Jimmy Kimmel shared his thoughts on Conan O’Brien’s first time hosting the Academy Awards, using his monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to acknowledge the performance while slipping in a joke about a long-standing late-night dispute.
“Conan O’Brien did a great job as host of the Oscars,” Kimmel said. “In fact, they said, I read today, Conan did such a good job, the Oscars announced that next year they’re giving it to Jay Leno to host.”
The remark referenced the Tonight Show controversy of 2009, when NBC positioned O’Brien as Leno’s successor but later reversed the decision after a brief run, reinstating Leno as host. Kimmel, who criticized the handling of the situation at the time, had even impersonated Leno on his show the day O’Brien announced his departure.
Kimmel supported O’Brien’s selection for the Oscars from the beginning. When the announcement was made in October, he wrote on social media, “I believe this to be an EXCELLENT choice.” He was also the first to call O’Brien after the decision became public and offered guidance ahead of the event.
O’Brien opened the ceremony with a monologue that mixed Hollywood satire with sharp humor aimed at the nominees and recent controversies. A pre-taped segment featured him emerging from the back of Demi Moore’s body in a parody of The Substance, leading into his entrance onstage.
“Welcome to the 97th Academy Awards,” O’Brien said. “It’s Hollywood’s biggest night that starts at four in the afternoon. Everyone here just had brunch—I don’t understand it.”
He addressed the controversy surrounding Karla Sofía Gascón, nominated for Emilia Pérez, after previous social media posts caused backlash. “Little fact for you: Anora uses the F-word 479 times,” O’Brien said. “That’s three more than the record set by Karla Sofía Gascón’s publicist.” The camera cut to Gascón, who responded with a prayer gesture. “Karla, if you’re going to tweet about the Oscars, remember, my name is Jimmy Kimmel,” O’Brien added.
His monologue included jokes about major films of the year. On The Brutalist, he said, “I really did love it. I didn’t want it to end—and luckily, it didn’t.” On A Complete Unknown, he quipped, “Bob Dylan wanted to be here tonight, but not that badly.”
Films that missed out on nominations also became part of the routine. “Antonio Banderas plays a man who doesn’t know how to give his wife an orgasm in Babygirl,” O’Brien said. “He described it as the most challenging role of his career.”
The show included a bit with Adam Sandler, seated in the audience wearing his usual hoodie and basketball shorts. The performance ended with an elaborate musical number.
O’Brien, who has hosted the Emmys twice and the MTV Movie Awards once, had never led the Oscars before. His time on Late Night, The Tonight Show, and Conan made him one of the longest-running late-night hosts in television. He continues to reach audiences through his podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, and his travel series, Conan O’Brien Must Go.
