The 2025 Oscars are officially underway, and first-time host Conan O’Brien is winning hearts and bringing the laughs with his lively and warm opening monologue.
O’Brien kicked off the ceremony with a special nod to India, greeting the audience with a heartfelt namaste and speaking in Hindi. “Logo ko namaskar. Waha subha ho chuki hai to mujhe ummeed hai ki ap crispy nashte ke sath Oscars dekhenge,” he said, which translates to, “Greetings to the people of India. It’s morning there, so I hope you enjoy your breakfast with the Oscars.”
The audience erupted in applause at the sweet shoutout, setting the stage for an evening of humor and celebration. O’Brien then dove into a series of jokes about the Best Picture nominees, offering lighthearted commentary on each film.
He playfully teased the film ‘Conclave,’ saying, “I’m a Catholic boy, loved Conclave. If you haven’t seen Conclave, its log line is: a movie about the Catholic church, but don’t worry.”
Turning his attention to Sean Baker’s ‘Anora,’ O’Brien quipped, “Anora used the f-word 497 times — that’s three more than the record set by Karla Sofia Gascon’s publicist.” The camera cut to Best Actress nominee Karla Sofia Gascon, whose awards season has been marked by controversy over past social media comments.
O’Brien kept the audience entertained throughout his monologue, mixing playful jabs with warmth. At one point, he poked fun at Adam Sandler’s bright blue hoodie. Sandler, known for his laid-back style, responded with a good-natured comeback: “I like the way I look because I’m a good person.”
The 2025 Oscars are airing live at 7 pm ET on ABC and Hulu, while in India, the 97th Academy Awards are streaming live on JioHotstar.
