All hail Conan O’Brien, who could host the Oscars forever and we wouldn’t mind

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Even with challenging times across the country, it’s nice to take a break and watch the talented people in film get recognized. That’s what happened Sunday night with the 98th Academy Awards, which were broadcast on ABC, Hulu, Disney+, and other streaming services.

As a fan, I think this year’s Oscars were really something special! Everyone was asking how it compared to other ceremonies, and for me, it felt a lot like when Conan O’Brien hosted before – but even more energetic and genuinely funny. It wasn’t flawless, honestly, nothing ever is – I don’t think anything besides ‘Sábado Gigante’ could hold my attention for three hours straight! But the jokes landed more often than they missed, and it was actually funnier than a typical ‘Saturday Night Live’ show, which, let’s face it, is saying something because the Oscars, at its heart, is a comedy show sprinkled with acceptance speeches.

Let me tell you, Conan O’Brien is a fascinating host. He walks this incredible line between being genuinely passionate, completely unhinged, and hilariously self-aware – it’s a tightrope walk, but he nails it. This is exactly what the Oscars needed: someone who could treat the night with respect, but also not take things too seriously, so it doesn’t feel exclusive. He bridges the gap between Hollywood insiders and everyone watching at home. The show kicked off with a pre-recorded bit – a really clever move, honestly – where Conan, channeling a bit of that wild energy, literally inserted himself into the nominated films. It was brilliantly chaotic! He even showed up as an animated character in a clip from ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ getting chased by a bunch of kids before finally bursting into the Dolby Theatre to deliver his opening monologue. It was a bold, funny start, and it immediately set the tone for the night.

He jokingly said he was proud to be the final human to host the Oscars, predicting that a self-driving Waymo car in a tuxedo would take over the job next year.

Hosting the Oscars last year was… stressful, to say the least – Los Angeles was literally on fire! But thankfully, things are going much smoother this year. I did warn everyone though, it was bound to get political at some point. And honestly, if anyone was really uncomfortable with that, there was another Oscars happening nearby – Kid Rock was hosting one at a Dave & Buster’s! We definitely did lean into some serious topics, with a lot of jokes and direct comments about things like censorship, people being too comfortable with the status quo, and the power big media companies have. It was a night where a lot of people spoke up.

O’Brien became genuinely thoughtful, pointing out the diverse group of people at the awards who were dedicated to creating beautiful work. He championed the importance of teamwork, perseverance, and a positive outlook. Then, shifting to a playful tone, he jokingly pictured himself winning an Oscar – complete with a robe, crown, and a serenade by Josh Groban. He even imagined a humorous acceptance speech and a quirky delivery of the award by a hawk, referencing a lavish set and a promise of a large fee.

The show strategically saved the biggest awards – Best Picture and lead acting honors – for last, understanding it keeps viewers tuned in. To maintain energy throughout the broadcast, a major performance or award would happen roughly every hour. Highlights included energetic numbers from “Sinners” and “KPop Demon Hunters.” The “In Memoriam” segment was particularly touching, opened by Billy Crystal with a tribute to Rob Reiner and closed by Barbra Streisand singing a verse of “The Way We Were” in honor of Robert Redford. Their playful banter – she called him an “intellectual cowboy,” and he affectionately called her “Babs” – added a warm touch.

The show ended with a humorous clip where O’Brien fantasized about being the permanent Oscars host. It was a clever way to avoid a real conclusion. Referencing the ending of a show called “One Battle After Another,” the clip showed him being led to an office, then unexpectedly gassed and put in a cremator. The sign on the door then changed to declare “Mr. Beast, host for life,” referencing the popular YouTuber. The idea of having a permanent host, though, isn’t necessarily a bad one.

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2026-03-16 09:31