Hollywood stars came, saw and conquered at Sunday’s 97th Academy Awards. While A-listers dressed to the nines and gave unforgettable speeches while bringing home the gold, there were many highs — and some lows — of the over 3.5-hour telecast. We are rounding them all up for you right here!
From Conan O’Brien absolutely nailing it as a first-time host to that magical “Wicked” opening by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, cinema’s biggest night did not disappoint.
Check out our list of the best and worst moments from the night!
Worst: The opening Los Angeles tribute featuring L.A.-based movies
The quick montage that opened the show featured clips from a number of high profile films that were iconically set in Los Angeles. There were better tributes to L.A. in the show in the wake of the January wildfires that tore through the city, but this opening one felt tacked on and too brief — a jumbled way to start the night off.
Best: That “Wicked” opening
“Wicked” star and Best Supporting Actress nominee Ariana Grande took the stage to sing “Over the Rainbow” at the top of the show, live from the Dolby Theatre. Continuing on with the “Wizard of Oz” theme, Grande’s co-star Cynthia Erivo took the spotlight to perform “Home” from “The Wiz.” The singers then together sang their “Wicked” track “Defying Gravity.” It was a magical musical moment.
Best: Conan O’Brien calls out Adam Sandler over the evening’s dress code
In the middle of his monologue, host Conan O’Brien became distracted by Adam Sandler. Turns out, his outfit of a zip-up hoodie and basketball shorts were not up to the well-heeled event’s dress standards.
“What are you wearing?” O’Brien questioned Sandler. “You’re dressed like a guy playing video poke at 2 a.m.”
“You know what, I like the way I look, because I’m a good person. I care about what I wear, what I don’t wear,” Sandler retorted, who was rocking a light blue jacket and royal blue basketball shorts. “My stylish gym shorts and fluffy sweater offend you so much that you had to mock me in front my peers?”
True to his attire, he then challenged everyone in the audience to go head-to-head on the court.
“You all are welcome to join me for a game of five on five basketball tonight, midnight,” he then went over to Timothée Chalamet and hollered his name, a nod to how he gave his own twist on the young actor’s name during the Golden Globes. “Timothée ah Chalameeeeet,” Sandler said.
Best: Conan O’Brien’s “I Won’t Waste Time” performance
For this to be Conan O’Brien’s first time hosting the Oscars, it made it look like he’s had the job for years. After his hilarious monologue, he kept us entertained throughout the night. One highlight was the performance of an original song, “I Won’t Waste Time.”
“Now, I know in the past this show has gone long. OK, that’s not going to happen this time; I’m going to run a tight ship,” O’Brien said as he pivoted from host to singer, breaking into song. At one point, Deadpool joined him on stage. “I’ll say this clearly, I’m going to make it very plain, I am not going to waste your time tonight. There’s 23 award to give.”
Best: Kieran Culkin wins an Oscar – and makes good on a deal with his wife
Kieran Culkin took home the gold for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in “A Real Pain,” and in doing so, he revealed his win sealed the deal on a pact he and his wife made in an effort to have a fourth child.
“She said, ‘I will give you four when you win an Oscar.’ I held my hand out, she shook it, and I have not brought it up once until just now,” Culkin recalled of the moment. “You remember that, honey? You do? OK. Then I just had this to say to you, Jess, love of my life, who gave little faith, no pressure. I love you. I’m really sorry I did this again, and let’s get crackin’ on those kids. What do you say?”
Best: Paul Tazewell makes history as the first Black man to win Best Costume Design Oscar
Black History Month might be over, but that doesn’t mean Black excellence won’t keep rolling in. Paul Tazewell made history Sunday night as the first Black man to win an Oscar for costume design, which he earned for his work on “Wicked.”
Worst: James Bond tribute
It is unclear what inspired the James Bond tribute during the show. K-Pop star (and “The White Lotus” Season 3 actress) Lisa, Doja Cat and Raye came onstage to sing some of the most iconic themes from the franchise. Why the Oscars showrunners decided on these – albeit great – performers to sing rather than Madonna, Adele and Billie Eilish is equally baffling.
Whether the tribute was always planned and just fell flat and confusing or it was rushed after Amazon acquired creative rights to the franchise in the past week, either way, it was a miss.
Worst: “Emilia Perez” Best Original Song team sings during acceptance speech
Jacques Audiard, Clément Ducol and Camille Dalmais wrapped their Best Original Song acceptance speech for “Emilia Perez’s” tune “El Mal” by singing. It lasted longer than anyone in the room and certainly many at home expected or hoped.
Best: Los Angeles Fire Fighters receive a standing ovation and deliver jokes too mean for Conan O’Brien to tell
Conan O’Brien shouted out leaders of the Los Angeles fire department by bringing them on stage Sunday, which brought forth a round of applause and standing ovation from the audience. But unlike at the Grammys, the first responders took the moment to take jabs at some Hollywood stars (all led by O’Brien, of course).
LAFD Capt. Eric Scott kicked off the bit.
“Well, our hearts go out to all of those who have lost their homes and I’m talking about the producers of ‘Joker 2.’”
Next up was department pilot Jonath Johnson.
“To play Bob Dylan, Timothée Chalamet learned how to sing. In fact, his singing was so good, he almost lost the part.”
And finally, Pasadena Fire Department Capt. Jodi Slicker.
“It’s great to be back with Conan — usually when he calls he’s stuck in a tree,” she joked.
Worst: Quincy Jones tribute sours on song choice
The show chose to honor the late, great Quincy Jones with a tribute by having Queen Latifah sing “Ease on Down the Road” from the 1975 musical “The Wiz.” With the breadth of Jones’ work, it was a befuddling song choice to perform during the show – especially when “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” was played for the theater during the commercial break that followed.
Oh, and it was the second song from “The Wiz” featured during the show.
Best: Sean Baker delivers “battle cry” to save movie theaters
When Sean Baker won Best Director (one of four Oscars he picked up), he took the opportunity to advocate for seeing movies in theaters.
“We’re all here tonight and watching this broadcast because we love movies. Where did we fall in love with the movies? At the movie theater watching a film,” he said. “Watching a film in a theater with an audience is an experience. We can laugh together, cry together, scream and fight together, perhaps sit in devastated silence together. And in a time in which the world can feel very divided, this is more important than ever.”
“It’s a communal experience you simply don’t get at home. And right now, the theater-going experience is under threat,” Baker continued. “Movie theaters, especially independently-owned theaters, are struggling, and it’s up to us to support them. During the pandemic, we lost nearly 1,000 screens in the US. And we continue to lose them regularly. If we don’t reverse this trend, we’ll be losing a vital part of our culture.”
See all TheWrap’s Oscars coverage here.
