Conan O’Brien kicked off the 97th Academy Awards with a lively opening monologue, following a powerful musical performance by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande from the film Wicked. O’Brien, hosting the Oscars for the first time, began by humorously emerging from a mock-up of Demi Moore’s spine, a nod to her film The Substance. He joked about his age and the early start time for the ceremony on the West Coast.
O’Brien referenced several top nominees, including A Complete Unknown, A Real Pain, and Nosferatu, quipping that these were names he was called on the red carpet. He also poked fun at Wicked, saying it’s perfect for those who wondered where the minor characters from The Wizard of Oz went to college.
The host tackled controversies surrounding some nominees, including Emilia Pérez, which led with 13 nominations but faced backlash due to actress Karla Sofía Gascón’s past tweets. O’Brien joked about Gascón’s social media presence, advising her to remember his name is “Jimmy Kimmel” if she tweets about the Oscars.
O’Brien also joked about The Brutalist, which used generative AI, saying, “We did not use AI to make this show. No AI. We would never do that. We use child labor.” He poked fun at Conclave, noting it’s a movie about the Catholic Church “but don’t worry.” He complimented Timothée Chalamet’s suit, saying he wouldn’t get hit by a bike while wearing it.
Before the awards, O’Brien acknowledged the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, highlighting the unsung heroes behind the camera and encouraging support for fire victims. He emphasized that despite challenges, the magic of film would endure.
Throughout his monologue, O’Brien balanced humor with respect for the nominees and the industry, setting a lively tone for the evening.
