Conan O'Brien Roasts Timothée Chalamet at 2026 Oscars

The comedian returned to host the Academy Awards for the second consecutive year.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 6:16am

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Conan O'Brien kicked off the 2026 Oscars with a joke-filled monologue, taking aim at Timothée Chalamet over his recent comments about the ballet and opera communities. O'Brien also poked fun at the "alternate" Super Bowl halftime show hosted by Kid Rock. Despite the political humor, O'Brien was praised for his ability to guide the ceremony with "humor, warmth and reverence."

Why it matters

Conan O'Brien's return as Oscars host for the second year in a row highlights his comedic talents and ability to entertain the audience, even with topical political jokes. His willingness to roast fellow celebrities like Timothée Chalamet demonstrates his comfort in pushing boundaries while still maintaining a lighthearted tone.

The details

In his opening monologue, O'Brien joked about tight security at the event, referencing concerns from the opera and ballet communities over Chalamet's recent remarks. He also poked fun at the "alternate" Super Bowl halftime show hosted by Kid Rock. Despite the political humor, O'Brien was praised for his ability to guide the ceremony with "humor, warmth and reverence."

  • The 2026 Oscars ceremony took place on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
  • Conan O'Brien hosted the Oscars for the second consecutive year after making his debut in March 2025.

The players

Conan O'Brien

A 62-year-old comedian who returned to host the 2026 Oscars for the second consecutive year, delivering a joke-filled monologue that included roasting Timothée Chalamet.

Timothée Chalamet

A 30-year-old actor who was the target of Conan O'Brien's jokes during the Oscars ceremony, with the host referencing Chalamet's recent comments about the ballet and opera communities.

Kid Rock

A musician who hosted an "alternate" Super Bowl LX halftime show last month over conservative backlash to Bad Bunny's performance, which O'Brien also poked fun at during his Oscars monologue.

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What they’re saying

“Security is extremely tight tonight. I just got to mention that. I'm told there's concerns about a tax from both the opera and ballet communities.”

— Conan O'Brien, Oscars Host

“I should warn you tonight could get political, OK? And if that makes you uncomfortable there's an alternate Oscars being hosted by Kid Rock. It's at the Dave and Busters down the street, lot of tickets for that.”

— Conan O'Brien, Oscars Host

The takeaway

Conan O'Brien's return as Oscars host showcased his ability to deliver topical, politically-charged humor while still maintaining a lighthearted and entertaining tone. His willingness to roast fellow celebrities like Timothée Chalamet demonstrated his comfort in pushing boundaries, making him a popular choice to helm the prestigious awards ceremony for the second consecutive year.