The 2025 Oscars made historical past in its typical vogue, because the coronation of this yr’s winners has added one other chapter to the historical past books. It additionally noticed the present being hosted by first time emcee and late night time comedy legend Conan O’Brien, which was a reasonably sensible rent.
“How good was he?” you could be asking. Effectively, this golden comedy idol really obtained me to determine to unintentionally let the remainder of the 97th Annual Academy Awards play whereas I used to be working. After rewatching the present, which is one thing I not often ever do with The Oscars, I believe that Mr. O’Brien must be allowed to host the present for so long as humanly attainable.
No, this is not Stockholm Syndrome. Additionally, for the sake of readability and the person of the hour’s sanity, I’ll scale that again to asking that Conan O’Brien host the 2026 Oscars. To make my case, I’ve a bunch of excellent moments as proof of why it’s the only option.
The Oscars 2025 Monologue Was A Golden Begin
I promise I received’t waste an excessive amount of time on this level, however opening the Oscars is at all times key to setting the tone of the night forward. With a easy pre-taped joke involving The Substance, and a monologue that felt like traditional Conan O’Brien magic, the night time obtained off to a tremendous begin. Bonus factors are additionally awarded for John Lithgow and Adam Sandler’s scene-stealing participation in gags that solely obtained funnier upon revisiting them.
The Sandworm From Dune’s Particular Visitor Appearances
Who knew that Dune: Half Two’s sandworm was such a musical genius? Not solely can the large beast from Denis Villeneuve’s blockbuster adaptation play the piano, it might probably additionally play the harp. If Hans Zimmer doesn’t faucet the sandworm to assist out with Dune: Messiah’s rating, it’s a wasted alternative.
Conan’s Multilinqual Greetings
The Academy Awards are a stay TV staple that convey the world collectively for a second. For Conan O’Brien, that meant the proper alternative to bust out some enjoyable language expertise, which resulted in him begging for movie work in China. It’s one other instance of the previous NBC/TBS host deploying a joke that felt prefer it got here from the early days of his profession, which I imply as solely the very best type of praise.
Nick Offerman’s Narrator Shenanigans
Being a great host is realizing when to shine and when to let others outshine you. John Lithgow helped show that time twice through the 2025 Oscars, however Nick Offerman’s show-stopping shenanigans had been simply as golden of a possibility to study this priceless lesson. Questioning whether or not or not he was pressured by the night time’s tasks, the bodily voice of America gave us all a second of laughter that solely made its oaken tenor all of the sweeter.
A Very Well timed Kendrick Lamar/Drake Joke
Former Conan author Skyler Higley’s Kendrick/Drake joke was the topic of a guess as as to whether or not it will make it to air. Fortunately for him, and the remainder of the world, that quick and candy punchline stayed – particularly since Disney’s exec VP of unscripted and different leisure Rob Mills advised Selection he knew the joke “was going to kill” throughout rehearsal.
CinemaStreams: A Joke So Good, Martin Scorsese Was Half Of It
Displaying off not solely his late night time background but in addition a love of cinema, one other pre-taped Conan O’Brien sketch concerned a really focused skewering of streaming companies. As you may watch within the clip offered under, the concept ‘of “CinemaStreams” is one thing that may sound so acquainted you’ll bust a intestine your self:
Watch On
Rob MIlls from Walt Disney TV additionally commented on this joke, stating that the Killers of the Flower Moon director was more than pleased to be part of this satirical joke. One solely wants two guesses why Martin Scorsese would take part in a joke about going again to the cinema, and considered one of them doesn’t depend.
The Oscar Tributes To The LA Wildfires Have been Simply Proper
Addressing the very actual tragedy of the L.A. wildfires was at all times going to be a delicate topic. An excessive amount of reverence would have appeared maudlin, and too little would have appeared callous – particularly with repeated calls to cancel the 2025 Oscars. Between a somber, however respectful acknowledgement on the prime of the present, and a phase the place Los Angeles firefighters obtained to ship jokes on stage, the guts of this yr’s ceremony was completely in the suitable place.
A Fast Signature Conan Exit
One more reason I discovered myself revisiting the present was the truth that Hulu’s unintentional disconnection of The Oscars led to numerous us lacking out on Greatest Actress and Greatest Image’s bulletins. In going again to see the second myself, I used to be amazed how merely Conan O’Brien ended the night.
In totality, right here’s what he needed to say as soon as Anora received the night time:
Hey, congratulations to everybody. I had a blast. Good night time! Take it straightforward!
Throwing in his trademark salute and leap on stage to shut out the night time, it was a main instance of realizing your exit.
Honorary Point out: These Lovely Snack Containers
In my view, there’s two closing honorary mentions that basically seal the deal for Conan O’Brien’s return for the 2026 Oscars. Since they’re not TV moments, we’ll have to show to different stories about issues comparable to Conan’s candy Oscar snack packing containers. Full with a observe that joked about making an attempt to incorporate an edible, the person’s abilities weren’t restricted to merely a tv broadcast.
Honorary Point out 2: Conan’s Backstage Medical Checkup
Now these of you who know Conan O’Brien completely perceive that he likes to rope his writers into gags. Working example: there is no Amazon-MGM government named Steve Belsky, that was a job performed by pal/author Dan Cronin, as confirmed on his Instagram. Nevertheless, that’s not the gag I’m highlighting because the grand finale.
Somewhat, it’s the return of Conan’s faux doctor Dr. Arroyo that I really feel actually saved the enjoyable entering into a spot the place our Oscars 2025 stay weblog didn’t contact: social media. You understand him from Mr. O’Brien’s memorable look on Sizzling Ones (performed by precise comic José Arroyo), however right here’s the nice physician attending to our host at his second of want:
It’s uncommon {that a} host’s power is felt as extensively as Conan O’Brien’s was through the 2025 Oscars. Delivering a present that solely he and his collaborators might, Selection’s report of a small rankings increase is a part of the proof that Jeff Mills’ unofficial provide to welcome him again ought to completely be cashed in.
In fact, I’m a bit biased as a long-time fan that spans again to the Late Night time with Conan O’Brien period. However can 19.7 million viewers actually be that incorrect? On this case, no, they can’t.