AceShowbiz - Conan O'Brien returned to host the 98th Academy Awards, delivering a sharp and humorous opening monologue that quickly put the spotlight on some of Hollywood’s top stars. Among those targeted was Best Actor nominee Timothée Chalamet, who found himself squirming under O’Brien’s witty jabs about his controversial comments on opera and ballet.

Dressed in a tuxedo at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Conan O'Brien wasted no time addressing the buzz surrounding Timothée Chalamet. He referenced the actor’s previous remark claiming “no one cares” about ballet and opera, teasing the crowd by warning there were “concerns about attacks from both the opera and ballet communities.” The camera cut to a nervous Timothée Chalamet, sitting beside his girlfriend Kylie Jenner, who smiled awkwardly at the joke.

Adding to the humor, Conan O'Brien quipped, “They’re just mad you left out jazz,” poking fun at the actor’s blunt dismissal of certain art forms. Later in the evening, Conan O'Brien attempted to smooth over the moment by telling the audience he and the star were “vibing,” though Timothée Chalamet’s muted response suggested otherwise.

The comedian’s playful roasting didn’t stop there. Leonardo DiCaprio, another Best Actor contender and Timothée Chalamet’s rival, was crowned the “king of memes” due to his widely shared facial expressions on social media. Conan O'Brien encouraged Leonardo DiCaprio to create a “new meme” live on camera, captioning his reaction with “That feeling when you didn’t agree to this.” The actor responded with a professional smirk and shrug, embracing the joke with good humor.

Michael B. Jordan, also competing for Best Actor, was a target of Conan O'Brien’s humor for his dual role portraying identical twins in the film Sinners, which was also nominated for Best Picture. The host joked that every seat filler at the Oscars was a Michael B. Jordan clone, showing a humorous shot of multiple men dressed identically in white tuxedos. Conan O'Brien even asked the “clones” how he was looking that night, adding to the lighthearted moment.

In addition to the actors, Conan O'Brien took aim at other notable figures. He poked fun at Sean Penn, who won Best Supporting Actor for his role in One Battle After Another but was absent from the ceremony. Conan O'Brien joked about a memorable scene involving Penn’s character, infusing the moment with his signature humor.

Opening his monologue with a nod to the changing landscape of entertainment, Conan O'Brien joked that he was “honored” to be the ceremony’s “last human host,” referencing fears of AI replacing live hosts in the future. He predicted that next year’s Oscars might be led by a robot in a tuxedo, lightening the mood around a serious topic.

Political commentary was also woven into his routine. Conan O'Brien warned the audience that the ceremony might “get political” and joked about an alternative Oscars show hosted by Kid Rock, imagining it taking place at a local Dave & Busters arcade with plenty of tickets available. This jab was part of his broader satire on the entertainment industry and its intersecting with politics.

Streaming giants weren’t spared from Conan O'Brien’s wit. He mocked Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos for apparently experiencing a theater for the first time, impersonating him with a gruff voice lamenting why people are enjoying movies together instead of staying home to be monetized individually. He also noted the absence of Amazon Studios from the nominations, quipping about the company’s lack of wins and joking about popular online retailers missing out on Oscars recognition.