Movies

Conan Nailed the Oscars Hosting Job Simply by Being Conan

BBG News

Conan O’Brien has a unique talent for self-mockery that sets him apart. During the struggling days of NBC’s Late Night With Conan O’Brien, his ability to joke about the show’s low ratings and present oddball skits became a highlight, adding charm to an otherwise challenging situation. This same trait made him a popular host for the 97th Academy Awards, where he managed to strike a perfect balance between impish wit and genuine affection for cinema, even amidst the aftermath of the Los Angeles wildfires that affected many in Hollywood. By maintaining a casual, good-natured demeanor, O’Brien allowed everyone on stage to unwind and enjoy themselves, making the event feel more relaxed and less formal.

The Oscars marked a return to broadcast television for Conan O’Brien, who hosted Late Night from 1993 to 2009 and was given The Tonight Show when Jay Leno retired as promised. However, the initial viewership was low, and speculation about Leno’s comeback stirred. In response, fans of Conan launched a viral “I’m With Coco” campaign. Instead of allowing him to adjust to his new time slot, as he had with Late Night, NBC negotiated for his departure with O’Brien’s team. True to form, Leno came out of retirement, eventually passing the show to Jimmy Fallon in 2014. Despite a $32 million exit agreement that required him to stay off the air for six months, Conan found ways to express his bitterness.

After a swift return, O’Brien embarked on a series of stand-up performances titled “The Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television Tour,” which led to the documentary “Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop“. Towards the end of 2010, TBS had him host a new late-night show, “Conan“, that lasted until 2021. For six years now, he’s also been hosting the popular podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend“. Last spring saw the release of the critically acclaimed travel series “Conan O’Brien Must Go” on Max. Since parting ways with NBC, his career has been more diverse and exciting than many may have predicted for him if he’d remained at the desk where Johnny Carson once sat. However, there was a sense of past grievances being addressed for those who found O’Brien’s underdog persona appealing, as he returned to a major network, albeit briefly, hosting what he referred to in his opening monologue as “Hollywood’s biggest night that starts at four in the afternoon.

The monologue was impressive, not so much for the individual jokes but for the casual charm with which O’Brien presented them. Every Best Picture nominee received a subtle compliment, though some criticisms were made. For example, the comments about the length of “The Brutalist” and the premise of “Wicked” seemed predictable. However, the quip about “Conclave” was well-received: “Its logline is: A movie about the Catholic Church, but don’t worry.” O’Brien also managed to ease some tension by acknowledging the presence of scandal-stricken actress Karla Sofia Gascón from “Emilia Pérez,” reminding viewers, “If you’re gonna tweet about the Oscars, remember: My name is Jimmy Kimmel.” After the jesting subsided, he gracefully steered the conversation towards a heartfelt message of support for members of Hollywood affected by the fires. “In times like these,” O’Brien said, “any awards show can seem self-indulgent and unnecessary. The Oscars, however, also highlights an extraordinary community of people you rarely see.

As a movie enthusiast, I must confess that lengthy skits, jokes, and celebrity interactions often diminish the charm of award ceremonies, with the Oscars being no exception. However, Conan’s knack for the absurd made nearly every bit hit the mark. He ended his monologue by playfully squabbling with a feigningly offended Adam Sandler over his casual attire, then perfectly timed a production number that promised to avoid unnecessary delays.

The humorous parody ad for “CinemaStreams,” merging countless smartphone screens into a theater-like setup, would have been hilarious even without the fitting Martin Scorsese cameo. (His edit of that commercial was a grueling six hours long—and quite violent, Conan quipped.) Instead of just offering solemn applause to LA firefighters, like other shows this year, he injected some wit with slightly edgy jokes (“Our hearts go out to all those who have lost their homes—and I’m talking about the producers of Joker 2” ). Even heroes deserve a bit of humor, after all!

The evening’s PG-rated equivalent of Late Night’s iconic Masturbating Bear was a sandworm from Dune playing “Chopsticks” on the piano and later returning for a harp solo.

Despite any challenges or missteps during the broadcast, what truly shone in this hosting role were moments where Conan remained authentically himself – allowing winners to bask in their moment and poking fun at himself to create a relaxed atmosphere. Even when a joke fell flat, he swiftly turned it into another humorous comment, like joking about not getting paid much for the mistake (“Not gettin’ paid a lot!”). And when the situation grew awkward, he’d dance an amusing jig – reminiscent of his late-night career – to portray himself as merely a jester, entertaining us with his blunders. In truth, it takes a remarkable jester to make a four-hour event feel anything but tedious. As the night wore on, Conan quipped, “If you’re still enjoying the show, you have something called Stockholm syndrome,” suggesting that perhaps viewers were captivated against their will, or maybe they simply appreciated the quality of hosting.

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2025-03-03 08:06

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