Conan O’Brien’s monologue at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday night was repeatedly interrupted by advertisements for a tactical flashlight, a moment that highlighted the impending shift of the Oscars to streaming on YouTube in 2029.
During a segment discussing the future of the awards show, O’Brien’s attempt to reassure the audience about the transition was cut short by an ad featuring actor Jane Lynch promoting the flashlight, described in the advertisement as the same model that “killed Osama bin Laden.” After briefly resuming, O’Brien was again interrupted by another ad featuring Lynch. “Sorry about that, but, like I said, I don’t consider Here’s going to change the Oscars at all,” he quipped following the second interruption, as reported by Deadline.
The incident occurred as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences prepares for a significant change in how the Oscars are broadcast. In December 2025, the Academy announced an exclusive, multiyear deal with YouTube, beginning with the 101st Academy Awards in 2029 and extending through 2033. This marks the end of a decades-long partnership with ABC, which has aired the telecast since the 1970s.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor stated that the partnership with YouTube would “leverage YouTube’s vast reach and infuse the Oscars and other Academy programming with innovative opportunities for engagement while honoring our legacy.” The move reflects YouTube’s growing influence in the television and video streaming landscape, having turn into the leading platform for U.S. Streaming television viewing, according to Nielsen.
Elsewhere at the 98th Oscars, actor Timothée Chalamet was the subject of several jokes, stemming from recent comments he made during a CNN and Variety town hall with Matthew McConaughey. Chalamet had described ballet and opera as outdated art forms, stating, “No one cares about this anymore.” O’Brien referenced this during his opening monologue, joking about a heightened security presence due to potential backlash from the “opera and ballet communities.”
The awards also saw a rare tie for Best Live Action Short Film, with both The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva receiving the honor. Presenter Kumail Nanjiani explained the procedure for awarding the prize to both winners. This was only the seventh tie in Oscars history, with the last occurring in 2013 for Best Sound Editing, shared by Zero Dark Thirty and Skyfall.
One Battle After Another was the night’s biggest winner, taking home six Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. Paul Thomas Anderson, accepting the Best Picture award, simply stated, “What a night. Let’s have a martini.” Sinners, which led with a record 16 nominations, won four awards, including a Best Actor win for Michael B. Jordan and a historic win for Autumn Durald Arkapaw as the first woman to win the award for achievement in cinematography.
