Adrien Brody left a memorable impression at the 97th Academy Awards for more reasons than one.
The actor, 52, became a two-time Oscar winner after he took home the award for Best Actor for his leading role in The Brutalist. His acceptance speech that followed broke the record for the longest acceptance speech in Oscar history.
But if it were up to Conan O’Brien, the ceremony’s host, 61, the night would have also included a playful jab at the five minutes and 40 seconds long acceptance speech.
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The comedian confessed he was “very close” to making a joke about the history-making speech in a preview of the April 20th episode of the his Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast obtained by the New York Post.
O’Brien said he felt that the opportunity to make a joke about Brody’s speech was “such a softball hanging there and I thought, ‘Ehh.’ ”
“For a second I almost said that speech needed an intermission. Then I thought, ‘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!’ ” he said, per the outlet.
According to the New York Post, the topic came up after O’Brien mentioned that “the most important” thing about being funny during a speech is “length.”
O’Brien did manage to tell one joke about Brody’s speech in a press release announcing his return to host the 98th annual Academy Awards.
“The only reason I’m hosting the Oscars next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech,” he said in a statement.
During the highly buzzed-about acceptance speech, Brody thanked his family and loved ones, including his partner Georgina Chapman and her two children.
He also acknowledged the length of the speech, asking for more time on stage as the play-off music began to play.
“I’m wrapping up, please, please, please. I’m wrapping up. I will wrap up. Please. 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,” he said at one point.
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The 98th Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
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