Movie fans the 97th Academy Awards had its share of glamour awards and of course jokes. Host Conan O'Brien did not disappoint especially when he turned his comedic aim toward Amazon's recent purchase of the James Bond franchise for a cool $1 billion. Let's just say no one was safe from Conan's signature wit not even billionaires or iconic spies.
From Delivery Jokes to Fake Execs: Decoding Conan's Bond-Bashing Oscars Monologue
Conan's opening monologue was packed with zingers and one of the biggest targets was Amazon's takeover of 007. He joked that Amazon in its infinite wisdom had tapped their Senior VP of Global Affairs Steve Belsky as the next James Bond. Yes you read that right a corporate VP as 007! The image of a boardroom executive suavely ordering a martini is pretty funny. But Conan was just getting started.
He then shifted gears to Amazon chief Jeff Bezos. Conan joked about Bezos arriving at the Oscars red carpet via Amazon delivery. Imagine Jeff Bezos being carelessly tossed onto the red carpet in a cardboard box by a delivery guy! The visual gag continued with security footage showing the Bezos box getting stolen by a "porch pirate". It was all in good fun but definitely poked at Amazon's vast reach and sometimes less-than-glamorous delivery service. Even Bezos himself seemed to take it in stride later "crashing" red carpet photos with stars like Sofia Vergara showing he can laugh at himself too.
And for those wondering about the supposed new Amazon exec Steve Belsky? Spoiler alert he is not real. Turns out Conan enlisted one of his own writers Dan Cronin to play the part of the fictional VP for the joke. It was a clever way to make the gag even funnier adding a visual element to the punchline.
Bond's Future in Amazon's Hands: What Does This Mean for 007?
Behind the laughs though there's a real question mark hanging over the James Bond franchise. Amazon's MGM Studios now fully controls 007 and that has some fans wondering what is next. Longtime Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are reportedly stepping away from the film series after decades of stewardship. Michael G. Wilson is focusing on art and charity while Barbara Broccoli felt it was time to pursue other projects after concluding No Time To Die and her brother's retirement from Bond films.
Barbara Broccoli has always been fiercely protective of Bond especially against streaming services. She famously clashed with Amazon after the MGM purchase in 2022 pushing back against ideas to treat Bond like just "content". She even reportedly blocked spin-offs and a female-led Bond series wanting to keep the franchise theatrical and story-driven. With Amazon now in charge the future direction of Bond is uncertain. Will it stay on the big screen only? Will Amazon try to branch out with streaming shows or spin-offs despite Broccoli's past resistance? Only time will tell what mission 007 will take on next and in what form.
Oscars Host Hits the Right Note: Balancing Jokes with Real-World Context
Conan's jokes about Bond and Bezos were not the only highlight of his Oscars hosting gig. He managed to weave humor with the serious context of the awards. The Oscars ceremony took place in Los Angeles which had recently been impacted by devastating wildfires. The annual nominees luncheon was even cancelled due to the fires.
Conan's Oscars Monologue: Key Jokes at a Glance
- Amazon names fictional SVP Steve Belsky as new James Bond.
- Jeff Bezos arrives at Oscars haphazardly delivered in an Amazon box.
- Bezos' box gets stolen by a "porch pirate" – highlighting delivery mishaps.
- Implied contrast between corporate world of Amazon and glamorous world of James Bond.
The Martini is Shaken Not Stirred But Bond's Future Under Amazon is Stirring Up Questions
Conan O'Brien's Oscars monologue definitely landed some punches especially when it came to James Bond and Amazon. It was a funny take on a major Hollywood power shift. Whether Amazon will keep Bond's tradition alive or shake things up remains to be seen. For now Bond fans can stream all 25 Eon Productions films on Prime Video and maybe ponder what kind of "content" 007 will become in the streaming age. One thing's for sure Conan gave us some memorable laughs while raising the big questions about Bond's next chapter.