Academy Awards host Conan O’Brien’s opener at the 2025 Oscars was an extremely welcome return of solid joke writing after way too many hostless or less-than-perfectly hosted Hollywood awards shows. (He and Demi Moore really got into it with that Substance bit up top, huh?)
While there were ups and downs—two somewhat distinct “downs” being a too-corny Amazon bit and a cameo from Adam Sandler that beautifully showcased schmuck style but failed to deliver the laughs—what really stuck out was O’Brien’s well-honed comedic prowess.
On another note, O’Brien’s genuine sincerity when talking about the devastating effect of the recent L.A. wildfires was thoughtful, well timed, and appreciated (especially since the comedian and his family are still displaced from their home as a result of the fires). Still, when he went for comedy, he found it—not surprising, since O’Brien got his start writing for The Simpsons and most definitely knows his way around a well-constructed bit.
Below, find some of Conan O’Brien’s very best lines from the 2025 Oscars:
“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?”
“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.”
This story was originally published on Vogue.com.
