Oscars 2026: Host Conan O’Brien jokes about AI, Chalamet and ‘Sinners’ in Oscars opening and harnesses ‘Weapons’ villain in sketch

LOS ANGELES — Oscars host Conan O’Brien kicked off the 98th Oscars by channeling Oscar-nominated actress Amy Madigan’s efficiency in “Weapons,” the place she performed the scary film’s villain “Aunt Gladys” whereas poking enjoyable of many nominated actors and films in a pre-recorded sketch. O’Brien then delivered a monologue that touched on this yr’s nominated films and actors.

Live Updates: Latest from the 98th Academy Awards

After the opening sketch, O’Brien poked enjoyable at synthetic intelligence, calling himself “the last human host of the Academy Awards,” including that subsequent yr’s host will likely be a Waymo in a tux.

O’Brien additionally poked enjoyable at Oscar-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet — who’s going through criticism for feedback he made throughout a latest interview — joking that safety is tight on the occasion due to “concerns over attacks from both the opera and ballet communies.”

“They’re just mad that you left out jazz,” O’Brien stated.

MORE | Timothée Chalamet faces backlash over feedback about opera and ballet in latest interview

O’Brien didn’t draw back from politics in his opening monologue.

The host joked that Kid Rock could be internet hosting a competing Oscars present, a nod to the Turning Point USA Super Bowl Halftime counterprogramming “All-American Halftime Show” that competed with Bad Bunny’s efficiency throughout the massive sport.

O’Brien went on to poke enjoyable in any respect the nominated greatest image movies.

Joking about names of movies “Hamnet” and “Bugonia,” he stated it was a “big year for movies that sound like off-brand lunch meat.”

O’Brien joked concerning the new greatest casting class, saying that one casting director will win an Oscar, and “for the rest of you, we’ve decided to go in another direction.”

Making a nod to Michael B. Jordan’s efficiency as twins in “Sinners,” O’Brien joked that each seat filler throughout the award present will “be Michael B. Jordan” and the digicam lower to a crowd shot of lots of our bodies trying an identical to Jordan.

The lookalikes have been so convincing, it sparked chatter on-line to whether or not they have been lookalike actors, AI-generated or Hollywood film magic.

O’Brien then completed his monologue with a comical musical quantity that confirmed how ungraciously he would settle for an Oscar, if he have been to ever win one on the Academy Awards.

Watch the complete monologue within the media participant above.