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Amid the one-liners, Conan O\u2019Brien is striking a serious tone during his Academy Awards monologue, saying the annual Hollywood awards show brings some optimism in these \u201cchaotic times.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTonight is an international event,\u201d O\u2019Brien said, following some rapid-fire jokes, as he kicked off the 98th Oscars in Los Angeles on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf 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,\u201d the former late-night TV host said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s at moments like these that I believe that the Oscars are particularly resonant,\u201d O\u2019Brien, 62, continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cThirty-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,\u201d O\u2019Brien told the audience.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe pay tribute tonight not just to film, but to the ideals of global artistry, collaboration, patience, resilience, and that rarest of qualities today: optimism,\u201d he said to applause.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet us\u00a0celebrate \u2014 not because we think all is well \u2014 but because we work and hope for better,\u201d O\u2019Brien said.<\/p>\n
While O\u2019Brien did not mention the conflict, the Hollywood awards show came as the United States\u00a0entered a<\/a>\u00a0second week of war with Iran.<\/p>\n President Trump has\u00a0repeatedly criticized<\/a>\u00a0the Oscars over the years, knocking the show\u2019s ratings and slamming it as too \u201cpolitically correct and boring.\u201d<\/p>\n During his opening remarks on Sunday, O\u2019Brien said, \u201cI should warn you, tonight could get political.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if that makes you uncomfortable, there\u2019s an alternate Oscars being hosted by Kid Rock,\u201d O\u2019Brien cracked,\u00a0referring to<\/a>\u00a0last month\u2019s Super Bowl halftime show counterprogramming that was headlined by the \u201cAll Summer Long\u201d singer and hosted by the conservative organization Turning Point USA.<\/p>\n Later in the show, O\u2019Brien appeared to make a veiled reference to the president.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re coming to you live from the Has A Small\u00a0Penis Theater. Let\u2019s see him put his name in front of that,\u201d O\u2019Brien said. Last December, Trump\u2019s name\u00a0was added<\/a>\u00a0to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.<\/p>\n Updated at 8:13 p.m. EST <\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n