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.
Conan O’Brien told the truth because he knows Brenden Carr can’t cancel him.
He didn’t even really say anything partisan. Literally he just acknowledged reality. Apparently that really upset some people for some reason.
Conan has no fear of being canceled. He was canceled once and turned it into a sold out tour.
Stephen Colbert’s next project will be better once he’s away from those CBS assholes. Maybe they’ll run a gardening show in that time slot.
Considering there was a film festival just recently making the argument that the art isn’t political, it’s nice to see his statement.
If anything, it’s a milquetoast and meaningless statement.