Conan O’Brien Stole the Show at the 2025 Oscars: Here Are 8 Unforgettable Moments!

by

I had the pleasure of witnessing an extraordinary moment in 2025 when the Oscars etched another page in its illustrious history. Being a long-time admirer of Conan O’Brien, known for his wit and humor on late-night television, it was a delightful surprise to see him as the host for the first time. Indeed, his hosting proved to be an inspired choice that added sparkle to the already dazzling event.

Were he excellent? Perhaps you wonder. To be honest, this renowned comedy legend made me unexpectedly leave the 97th Academy Awards on in the background while I worked. Upon rewatching the event, an unusual action for me regarding The Oscars, I believe that Mr. O’Brien should keep hosting the show as long as it’s feasible.

Instead of saying “No, this isn’t Stockholm Syndrome,” you could rephrase it as “This doesn’t fit the description of Stockholm Syndrome.” Similarly, instead of “for the sake of readability and the man of the hour’s sanity,” you can say “to make things more reader-friendly and for the comfort of the person in question.” Lastly, instead of saying “I’ll scale that back to asking that Conan O’Brien host the 2026 Oscars,” you could rephrase it as “I’m proposing that we ask Conan O’Brien to be the host for the 2026 Oscars.” And instead of saying “To make my case, I have a bunch of perfect moments as proof of why it’s the best choice,” you can say “To support my argument, I have numerous examples demonstrating that this is an ideal option.

The Oscars 2025 Monologue Was A Golden Start

I assure you I’ll spend a reasonable amount of time on this topic, but the opening of the Oscars is crucial for establishing the evening’s atmosphere. A lightly humorous pre-recorded skit featuring “The Substance” and Conan O’Brien-esque monologue set the stage for an incredible start. John Lithgow and Adam Sandler’s participation in those jokes, which grew even funnier upon rewatching, were an added bonus to the opening act.

The Sandworm From Dune’s Special Guest Appearances

It came as quite a surprise that the sandworm from Dune: Part Two showed such a talent for music! Not only does this colossal creature from Denis Villeneuve’s hit movie adaptation know how to play the piano, but it can also master the harp. If Hans Zimmer doesn’t enlist the help of this sandworm in creating the score for Dune: Messiah, it would be a missed chance.

Conan’s Multilinqual Greetings

The Academy Awards are a significant part of live television, uniting people worldwide for a brief moment. For Conan O’Brien, this presented an ideal chance to showcase some entertaining linguistic abilities, leading him to plead for film opportunities in China. This is another demonstration of the ex-NBC/TBS host using a joke reminiscent of his early career days, which I interpret as the highest form of praise.

Nick Offerman’s Narrator Shenanigans

A good host is able to find the right balance between taking the spotlight and allowing others to do so as well. John Lithgow demonstrated this twice during the 2025 Oscars, but Nick Offerman’s hilarious antics provided another excellent example of this important lesson. It seemed that perhaps Lithgow was feeling the weight of his duties, but his humorous moment brought laughter to us all and made his deep voice even more delightful.

A Very Timely Kendrick Lamar/Drake Joke

Previously employed as a writer on Conan, Skyler Higley’s Kendrick/Drake joke was the topic of debate regarding its potential airing. Luckily for Higley and everyone else, this clever quip managed to stay in the show. In fact, Disney’s Executive Vice President of Unscripted and Alternative Entertainment, Rob Mills, informed Variety that during rehearsal, he had predicted the joke would be a hit.

CinemaStreams: A Joke So Good, Martin Scorsese Was Part Of It

In a skit he taped prior, Conan O’Brien humorously criticized streaming services by showcasing his knowledge of late-night filmmaking and passion for cinema. The sketch, as seen in the video below, mocks the concept of “CinemaStreams” in a way that’s so relatable, you might just burst laughing:

Rob Mills from Walt Disney TV added his thoughts on the joke, noting that director Martin Scorsese was thrilled to join in this humorous skit. It’s not difficult to surmise two reasons why Scorsese would take part in a jest about returning to theaters, and one of those reasons can be ruled out.

The Oscar Tributes To The LA Wildfires Were Just Right

Discussing the L.A. wildfires, a genuine tragedy, required careful handling. Being overly solemn could seem melodramatic, while being flippant might appear insensitive – more so given the recurring demands to postpone the 2025 Oscars. Striking a balance between a respectful and somber opening and a comedic segment featuring Los Angeles firefighters on stage, ensured that the focus of this year’s event was thoughtfully addressed.

A Quick Signature Conan Exit

One reason I kept watching the show again was because Hulu accidentally cut off The Oscars, causing many of us to miss the announcements for Best Actress and Best Picture. Returning to witness those moments myself, I was struck by how effortlessly Conan O’Brien concluded the event.

In totality, here’s what he had to say once Anora won the night:

Hey, congratulations to everyone. I had a blast. Good night! Take it easy!

With his distinctive salute and leap onto the stage, he elegantly wrapped up the evening, demonstrating an understanding of when to make an exit.

Honorary Mention: Those Adorable Snack Boxes

In my view, there are two additional acknowledgments, if you will, that truly make Conan O’Brien’s comeback for the 2026 Oscars a done deal. These aren’t just TV moments; we’ll need to look at other sources, like reports about his thoughtful Oscar snack boxes, to understand their significance. Inside these snack boxes, Conan included a humorous note suggesting an edible item. This shows that Conan’s talents extend beyond the realm of television broadcasting alone.

Honorary Mention 2: Conan’s Backstage Medical Checkup

Now those of you who know Conan O’Brien absolutely understand that he loves to rope his writers into gags. Case in point: there is no Amazon-MGM executive named Steve Belsky, that was a role played by friend/writer Dan Cronin, as confirmed on his Instagram. However, that’s not the gag I’m highlighting as the grand finale.

Instead, it was the reappearance of Conan’s fictional physician, Dr. Arroyo, that kept the excitement going in an area where our Oscars 2025 live blog didn’t reach: social media. You might recall him from Conan O’Brien’s popular episode of Hot Ones , portrayed by real comedian José Arroyo. Here, he was tending to our host during a critical moment, demonstrating his skills as a medical professional.

Seldom has a host’s energy been as palpable as Conan O’Brien’s was at the 2025 Oscars. His unique brand of showmanship, which only he and his team could pull off, seems to have given a slight ratings boost according to Variety’s report. Therefore, it’s highly recommended that Jeff Mills’ informal invitation for him to return should definitely be taken up.

Absolutely, I must admit my bias as a fan who has followed him since the days of Late Night with Conan O’Brien. Yet, it seems hard to believe that out of 19.7 million viewers, so many could be mistaken in their appreciation for his work. In this instance, I would argue that they indeed cannot.

Read More

2025-03-08 06:39