Conan O’Brien was on internet hosting duties for the primary time at this 12 months’s Academy Awards, which occurred on the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood final night time (March 2).
After a skit that noticed him pay homage to The Substance by climbing out of Demi Moore’s physique in his dressing room, O’Brien delivered a assured monologue that poked mild enjoyable on the nominees and himself. For instance: “A Full Unknown, A Actual Ache, Nosferatu – these have been simply a number of the names I used to be referred to as on the purple carpet”. On The Brutalist, he stated: “I didn’t need it to finish… and fortunately it didn’t.”
The opening additionally featured a number of skits, some on the surreal facet. He promised to usher off stage these with over-long speeches by reducing to an un-impressed John Lithgow, and confirmed some previous headshots of the nominees, with Timothee Chalamet’s an ultrascan photograph. He completed the monologue with a musical sequence referred to as ‘I Received’t Waste Time’ that included a sandworm from Dune: Half Two taking part in the piano.
He saved his greatest gags for halfway by means of the telecast nonetheless. Firstly, referencing this 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl, he stated: “We’re midway by means of the present which suggests it’s time for Kendrick Lemar to come back out and name Drake a paedophile!”
Later, noting the slew of awards for Anora, we bought the night time’s one Donald Trump joke: “I suppose People are excited to see somebody lastly stand as much as a strong Russian.”
The ceremony kicked off with a montage paying tribute to Los Angeles, devastated by wildfires earlier this 12 months, together with clips of well-known LA-set movies together with Chinatown and As soon as Upon A Time In Hollywood. Members of the fireplace service later joined O’Brien on stage to a standing ovation, earlier than studying out some jokes the host stated have been “too controversial” for him to say (“Our hearts exit to all those that have misplaced their houses – and I’m speaking in regards to the producers of Joker 2”).
O’Brien additionally had not one however two gags about Emilia Perez star Karla Sofia Gascon, in attendance regardless of the controversy round her previous social media posts. He stated: ”Anora makes use of the F-word 479 instances… that’s three extra instances than the report set by Karla Sofia Gascon’s publicist”, earlier than including: “Karla, if you wish to tweet in regards to the Oscars tonight, my identify is [previous host] Jimmy Kimmel”.
Bond tribute
Halle Berry hailed outgoing James Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson (awarded honorary accolades at November’s Governors Awards) forward of a lavish Bond tribute musical sequence, that includes Margaret Qualley dancing and Lisa, Doja Cat and Raye performing numerous Bond tunes.
Berry stated: “I had the pleasure of working with Barbara and Michael on Die One other Day and let me let you know – they don’t simply produce Bond films, they have been the center and soul of this franchise for many years.”
Morgan Freeman started the ’in memorium’ phase by paying tribute to his Unforgiven and Underneath Suspicion co-star Gene Hackman, who died final week: “Our group misplaced a large and I misplaced a pricey pal”, stated Freeman. “Gene at all times stated ‘I don’t take into consideration legacy, I simply hope individuals keep in mind me who tried to do good work’.” Different stars remembered included David Lynch, Maggie Smith and James Earl Jones.
Malfunctioning elevate
Some of the ingenious skits of the night time noticed Ben Stiller current the manufacturing design award from a malfunctioning elevate. “Manufacturing design brings the visible world of a screenplay to life, it’s a subject the place the slightest miscalculation can lose the belief of the viewers and humiliate the performers onscreen”, he deadpanned.
In direction of the tip of the night, two iconic duos additionally took to the stage.
Firstly, The Color Purple co-stars Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg reunited to pay tribute to seven-time Oscar nominee Quincy Jones, who died aged 91 in November. “Once we discuss black excellence, we discuss Quincy,” stated Goldberg.
Lastly, When Harry Met Sally… duo Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan teamed as much as current greatest image, with O’Brien describing Crystal as “the most effective ever Oscars host”. Crystal stated: “It’s nice to be again as a result of I used to work right here… it was 9 tuxedos in the past.”
Anora led the winners on the night time, accumulating 5 awards together with greatest image, greatest director and greatest actress.
