Conan O’Brien kicks off Oscars on ‘serious’ note: ‘These are very chaotic, frightening times’

Amid the one-liners, Conan O’Brien is striking a serious tone during his Academy Awards monologue, saying the annual Hollywood awards show brings some optimism in these “chaotic times.”

“Tonight is an international event,” O’Brien said, following some rapid-fire jokes, as he kicked off the 98th Oscars in Los Angeles on Sunday.

“If I can be serious for just a moment, everyone watching right now around the world is all too aware that these are very chaotic, frightening times,” the former late-night TV host said.

“It’s at moments like these that I believe that the Oscars are particularly resonant,” O’Brien, 62, continued.

“Thirty-one countries across six continents are represented this evening. And every film we salute is the product of thousands of people speaking different languages, working hard to make something of beauty,” O’Brien told the audience.

“We pay tribute tonight not just to film, but to the ideals of global artistry, collaboration, patience, resilience, and that rarest of qualities today: optimism,” he said to applause.

“Let us celebrate — not because we think all is well — but because we work and hope for better,” O’Brien said.

While O’Brien did not mention the conflict, the Hollywood awards show came as the United States entered a second week of war with Iran.