Conan O’Brien Came ‘Very Close’ to Mocking Adrien Brody’s Nearly 6-Minute Speech at 2025 Oscars: It ‘Needed an Intermission’

Conan O’Brien Raises Eyebrows with Almost Joking about Adrien Brody’s Lengthy Speech at Oscars

Conan O’Brien found himself on the brink of poking fun at Adrien Brody’s epic acceptance speech at the Oscars. The 97th Academy Awards saw Brody, 52, snag his second Oscar win for Best Actor in the movie “The Brutalist.” However, it was his speech that stole the show, breaking records for being the longest speech in Oscar history, clocking in at nearly six minutes.

The host of the evening, Conan O’Brien, confessed on his podcast, ‘Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,’ that he was tempted to make a quip about Brody’s extended speech. O’Brien admitted feeling that the opportunity to crack a joke was too easy to pass up, stating, “For a second I almost said that speech needed an intermission.”

However, O’Brien ultimately opted to forego the joke, considering the aftermath Brody might face. He noted, “I’m going to see him in a minute. And his payback is coming from the world. People telling him for the rest of his life, ‘Why, Why!'” It seems the line between humor and diplomacy was a fine one for O’Brien that night.

The topic resurfaced when O’Brien highlighted the importance of speech length in humor during a press release announcing his return to host the 98th Oscars. With a hint of jest, O’Brien quipped, “The only reason I’m hosting the Oscars next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech.”

During Brody’s lengthy acceptance speech, he took the time to thank his family, including his partner Georgina Chapman and her children. As the play-off music began, he humorously requested more time on stage, promising to wrap up swiftly. Brody urged, “Turn the music off. I’ve done this before. Thank you. It’s not my first rodeo, but I will — I will be brief. I will not be egregious. I promise.”

The 98th Academy Awards are scheduled for Sunday, March 15, 2026. As the event approaches, it remains to be seen if the banter between Brody and O’Brien will continue, or if a new memorable moment will steal the spotlight.

Despite the light-hearted potential for humor, both Brody and O’Brien showed grace and wit in handling the situation. As Hollywood gears up for another star-studded Oscars night, the anticipation for moments that will live on in awards show history only grows. Stay tuned as the countdown to the 98th Oscars begins, with all eyes on what surprises the evening may bring.