Oscars 2026: Conan O'Brien's opening monologue

Host Conan O'Brien delivers the opening monologue for the 2026 Academy Awards, offering a satirical take on the future of entertainment, current events, and the nominees.

Key Highlights:

• The Future of Hosting (0:06 - 0:30): Conan jokingly claims to be the "last human host," predicting a Whimo (a robot) will host in 2027.
• Security Concerns (0:53 - 1:16): He jokes about tight security due to threats from opera and ballet communities.
• Streaming and Netflix (1:32 - 2:04): Conan roasts Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos about the company's business model regarding theater attendance.
• Mocking Nominees (2:27 - 3:45): He satirizes films like Hamnet and F1, joking about their plots and titles.
• The Academy and Casting (4:19 - 5:54): Conan comments on directors not judging work and highlights the new Best Casting category.
• Memes and Celebrity Roasts (7:36 - 8:39): He focuses on Michael B. Jordan playing identical twins and attempts to create a new meme with Leonardo DiCaprio.
• Closing Remarks (9:26 - 10:42): Conan concludes with a serious message about the power of global artistry and hope in difficult times.

J.D. Vance: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

This video from Last Week Tonight with John Oliver offers a critical examination of J.D. Vance, the first millennial Vice President (0:07). While some see him as a intellectual leader for the right, Oliver highlights his drastic political shift from a "Never Trump" Republican in 2016 to a loyal MAGA ally (0:23-1:05).

Key themes and criticisms include:

• Political Opportunism: Oliver argues Vance's shift was both opportunistic and a genuine journey into far-right thought, heavily influenced by tech billionaire Peter Thiel (6:59-9:38).
• Controversial Views: Vance is highlighted for promoting far-right ideologies, including admiration for Curtis Yarvin's desire to dismantle the administrative state and elevating false rumors about Haitian immigrants in Ohio (12:51-15:08).
• Family and Social Policy: The video critiques Vance's focus on declining birth rates and his negative comments regarding "childless" people, while simultaneously opposing universal daycare and promoting non-fault divorce restrictions (18:42-24:59).
• Debate Performance: Despite these views, Vance managed to appear measured during the VP debate, prompting concerns that he can moderate his image to appeal to broader audiences when necessary (25:44-26:38).

MAKE US LAUGH, WIN $1,000 (ft. MrBeast)

This video features KSI and MrBeast hosting a "Try Not to Laugh" challenge in Qatar to win $1,000. Various fans and participants enter the room one by one, attempting to break the hosts with skits, jokes, impressions, and absurd actions.

Video Highlights:

• Chicken Crotch Skit (2:42-3:04): A contestant puts on an intense performance that shocks the hosts.
• Gordon Ramsay Impression (3:31-4:15): A subscriber acts out a chaotic scene of the chef's birth.
• Hairline Jokes (4:19-4:47): Participants continuously mock KSI's hairline, which becomes a recurring theme throughout the video.
• Cat Food Challenge (10:52-11:53): Contestants perform a bizarre sumo imitation while eating actual cat food.
• Self-Defense Impression (26:40-27:00): A participant performs a frantic act of saving KSI from a firing squad.
• Egg Incident (33:04-34:10): The final contestant makes MrBeast break by smashing three eggs on the set.

The video ends with MrBeast joking that this was his most expensive video ever, while KSI promotes his Prime drink and urges viewers to subscribe to MrBeast (34:21-34:45).

Weekend Update: K-Pop Demon Hunters Sequel Announced, Apple Unveils New Emojis - SNL

This video features Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che tackling the week's biggest news stories with satirical commentary (0:00-3:08).

Highlights include:

• Sports and Food: Che jokes about the Miami Heat scoring high against a team of Make-a-Wish kids (0:00) and discusses new, questionable Taco Bell menu items (0:17).
• Local News and Technology: Jost covers a story about a parent leaving a child at Universal CityWalk (0:50) and reports on YouTube launching a tool for reporters to flag AI likeness impersonations (1:11).
• Pop Culture and Science: The anchors discuss a study linking finger length to sexual orientation (1:36), new Apple emojis (1:59), and a sequel to the film K-pop Demon Hunters (2:11).

Best Buy: Mr. Pooty - SNL

This SNL sketch (0:00 - 6:06) depicts a chaotic Best Buy team meeting interrupted by an employee named Mr. Pooty (played by Harry Styles).

Key Highlights:

• The Meeting Starts: Store manager Mikey Day tries to discuss changes to the rewards program (0:02 - 0:12).
• Mr. Pooty's Interruptions: Mr. Pooty repeatedly interrupts to ask if he is in trouble regarding rumors of him inappropriately touching male colleagues (0:33 - 1:21).
• Christopher the Magnet: Pooty accuses a coworker named Christopher of having "bisexual magnetism" that lures him into breaking rules (2:25 - 2:44).
• Accusations and Confessions: The sketch escalates as Christopher reveals he has manipulated Pooty's nipples and asked him on a date to the Cheesecake Factory (4:35 - 5:19).
• The Conclusion: Pooty and Christopher agree to hook up in the headphone area immediately, ending the meeting abruptly (5:23 - 6:06).

Sparkle of the Sea - SNL

This video is a parody advertisement for the Sparkle of the Sea cruise line, hosted by Harry Styles and Chloe Fineman. They showcase the various activities and entertainers on board, including:

• Entertainment Highlights: A Croatian rock band that performs high-energy sets (0:55), an R&B singer named Hopkins Sex (1:31), a Felix the Flawish magician (2:23), and a French-Canadian comedian (3:13).
• Dining and Activities: Mention of a seafood buffet (0:47), a grand casino (0:43), and a Friday night rock party featuring a Polish pop group (4:10).
• The Experience: The hosts humorously emphasize the relaxing, yet potentially dangerous nature of being on a ship (5:05).

MAHAspital - SNL

This SNL sketch is a trailer for MAHAspital, a parody of high-stakes medical dramas blended with conspiracy theories and wellness trends. The trailer highlights unconventional and dangerous medical practices overseen by a team dedicated to "making America healthy again."

Key Highlights:

• Unconventional Treatments: The staff suggests bizarre treatments like bull semen for low testosterone (0:36), methylene blue and a full moon ceremony (0:58), anal probiotics (1:02), and raw milk (3:09).
• Contempt for Modern Medicine: Doctors express disdain for "phony liberal science" (0:11) and ridicule a patient for being up to date on vaccines (0:53).
• Character Dynamics: The team includes a "certified energy healer" (1:31), and a doctor who frequently leaves to "sun [her] Kate" (1:42).
• Absurdist Drama: A patient confesses to shooting their parents after finding out they got the COVID vaccine (1:51), and RFK Jr. makes a special appearance after hitting a bear with his car, prepping it for "jerky" (2:39-2:56).

Sebastian Maniscalco: New Lawyer - SNL

This SNL sketch (0:00) depicts a courtroom scene where a defendant (Tommy Brennan) is assigned a public defender, who turns out to be comedian Sebastian Maniscalco (played by Marcello Hernández), just starting his law career (0:34).

Key Highlights:

• Comedic Defense: Instead of focusing on the case, Maniscalco regales the court with childhood anecdotes about his father and a belt (1:42), causing the judge to ask if the baby is happy (2:40).
• Court Artist Drama: The lawyer interacts with the court artist (Picasso), asking to be painted in specific poses (2:51).
• Argument Attempt: Maniscalco finally attempts to argue the case by suggesting his client would have needed to be Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible to avoid the store's lasers (3:31).
• Contempt of Court: After another comedic tangent, the judge finds the defense attorney in contempt of court (4:53).

White Castle Drive-Thru - SNL

This SNL sketch (4:25) follows two high school girls trying to work up the courage to ask their classmate, Steve (played by Harry Styles), to the school dance while he is working at a White Castle drive-thru.

Key Moments:

• The Initial Encounter: (0:41) The girls arrive at the drive-thru, nervous and chatting with Steve, who eventually recognizes them.
• Increasing Boldness: (1:57) The girls return multiple times, becoming increasingly brazen with their advances while Steve tries to fulfill orders, much to the confusion of his manager.
• The Final Ask: (3:28) After several chaotic drive-thru interactions, the girls finally ask Steve to the dance, and he agrees to go with both of them.
• The Conclusion: (3:57) Steve reveals he crashed his motorcycle, asking the girls to take him to the hospital, concluding the sketch.

Weekend Update: Tucker Carlson on Liberal Politics and the 2026 Oscars - SNL

This video features a parody of conservative commentator Tucker Carlson (played by Jeremy Culhane) on Weekend Update discussing the 2026 Academy Awards. The sketch focuses on how liberal politics have heavily influenced the film industry, resulting in specific storylines and nominees.

Here are the main points discussed:

• "Sinners": Carlson jokes that this film won awards because liberal Hollywood embraces sinning over traditional values (0:35-1:02).
• "Hamnit": A parody of Hamlet suggesting the title was changed for LGBTQ inclusivity (1:07-1:23).
• "Beonia": A satirical movie where female characters are forced to shave their heads and body hair to fit liberal aesthetic standards (1:42-2:06).
• Traditional Films: Carlson laments the loss of classic films, citing examples like Gone with the Wind and the bullying scenes in Forrest Gump (2:09-2:25).