WEBVTT 1 00:00:03.160 --> 00:00:11.080 Kalaroga Shark Media. Do you like Conan O'Brien, because if 2 00:00:11.080 --> 00:00:12.800 you do, you'll like today's show, and if you don't, 3 00:00:13.160 --> 00:00:15.919 you might as well leave. Now. I'm Johnny Mack with 4 00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:18.800 your daily comedy news. This is the OSCARS Preview, your 5 00:00:18.920 --> 00:00:22.480 host for the ninety seventh Annuel Academy Awards, former late 6 00:00:22.559 --> 00:00:26.559 night talk show host current podcaster Conan O'Brien. He joked 7 00:00:26.600 --> 00:00:28.399 at a press conference, I only hosted so I could 8 00:00:28.440 --> 00:00:31.640 be invited. Conan did a lot of press this week. 9 00:00:31.879 --> 00:00:34.159 Everything I'm about to tell you here is from many 10 00:00:34.280 --> 00:00:37.359 different sources. I'll mention the sources for the most part, 11 00:00:37.399 --> 00:00:40.840 but understand that I'm really bouncing around from interview to 12 00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:43.719 interview and trying to piece things together thematically. As we 13 00:00:43.799 --> 00:00:46.560 had forward here, Conan was riffing. He said he was 14 00:00:46.640 --> 00:00:49.640 probably the greatest entertainer of the producers I've ever worked with. 15 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:52.719 The producer said working with Conan has been a delightful experience. 16 00:00:52.799 --> 00:00:55.039 Conan said, well, we'll see what you're saying on Monday. 17 00:00:55.399 --> 00:00:58.079 The OSCARS team, they're incredible professionals. They know what they're doing, 18 00:00:58.119 --> 00:00:59.640 they do beautiful work, and it's been a thrill for 19 00:00:59.759 --> 00:01:01.960 myself off and from my head writer, Mike Sweeney, and 20 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:04.719 also my lawyer as well. Conan said one of the 21 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:07.599 things that as him the most excited is wearing a tuxedo. 22 00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:09.680 He said, it's the nicest thing I've ever put on 23 00:01:09.760 --> 00:01:13.159 in my life. It's made by High Society. Conan said 24 00:01:13.159 --> 00:01:14.920 it was important to use them because these are the 25 00:01:14.920 --> 00:01:17.560 people that make incredible wardrobe in Los Angeles. I didn't 26 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:19.879 want to go with whatever designer. We wanted to do 27 00:01:19.959 --> 00:01:22.159 something that was from the community, and they made this 28 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:27.760 incredible tuxedo. Another reason Conan accepted incredible lighting. I said 29 00:01:27.799 --> 00:01:29.879 yes to this happily because I wanted to be part 30 00:01:29.879 --> 00:01:31.879 of this magical machine and have for the first time 31 00:01:31.920 --> 00:01:34.519 my life, incredible lighting. Because when I see people on 32 00:01:34.519 --> 00:01:36.200 a mall, all they say is you look so good 33 00:01:36.200 --> 00:01:38.079 in person, what's wrong with you on television? And this 34 00:01:38.159 --> 00:01:40.959 is my chance, so let's get that lighting together. Conan 35 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:44.120 got some advice from Pass hosts, including Billy Crystal and Kimmel. 36 00:01:45.079 --> 00:01:47.280 Conan said, I've spoken with Billy Crystal, who I think 37 00:01:47.319 --> 00:01:49.159 is the als. I'm great and mastered the hosting of 38 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:51.239 the Oscars, in my opinion and will always be top 39 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:54.640 Conan said Kimmel and his wife reached out to Conan 40 00:01:54.680 --> 00:01:57.359 and met him at a restaurant. Conan joked that Kimmel 41 00:01:57.359 --> 00:02:00.200 picked an expensive restaurant and ordered tons of appetizers that 42 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:01.959 I don't need. I don't eat shell fish. He ordered 43 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:04.319 it and then stuck me with a bill while wife 44 00:02:04.359 --> 00:02:06.000 Molly gave me all the pitches and the things I 45 00:02:06.040 --> 00:02:08.680 should know. Molly's the genius in that equation. They've been 46 00:02:08.759 --> 00:02:11.560 very supportive and very helpful, and so that's nice because 47 00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:13.400 I came up in a very different era of late night, 48 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:15.960 when not everybody was chobby and friendly, and he didn't 49 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:17.840 just pick up the phone. So this new era where 50 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:19.800 people are so lovely to each other is something I 51 00:02:19.800 --> 00:02:23.159 don't take for granted. Interesting anecdote about Billy Crystal from 52 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:26.000 the Times interview. Conan said, Billy lost his house in 53 00:02:26.039 --> 00:02:27.639 the fire, and I didn't want to bother him because 54 00:02:27.639 --> 00:02:29.199 I can only imagine. Then I saw him at the 55 00:02:29.199 --> 00:02:30.879 SNL fifty and we had a long talk. So I 56 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:32.520 think I'm going to be texting him to say, hey, 57 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:34.759 maybe here is some jokes things like that. Then he 58 00:02:34.840 --> 00:02:37.479 talked about the dinner with the Kimmel's ConA said things 59 00:02:37.479 --> 00:02:38.960 you wouldn't even think about, Like if you're doing a 60 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:40.879 bit about somebody in act one, make sure they're in 61 00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:43.360 their seat, because sometimes five minutes into the monologue they're 62 00:02:43.360 --> 00:02:45.960 still loading people in. Jimmy said, just make sure you 63 00:02:45.960 --> 00:02:47.840 sit down when you can in between acts, because you're 64 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:49.599 standing the whole three hours and it does start to 65 00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:51.319 wear away at you. So I've had a pair of 66 00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:53.479 metal legs made that I'm going to paint a flush color. 67 00:02:53.759 --> 00:02:55.719 ConA talked about Kimmel at a different piece and said 68 00:02:55.719 --> 00:02:57.680 his tips kept going back to try and sit down. 69 00:02:57.759 --> 00:02:59.360 If you could do the jokes sitting down, do them 70 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:03.319 sitting down? What are you? Franklin roosevelts, it's funny. Conan 71 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:05.639 was on Kimmel's show, and Kimmel said, I wouldn't give 72 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:07.280 you tips on jokes or any of that stuff. I'd 73 00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:09.479 never do anything like that, and asked Conin do you 74 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:11.560 have a tuxedo? Codin said, I have a tuxedo. I'm 75 00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:13.840 going to change out fits fifteen times. How many tuxedos 76 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:16.439 would you wear in a night? Kimmel said, well, what 77 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:18.120 I would have is two jackets, and I would switch 78 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:20.159 into the second jacket, and I always felt dumb about it, 79 00:03:20.199 --> 00:03:22.280 And Conan said, good to known, and he would tie 80 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:25.599 a chair to your butt. Right more Conan, he spoke 81 00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:27.719 to us Weekly and said, I've hosted many awards show 82 00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:29.840 in my life, but the Oscars it's the pinnacle. It's 83 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:31.599 the one you dream about hosting when your child. As 84 00:03:31.639 --> 00:03:33.159 long as the pay is good, I'm looking into that. 85 00:03:33.479 --> 00:03:35.800 What can we expect. There'll be several moments in the 86 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:37.840 Oscars were all be shirtless and oil, and I think 87 00:03:37.919 --> 00:03:41.360 that's going to hurt the program incredibly. My biggest goal 88 00:03:41.639 --> 00:03:44.039 is to enjoy the nine hours of the Oscar telecast. 89 00:03:44.039 --> 00:03:45.520 I think it would be a shame to get the 90 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:47.360 chance to host the Oscars and not have a good time. 91 00:03:47.439 --> 00:03:50.400 So I'll be medicated. Conan said, the biggest hosting lesson 92 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:52.919 he's learned over the years is that mistakes aren't mistakes. 93 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:55.400 I'm someone who hopes that things sometimes go a little 94 00:03:55.400 --> 00:03:57.639 off the rails because that's where the real memorable moments 95 00:03:57.639 --> 00:04:00.319 happen on late night and on the Oscars. Yeah, there 96 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:01.759 is this thing a couple of years ago. I don't 97 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:05.280 know if you remember, remember Will Smith slap Chris Rock. Yeah, 98 00:04:05.319 --> 00:04:08.039 I think we're still talking about that. One Conan says 99 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:11.120 he will address the current political climate during the awards, 100 00:04:11.159 --> 00:04:13.599 but he won't get bogged down in devisive jokes. I 101 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:15.520 think it's host I can't ignore the moment we're in, 102 00:04:15.560 --> 00:04:17.439 but I also have to remember it's threading a needle. 103 00:04:17.480 --> 00:04:19.759 I also have to remember what we're here to celebrate 104 00:04:19.759 --> 00:04:21.800 and fuse the show with positivity and also shine a 105 00:04:21.879 --> 00:04:23.560 light and all those people that have worked incredibly hard, 106 00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:26.439 not just dayless celebrities, but people you never see, craftsmen 107 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:28.319 and crafts people that work hard and have spent years 108 00:04:28.360 --> 00:04:30.639 making the films. But I do with humor, and then 109 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:33.000 I also make sure the night doesn't drift into only 110 00:04:33.079 --> 00:04:36.000 about politics, because I think that's robbing people of something beautiful, 111 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:37.879 hard work that they've done. So it's a difficult line 112 00:04:37.879 --> 00:04:40.120 to walk, but I'm determined to figure it out. We're 113 00:04:40.120 --> 00:04:43.079 told the show we'll have uplifting moments dedicated to la 114 00:04:43.279 --> 00:04:46.680 after January's fires. As for his week putting this together, 115 00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:48.759 it's been a thrill. It's like for the first time 116 00:04:48.759 --> 00:04:51.480 getting to drive a Ferrari. My philosophy on this is 117 00:04:51.519 --> 00:04:53.920 as the host, I'm the spokesperson in a way. I'm 118 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:56.079 the person who's sitting in for anyone who's watching at home. 119 00:04:56.120 --> 00:04:58.920 If something happens it seems awful, funny, or strange, I 120 00:04:58.920 --> 00:05:03.240 should comment on it. Will Conan have a musical opening? 121 00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:06.959 His answer, I can either confirm nor deny anything that's 122 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:09.240 happening anywhere in the show, mostly because I don't know 123 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:11.120 what's going on. I don't come to rehearsal. I hang 124 00:05:11.160 --> 00:05:13.680 out a cheesecake factory which is on Vinen Island. The 125 00:05:13.720 --> 00:05:15.800 whole check here in this business to get people to watch, 126 00:05:15.800 --> 00:05:17.959 to see what's gonna happen. See, this is the mistake 127 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:19.680 I used to make. I used to tell people exactly 128 00:05:19.759 --> 00:05:21.160 what I was going to do long before I did it, 129 00:05:21.160 --> 00:05:23.360 and no one tuned in. Then I learned, oh, don't 130 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:25.399 tell people what you're gonna do. A magician taught me 131 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:28.920 that The New York Times profiled Conan. Conan had to 132 00:05:28.920 --> 00:05:31.439 evacuate his home during the fires. His wife called and 133 00:05:31.480 --> 00:05:33.480 asked what to save. His only thought was a nineteen 134 00:05:33.560 --> 00:05:37.040 eighty letter from author E. B. White, Conan had written 135 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:39.519 to him as a teenage fan. Conan said, and he 136 00:05:39.560 --> 00:05:41.319 wrote me back a really sweet letter. So I said, 137 00:05:41.399 --> 00:05:43.680 just grab that if the rest goes, it goes. Conan 138 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:46.600 is still living in a hotel. His preparation for hosting 139 00:05:46.680 --> 00:05:49.560 the Oscars has included bringing in ten of his own writers, 140 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:52.319 running jokes by the crew, and dropping into clubs in 141 00:05:52.480 --> 00:05:55.560 LA to try out the material. You know now that 142 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:58.040 I'm thinking, I'll tell you. I had reached out to 143 00:05:58.120 --> 00:06:00.079 Smigel's camp to see if I get him on to 144 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:01.959 talk about Night of Too Many Stars, and I got 145 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:05.639 silence back, probably because Smigel's probably working with Conan on this, 146 00:06:05.800 --> 00:06:09.399 now that I think about it. That said, professionally, a 147 00:06:09.480 --> 00:06:11.920 non response is just the worst thing high Night of 148 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:14.240 Too Many Stars. Just write me back and say, like, 149 00:06:14.360 --> 00:06:16.560 the dude's busy, or we hate your show, or nobody 150 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:18.839 listens to your show. We're not doing that. Non Responses 151 00:06:18.920 --> 00:06:21.759 aren't cool if you work professionally in the industry. No 152 00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:23.839 is a perfectly good answer. Hey do you want to 153 00:06:23.839 --> 00:06:26.839 host the Oscars? No? Hey do you want to host 154 00:06:26.839 --> 00:06:28.240 the Oscars? Well, I'll get back to you, or let 155 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:29.879 me think about it. That's not good. It's seem like 156 00:06:29.920 --> 00:06:32.040 with your friends, do you want to hang out Saturday night? No? 157 00:06:32.439 --> 00:06:33.959 Just tell them no. If you don't want to hang out. 158 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:37.160 Just no is a fine answer anyway. Hopefully I'll hear 159 00:06:37.160 --> 00:06:40.240 from the Smigel people. I'm just genuinely interested in the 160 00:06:40.279 --> 00:06:43.040 event and what goes into the event, and in the 161 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:45.319 most positive way. You raise some money, where does the 162 00:06:45.319 --> 00:06:48.000 money go? I don't mean that like I'm hosting sixty minutes. 163 00:06:48.120 --> 00:06:49.519 I don't mean it like where does the money go? 164 00:06:49.639 --> 00:06:51.120 I mean like, oh, where does the money go? You? Guys, 165 00:06:51.160 --> 00:06:52.480 guys seem like you're doing a good thing. You'd like 166 00:06:52.519 --> 00:06:55.000 to learn more about it. So smigle camp, someone get 167 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:56.399 back to me if you want to tell me. Nobody 168 00:06:56.399 --> 00:06:59.000 listen to the podcast. That's fine. I have digressed to 169 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:01.600 Conan brought in ten writer is one of them, possibly 170 00:07:01.839 --> 00:07:05.399 perhaps maybe who knows Robert Smigel to work on the jokes. 171 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:07.360 They've been running jokes by the crew and dropping in 172 00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:09.560 at clubs in LA to try out material. But they've 173 00:07:09.560 --> 00:07:12.079 been keeping that on the DL. I haven't heard a 174 00:07:12.199 --> 00:07:14.879 thing about that. That'll probably come out next week. Interesting 175 00:07:14.920 --> 00:07:17.319 that that hasn't leaked at all. Conan said, I started 176 00:07:17.319 --> 00:07:19.800 seriously writing comedy around the time I was eighteen, and 177 00:07:19.839 --> 00:07:21.560 that's what I think about all the time. But he 178 00:07:21.560 --> 00:07:23.800 says there's no formula. It's frustrating, but it's not math. 179 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:25.480 He can't prove it. The only way to find out 180 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:27.720 is to try it on people. He also wouldn't tell 181 00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:29.839 The Times if he's doing a musical number or an 182 00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:34.600 opening montage. My guess one hundred percent, Yes, one hundred percent. 183 00:07:34.680 --> 00:07:36.839 I have no doubt he will do something musical and 184 00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:39.240 goofy to open up. But Conan says nothing's in stone. 185 00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:41.439 I'm leaving every possibility on the table. I have choices 186 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:43.879 right now. We'll see what happens. Conan got a little 187 00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:46.560 more serious with The Times. I said yes, because I'm nostalgic, 188 00:07:46.600 --> 00:07:48.720 particularly now about my childhood. The biggest thrill I've had 189 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:50.399 in my career is meeting the celebrities that were on 190 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:52.279 my TV when I was a little boy. So when 191 00:07:52.319 --> 00:07:54.519 I met Don Knats, I lost my mind. When I 192 00:07:54.519 --> 00:07:56.240 met Tom Cruise, I was happy and he was lovely 193 00:07:56.279 --> 00:07:58.160 to me, but it couldn't have the same impact as 194 00:07:58.160 --> 00:08:00.519 Don Knots, and I remember watching Johnny car Person hosts 195 00:08:00.519 --> 00:08:03.040 the Oscars and that being a big deal. The entertainment 196 00:08:03.079 --> 00:08:05.040 landscape has changed a lot. I told Billy Crystal, you 197 00:08:05.079 --> 00:08:06.360 hit a note that I don't think you can hit 198 00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:09.040 anymore because when people tuned into his Oscars, everyone had 199 00:08:09.079 --> 00:08:11.120 seen the movies. He was parrotying, it's not the communal 200 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:13.480 campfire that maybe it once was. But I still think 201 00:08:13.480 --> 00:08:15.959 the Oscars is meaning really good cinema, especially when it's 202 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:18.600 from different countries, different points of view, as an incredible 203 00:08:18.600 --> 00:08:20.600 amount of residence and importance right now, and this is 204 00:08:20.600 --> 00:08:22.399 the night that celebrates that. To be part of it 205 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:24.600 is meaningful to me. I don't think of it as 206 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:26.839 a thankless task. Even if I just do it once 207 00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:28.680 and no one's interested in me in doing it again, 208 00:08:29.079 --> 00:08:31.360 it'll have been a meaningful experience for me. My parents 209 00:08:31.399 --> 00:08:33.159 aren't here to see it. Yeah, they passed away last year, 210 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:34.480 but I know it would have been a huge deal 211 00:08:34.519 --> 00:08:36.639 to them. I was able to tell my father and 212 00:08:36.679 --> 00:08:39.399 he was impressed. He probably wondered, couldn't they find someone else. 213 00:08:39.879 --> 00:08:42.120 ConA told people I have a really great photograph of 214 00:08:42.120 --> 00:08:43.960 my parents laughing in the audience, an event I did 215 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:46.080 years ago, and I realized early on the original reason 216 00:08:46.120 --> 00:08:48.000 anybody gets into comedy is just trying to make our 217 00:08:48.039 --> 00:08:50.639 parents laugh. I used to think to myself sometimes, Huh, 218 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:52.799 why would I continue doing comedy. If my parents aren't 219 00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:55.720 here anymore, I'll still be thinking about them on Oscar 220 00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:57.919 night and trying to get them to laugh. That's kind 221 00:08:57.919 --> 00:09:00.519 of a comfort. It's also more pressure in case in 222 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:02.679 the hereafter they don't like it, and they let me know. 223 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:04.799 When your parents go through all that effort to travel 224 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:06.679 through space, time and the mists of mystery to tell 225 00:09:06.679 --> 00:09:08.679 you they didn't love it, that's a crushing blow. So 226 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:11.360 I've really got to nail it. The topic of politics 227 00:09:11.399 --> 00:09:13.639 came up again. Conan said, it's all about threading the needle. 228 00:09:13.639 --> 00:09:15.639 I'm there really to talk about the films, to talk 229 00:09:15.639 --> 00:09:17.639 about the industry, and yeah, there's gonna be political jokes 230 00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:19.440 here and there. There have to be. But if it's 231 00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:21.519 a screed, I'm doing a disservice to everybody. I'm actually 232 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:23.240 doing a disservice to the people who might agree with 233 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:26.080 the screed. In my opinion, however, anyone voted should not 234 00:09:26.159 --> 00:09:28.600 be a prerequisite for whether you enjoy the show. I 235 00:09:28.600 --> 00:09:31.559 feel very strongly about that. What's Conan the most nervous 236 00:09:31.559 --> 00:09:34.360 about getting the tone right. The tone's been shifting a 237 00:09:34.360 --> 00:09:36.679 lot in LA and people love to project their agenda 238 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:38.720 on a big show. The thing I think the most 239 00:09:38.759 --> 00:09:40.639 about is how the ground can shift between when I'm 240 00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:43.679 talking to you. This is the New York Times and 241 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:46.639 this is by Molna Rizzicks. I'm not friend of the show, 242 00:09:46.759 --> 00:09:49.600 Jason Zinneman. Perhaps Malayna could become a friend of the show, 243 00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:51.240 but ConA wants to get the tone right. The tone 244 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:52.639 has been shifting a lot in LA. The thing I 245 00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:54.320 think about the most is how the ground can shift 246 00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:56.080 between when I'm talking to you and when the show happens. 247 00:09:56.120 --> 00:09:58.639 Moods can change, currents can change. I want to make 248 00:09:58.679 --> 00:10:00.799 sure that I have my intenta up forever, and I'm 249 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:02.440 gonna be doing that right up until they tap me 250 00:10:02.440 --> 00:10:03.919 on the shoulder to go out. So I just hope 251 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:05.639 I'm able to ride it like a wave, because there's 252 00:10:05.720 --> 00:10:08.320 so much about it that I can't manifest. Now just 253 00:10:08.440 --> 00:10:10.799 gonna happen. It's what excites me and worries me, and 254 00:10:10.799 --> 00:10:13.120 that in a nutshell my life, I'm drawn to things 255 00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:15.240 that scare me. They excite me and they scare me. 256 00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:17.080 I love them and I dread them, and it keeps flipping. 257 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:19.320 And they haven't made a medication yet that will fix it. 258 00:10:19.879 --> 00:10:22.000 I think the surprise for America is people are gonna 259 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:23.759 look at this and say, that's one of the most 260 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:27.080 attractive men alive. Some more odds and ends from Conan. 261 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:28.879 I'm gonna go to the audience and I'm gonna shave 262 00:10:28.919 --> 00:10:31.879 a Stanley Tucci's chest. He hasn't consented, He's heard about it, 263 00:10:31.960 --> 00:10:34.120 he said no, but I'm still gonna do it. Conan said, 264 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:36.360 the Oscar audience can expect to say something new. I 265 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:38.519 don't care if my ideas are bad ideas. I care 266 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:40.039 that they're new and you haven't seen it before. You 267 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:42.000 know what I mean. Wrestling the giant Kobra, you know, 268 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:44.320 for the first time on stage hasn't been done. I 269 00:10:44.360 --> 00:10:46.519 can sing, I can dance, I can do close up magic. 270 00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:48.840 I'm a contortionist. You don't know what I'm gonna do. 271 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:52.279 Anything can happen at any time. The Hollywood Reporter caught 272 00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:54.919 up with the producers of the Oscars, Raj Kapor and 273 00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:58.799 Katie Milan. Katie told The Hollywood Reporter, We've been preparing 274 00:10:58.799 --> 00:11:00.480 for the show for months and months and nights, and 275 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:02.559 then what happened in January caused us to do a 276 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:04.759 rethink of a lot of the elements and really think, Okay, 277 00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:06.799 how do we acknowledge it, the fires, how do we 278 00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:08.320 reflect on it? And also how do we give the 279 00:11:08.360 --> 00:11:10.080 people the ability work so hard and have so much 280 00:11:10.120 --> 00:11:11.519 talent to be able to walk on that stage and 281 00:11:11.559 --> 00:11:14.159 still seize their moments. So, yeah, it's been an interesting 282 00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:16.279 and difficult couple of months and we just really hope 283 00:11:16.279 --> 00:11:18.360 this year's show kind of helps heal and it's a 284 00:11:18.360 --> 00:11:21.360 bit of a love letter to la. Kapoor also was 285 00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:24.759 a producer on this year's Grammys. The Grammars were acclaimed 286 00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:28.320 for the way they handled La. Kapoor said, it's definitely 287 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:31.159 influenced our show. We have moments that definitely acknowledge the fires, 288 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:33.240 what has happened. It's kind of our unique spin on 289 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:35.360 how we acknowledge that. But there will be at least 290 00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:37.039 three moments when the show that touch on it and 291 00:11:37.080 --> 00:11:39.759 hopefully have some messaging that may be inspiring. Then you know, 292 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:42.559 a charitable component with the Motion Picture Academy and the 293 00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:45.320 charities they're supporting, and then there's a way that Conan 294 00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:47.960 will acknowledge it. So throughout the evening there's gonna be 295 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:50.159 some touchstones to acknowledge because so many people in the room. 296 00:11:50.200 --> 00:11:52.120 So many people in the film industry have been impacted 297 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:54.639 by it, and I think almost everybody in LA knows 298 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:57.000 somebody who's experienced some sort of loss or impact. So 299 00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:58.720 we feel that it's very prudent that we acknowledge it 300 00:11:58.759 --> 00:12:00.639 and make it part of our show. We also have 301 00:12:00.679 --> 00:12:02.639 the Oscars to produce. We have twenty three awards to 302 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:04.840 give out, and we want to really honor everybody who's 303 00:12:04.840 --> 00:12:06.960 nominated and have the unique things that make the Oscars 304 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:10.679 the Oscars. Milan talked about what Conan's up to and said, 305 00:12:10.679 --> 00:12:12.279 there's a lot of ideas and he's a great team. 306 00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:13.840 People have been cooking them up for weeks and weeks 307 00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:15.960 and weeks. What we have at the moment is probably 308 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:17.639 way too many, but we love that because then we 309 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:19.080 can whittle it down to the best of the best 310 00:12:19.080 --> 00:12:21.200 for the show. Some of them are pre taped, a 311 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:22.919 lot of them are live in the room. I think 312 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:25.399 Conan is just so beloved and he has such great 313 00:12:25.399 --> 00:12:27.360 connections with pretty much everybody who's going to be in 314 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:29.879 that audience. So seeing that from the stage and allowing 315 00:12:29.960 --> 00:12:31.840 him to kind of really own the room and give 316 00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:33.480 everybody license in the room and have a good time. 317 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:36.000 It's crucial and key. But you know what we love 318 00:12:36.039 --> 00:12:38.039 about Conan in his styles that he always comes up 319 00:12:38.039 --> 00:12:40.840 with something unexpected. We're going to pepper that throughout the show. 320 00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:42.720 So yes, there will be some pretapes. There's definitely going 321 00:12:42.759 --> 00:12:44.919 to be some unexpected moments, and there are probably some 322 00:12:44.919 --> 00:12:47.120 surprises we haven't even thought of yet because it's a 323 00:12:47.159 --> 00:12:51.240 constantly evolving creative process. At the moment. Oscar writer Bruce 324 00:12:51.320 --> 00:12:54.759 Valange talked to The Hollywood Reporter about some of what 325 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:57.320 goes on in making one of these things. They asked 326 00:12:57.320 --> 00:12:59.919 the question kind of similar to what Trevor Noa talked 327 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:01.360 about that I played the clip the other day. Do 328 00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:02.679 you play to the room or do you to play 329 00:13:02.679 --> 00:13:06.399 the people at home? Bruce said, you make it work 330 00:13:06.440 --> 00:13:08.840 for the house meeting the people in the room, because 331 00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:11.600 if the house is enjoying it, that spirit is seen 332 00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:13.679 by people at home watching it, and they kind of 333 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:15.519 get into the fact that it's working, and even though 334 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:18.039 they might not know every reference is being made, there'll 335 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:20.360 be enough you have to calibrate. His advice for any 336 00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:22.720 Oscar Night host, I always tell hosts to front load 337 00:13:22.759 --> 00:13:24.799 the show because for everybody who wins. There are four 338 00:13:24.840 --> 00:13:26.519 people who don't, and as the evening wears on, the 339 00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:28.720 room fills up with losers, and they're not listening to you. 340 00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:31.759 They're texting, firing their agent, firing their dentist, whoever. So 341 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:33.399 you're not gonna get the laughs you got. And many 342 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:35.759 times the camera cuts to where Eddie Murphy was sitting 343 00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:37.679 and now it's a lady who bought a dress from 344 00:13:37.720 --> 00:13:40.039 TJ Max that you got for the occasion. You better 345 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:42.600 do this strong stuff up front because you're not gonna 346 00:13:42.600 --> 00:13:45.240 build as the show goes on. All right, Bruce, what 347 00:13:45.399 --> 00:13:48.600 makes a great Oscar host? And guys, you know I 348 00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:53.039 don't preread these things half the time. Ah, I didn't 349 00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:56.360 set this up. I'm laughing. Let me answer. Bruce said, Well, 350 00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:58.759 what Joe Cooy proved at the Golden Globes is you 351 00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:00.360 have to be a big star. I'm not going to 352 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:02.879 do it. Scott Becker, relax because if you're gonna make 353 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:04.320 fun of big stars, they have to feel as if 354 00:14:04.320 --> 00:14:06.000 you're on their level. There's a very short list of 355 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:08.159 people who can do that. Generally, no one wants to 356 00:14:08.200 --> 00:14:10.120 do it. Bruce is they're an upside of hosting an 357 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:13.159 Award Show. Hey, if you're Nicki Glazer, there's a great upside. 358 00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:16.039 And she wasn't mean. She calibrated her stuff. Her act 359 00:14:16.080 --> 00:14:17.960 is very dirty and she was being a nice girl, 360 00:14:17.960 --> 00:14:19.639 but she had a little edge to it. I don't 361 00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:21.639 know if it would have worked on the Oscars necessarily, 362 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:23.720 because while it's the same crowd, there's more pomp and 363 00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:26.399 ceremony to this thing. Listen to this question, who was 364 00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:28.559 the worst Oscar host that you had to work with? 365 00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:31.240 Bruce Flanche said, well, I had a problem with Ellen, 366 00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:34.279 but that's because she was I think she was scared. 367 00:14:34.679 --> 00:14:37.000 Hollywood Reporter seems you weren't the only one to have 368 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:39.159 had a hard time working with Ellen. Bruce said, yeah, 369 00:14:39.159 --> 00:14:41.279 I had no idea. She isolated herself a lot. It 370 00:14:41.320 --> 00:14:42.879 was not fun and I like her. I've known her 371 00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:45.240 for years and she was always fun, but I think 372 00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:47.360 the burden of everything that happened to her changed her. 373 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:49.399 I think she was a little risk averse, even though 374 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:51.000 she was now on her own talk show and everything 375 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:52.519 about her was out and the public loved her. I 376 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:54.480 think she was very protective and wanted her people around 377 00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:56.639 her and that was it. So that was the only 378 00:14:56.639 --> 00:14:59.440 one that was really difficult. Bruce R. People ever warned 379 00:14:59.480 --> 00:15:01.759 that they're going be made fun of. He said, no, 380 00:15:01.960 --> 00:15:04.120 Elizabeth Taylor was the real exception. It was because it 381 00:15:04.120 --> 00:15:06.519 was a joke about a personal life. Billy Crystal was 382 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:08.840 introducing al Pacino and he said, this is al Pacino's 383 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:11.200 eighth nomination and he's never won. He' said more people 384 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:14.159 cry out another man's name than anybody except Larry Fortinski. 385 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:18.440 That was Elizabeth Taylor's seventh husband and longtime Oscar telecast 386 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:21.000 director Gil Kate says, it's hysterical. You have to call 387 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:24.000 Elizabeth because it's a sex joke about her. Anyway, he 388 00:15:24.039 --> 00:15:25.679 called her and told her the joke, and she said, 389 00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:33.159 who's Larry. That's great. They're really nothing comedy specific other 390 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:35.720 than the whole conan of it all. In case you're curious, 391 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:37.480 you're in an Oscar's mood if you're still listening to 392 00:15:37.480 --> 00:15:39.759 me twenty minutes in. The nominees for Best Picture are 393 00:15:39.799 --> 00:15:43.200 Anora The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown Conclave, Dune Part two, 394 00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:46.399 Amelia Perez, I'm still here, Nicol Boy's The Substance, and Wicked. 395 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:48.559 The only one of those I've seen is Dune Part two, 396 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:50.320 and I didn't think it was that good, so don't 397 00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:52.759 ask me what the best picture is. And as I 398 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:56.840 record this late on Thursday afternoon, I'm now realizing they're 399 00:15:56.919 --> 00:16:00.480 probably scrambling to put together something for the Great Gene 400 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:03.720 Hackman that is quite developing new stories. I record on 401 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:06.480