts as an animated fish."
Knowing Conan, I’m sure there’s still more antics to come.
