And let’s get this straight – Conan O’Brien’s joke about standing up to a powerful Russian at the 97th Academy Awards was not just a joke, it was a cleverly veiled dig at Donald Trump‘s relationship with Vladimir Putin – and honestly, who can blame him? I mean, have you seen the way Trump and Putin are always buddying up together? It’s like they’re trying to win some kind of award for “Most Likely to Start a Global Crisis.”
But, I digress – Conan’s joke was actually pretty brilliant, considering it was all about the Oscars and how Americans are excited to see somebody finally stand up to a powerful Russian – which, let’s be real, is basically the plot of every action movie ever made. And, of course, the joke drew both laughs and applause from the audience, because who doesn’t love a good Cinderella story about a young sex worker from Brooklyn who marries the son of an oligarch and then has to deal with his crazy parents? (Side note: has anyone seen Crazy Rich Asians? Because that movie is basically the same thing, but with more rom-com vibes.)
And, as an aside, can we talk about how Anora is literally the best movie ever? I mean, it’s all about a young woman who gets her chance at a fairytale life, but then has to deal with the harsh realities of being married to a rich guy with crazy parents – it’s like, totally relatable, right? (Just kidding, sort of.) But seriously, the movie’s success at the Oscars is no surprise, considering how much people love a good underdog story – and let’s be real, who doesn’t love an underdog story about a young woman who stands up to a powerful Russian oligarch?
But, back to Conan’s joke – which, by the way, was basically the line of the night. I mean, who needs stand-up comedy when you have Conan O’Brien making jokes about Trump and Putin at the Oscars? It’s like, the ultimate roast – and honestly, I’m a little surprised Trump didn’t have a Twitter meltdown about it afterwards. (Although, let’s be real, that’s probably just a matter of time.)
And, as a final aside, can we talk about how Volodymyr Zelensky is basically the ultimate hero? I mean, the guy is literally fighting against Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, and still manages to show up to meetings with Trump and JD Vance with a smile on his face. It’s like, the ultimate diplomacy – and honestly, I think we could all learn a thing or two from his example. (Just saying.)