One Ad After Another: Conan Jabs at Oscars’ YouTube Future

YouTube might want to skip this joke.

Late last year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and YouTube signed a multi-year deal that gives the streamer new, exclusive global rights to the Oscars, with the agreement running from 2029 to 2033. And at the 98th Oscars on ABC on Sunday, host Conan O’Brien didn’t hold back on potential changes coming to the award show on streaming.

During the show, O’Brien called the Oscars’ move from linear to streaming “the future.” However, while he was trying to assuage fears, he was interrupted by a YouTube ad mid-speech.

The ad in question featured an over-the-top version of actor Jane Lynch selling a tactical flashlight that “killed Osama bin Laden.” However, thanks to the skip button, an exasperated O’Brien made it back to the screen.

“Sorry about that, but, like I said, I don’t think this is going to change the Oscars at all,” O’Brien said, right before another Lynch ad took over.

See if here:

Conan O’Brien takes jab at YouTube as new home of #Oscars starting in 2029 (Jane Lynch cameo) pic.twitter.com/zhVj8R7h9e

— Deadline (@DEADLINE) March 15, 2026

However, for anyone worried about potential streaming ads, YouTube doesn’t take on the award show until the 101st iteration.

Until then, we have plenty of takes to fill you in on from the 98th Oscars:

Supremely bad press

Marty Supreme actor Timothée Chalamet was the butt of multiple jokes from O’Brien and award winners. Chalamet came under fire recently for remarks that seemed to disparage ballet and opera during a CNN and Variety town hall with Matthew McConaughey. He called the art forms outdated, adding, “No one cares about this anymore.”

O’Brien, during his opening monologue, said there was a heavy security presence at the venue due to a potential threat from the “opera and ballet communities” against Chalamet.

He added, “They’re just mad you left out jazz.” 

“It’s a tie. I’m not joking.”

For only the seventh time in Oscars history, two movies finished in a tie on Sunday.

The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva both won the award for best live-action short film. In announcing the stunning development, presenter Kumail Nanjiani guided audiences on how the award would be handed out, saying he would announce one winner who would come on stage to accept it. Then he would name a second winner.

Prior to this year’s tie, the last occurrence was in 2013, when Zero Dark Thirty and Skyfall shared the award for best sound editing.

One win after another

One Battle After Another was triumphant at the 98th Annual Academy Awards. The Paul Thomas Anderson movie took home six Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director.

“What a night. Let’s have a martini,” said Thomas Anderson as he accepted the award for Best Picture.

Sinners, which led with a record 16 nominations, took home four awards. Among them, Michael B. Jordan won in the Best Actor category. The movie also made history as Autumn Durald Arkapaw was the first woman to win the award for achievement in cinematography.

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