Oscar host Conan O’Brien gave Los Angeles firefighters a chance to deliver some sharp one-liners during Hollywood’s biggest night.
Taking the stage at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, O’Brien addressed the A-list audience, saying, “Now, I know you’re going to find this hard to believe, but there are some jokes even I’m not brave enough to tell.”
To handle the task, he enlisted several first responders—firefighters who had battled this year’s devastating Palisades and Eaton wildfires—asking them, “On behalf of myself, would you please read what’s in the prompter?”
Before handing over the spotlight, O’Brien turned back to the crowd, emphasizing, “Remember—everyone in this audience has to laugh; these are heroes!”
Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Erik Scott kicked things off with a biting remark: “Our hearts go out to those who have lost their homes. And I’m talking about the producers of ‘Joker 2.’”
For context, “Joker: Folie à Deux” was one of 2024’s biggest box office failures. The Warner Bros. sequel, which had a $200 million production budget and an additional $100 million in marketing and distribution costs, struggled to find an audience, grossing only $206 million globally.
The film’s poor performance was projected to result in a $150 million to $200 million loss for the studio, making Scott’s joke particularly cutting.
Even O’Brien was taken aback. “Damn,” he quipped, “best delivery of the night.”
Next up was Los Angeles Fire Department pilot Jonas Johnson, who took aim at “A Complete Unknown,” a musical biopic about the early years of Bob Dylan.
“To play Bob Dylan, Timothée Chalamet learned how to sing,” Johnson read. “In fact, his singing was so good, he almost lost the part.”
Chalamet, who was nominated for his portrayal of the legendary singer-songwriter—who is often praised more for his songwriting than his vocal abilities—laughed along with the audience.
Finally, Fire Department Captain Jodi Slicker turned the joke on O’Brien himself. “It’s great to be back with Conan,” she said. “Usually, when he calls, he’s stuck in a tree.”
O’Brien didn’t miss a beat, responding, “It’s happened twice!”
Later in the night, O’Brien took a more direct approach in his own monologue, addressing controversies surrounding Karla Sofía Gascón’s past social media posts and the ongoing feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar.
“Little fact for you—‘Anora’ uses the F-word 479 times. That’s three more than the record set by Karla Sofía Gascón’s publicist,” O’Brien joked.
Then, later in the show, he added, “We’re halfway through the show, which means it’s time for Kendrick Lamar to come out and call Drake a pedophile. Don’t worry, I’m lawyered up.”
