After years of hit-or-miss Oscar hosting, the 2025 ceremony finally brought back a much-needed dose of wit and energy with Conan O’Brien at the helm.
Known for his sharp humor, boundless energy, and ability to keep audiences laughing while never taking himself too seriously, O’Brien injected a much-needed sense of fun into the evening.
With a mix of absurdity, heartfelt sincerity, and classic one-liners, he proved once again why he’s one of the best in the business.
From his quirky takes on Hollywood's most prestigious night to his well-timed jokes about the nominees and presenters, Conan never let the crowd down.
While there were a few misfires (we’ll let you decide how you feel about that Amazon bit), O'Brien’s knack for landing perfectly-timed, offbeat humor kept the evening lively.
Below are some of his finest moments from his first Oscar hosting gig:
“It’s Hollywood’s biggest night…that starts at 4 in the afternoon.”
While pacing with microphone: “I’m walking to show I have control of the stage.”
“Wicked is nominated for 10 awards. It’s a perfect movie for anyone who ever watched The Wizard of Oz, got to the end, and thought, Sure, but where did all the minor characters go to college?”
“If your acceptance speech goes too long, we’ll cut to John Lithgow in the audience looking not angry, but slightly disappointed.”
“I loved The Brutalist. I never wanted it to end, and luckily, it didn’t.”
“Anora uses the f-word 479 times. That’s three more than the record set by Karla Sofía Gascón’s publicist.”
To Gascón: “Karla, if you tweet about this, just remember: My name is Jimmy Kimmel.”
To Timothée Chalamet: “Love that suit. You will not get hit on your bike tonight.”
While introducing the presenters of the best-hair-and-makeup category: “My two hall passes, Scarlett Johansson and June Squibb…”
“Well, we’re halfway through the show, which means it’s time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile.”
“Anora is having a good night. Two wins already. I guess Americans are excited to see somebody finally stand up to a powerful Russian.”
“A Complete Unknown... A Real Pain... Nosferatu... these were just some of the names I was called on the red carpet.”
“It’s Ralph Fiennes’s third-time being nominated. If he doesn't win tonight, we get to call him RALPH.”
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