Alright movie fans the 97th Academy Awards happened and while there were some big winners and some drama the real star of the night might just have been the host Conan O'Brien . Yes Conan finally got his shot at hosting the Oscars and let's just say he did not disappoint. People are raving about his performance and for good reason. Let's dive into why Conan was so great and some of the standout moments from his hosting gig.
Veteran Move: Conan O'Brien's Oscars Hosting Debut Feels Like a Triumph Thirty Years in the Making
Even though it was his first time hosting the Academy Awards Conan O'Brien looked like he had been doing it for years. Seriously he just seemed to belong on that stage. Right from the start he was in control cracking jokes and working the crowd like a seasoned pro. He even started his monologue by telling everyone to sit down even though no one was standing just to set the tone. That's classic Conan right there.
Part of why he was so good is his experience. Conan has spent like three decades in late-night TV. Writing jokes doing interviews handling live audiences he has done it all. As one writer put it Conan is "one of our last classic entertainers" and it really showed on the Oscars stage. He just knows how to work a room and make people laugh.
Balancing Silly and Serious: Conan's Hosting Style Perfectly Hit the Right Note for a Tricky Oscars Year
What made Conan's hosting really stand out was his ability to mix the goofy with the genuine. He can be totally silly one minute and then deliver a thoughtful moment the next. That balance was perfect for this year's Oscars. Think about it Hollywood has been going through a lot lately with industry strikes streaming changes and some real life seriousness with wildfires and a recent presidential election.
Conan understood the assignment. He knew he had to make people laugh but also acknowledge the bigger picture. He could poke fun at Demi Moore by pretending to emerge from her back in a pre-recorded bit a nod to her body horror movie and then in the next moment make a direct appeal about why movies and award shows even matter in tough times.
He joked about the nominees showed funny pre-fame photos of stars like Timothée Chalamet as a sonogram and championed movies that got snubbed. But then he also turned serious saying "Even in the face of terrible wildfires and divisive politics the work which is what this is about the work continues." That mix of humor and heart is pure Conan and it really worked for the Oscars.
From Karla Sofía Gascón Jokes to Adam Sandler Cameos: Unpacking Conan's Standout Oscar Jokes
Conan's monologue was packed with great jokes. He poked fun at pretty much everyone and no topic was off-limits. Remember Karla Sofía Gascón the Best Actress nominee who faced some social media controversy? Conan went there. He joked about her publicist being stressed and then zinged " Karla Sofía Gascón is here tonight and Karla if you are going to tweet about the Oscars remember my name is Jimmy Kimmel." The crowd gasped and Conan clearly loved it saying "I'm having fun!"
He also brought out his old pal Adam Sandler for some back-and-forth which was hilarious. He even got Conclave star John Lithgow involved in a bit about shaming people who give long speeches. And of course there was the ironic song-and-dance number about not wasting time on stage. Conan made sure to keep the energy up and the laughs coming throughout his opening.
Gascón Responds with Humor: Actress Jokes Back at Conan (and Confuses Him with Kimmel?)
Interestingly Karla Sofía Gascón herself responded to Conan's joke and she did it with humor. After the Oscars she posted on Instagram thanking the Academy and then wrote "especially your fabulous host Jimmy Kimmel he is fantastic every day he looks more like the great Conan O'Brien." Was it shade? Was it playful? Maybe a bit of both but it shows Gascón took the joke in stride and even gave Conan a funny jab back. Maybe she really does think Conan and Jimmy Kimmel look alike or maybe it was just part of the fun. Either way it added another layer to the whole situation.
Why Conan's Oscars Hosting Was a Win: Balancing the Goofy the Earnest and Just Pure Entertainment
Ultimately Conan O'Brien's Oscars hosting gig was a success because he understood the assignment. He wasn't trying to be overly serious or overly edgy he just wanted to entertain and have fun on stage. He brought his signature blend of goofy humor his quick wit and a touch of heart to the ceremony. And in a year where Hollywood needed a bit of lightness and genuine entertainment Conan delivered perfectly.
He proved that you can be silly and ridiculous but also connect with an audience on a real level. He made the A-listers in the room laugh and he kept the viewers at home engaged. Conan showed everyone why he is considered one of the best in the business and why fans have been wanting him to host the Oscars for so long. Hopefully this is not the last time we see Conan on the Oscars stage.
Conan's Best Jokes and Moments from the 97th Academy Awards: A Quick List
- Opening Line: Telling the crowd to sit down before he even started his monologue.
- Demi Moore Bit: Pretending to emerge from her back as a nod to her body horror movie.
- Karla Sofía Gascón Joke: "Karla Sofía Gascón is here tonight and Karla if you are going to tweet about the Oscars remember my name is Jimmy Kimmel."
- Adam Sandler Cameo: His back-and-forth banter with longtime friend Adam Sandler.
- John Lithgow Bit: Enlisting Lithgow to shame long speech-givers.
- Song-and-Dance Number: Ironic performance about not wasting time on stage.
- Earnest Moment: Direct-to-camera appeal about the importance of filmmaking in tough times.
- Bed-and-Breakfast Joke: Ending his serious moment with a joke about leaving Hollywood to run a bed-and-breakfast in Orlando.