The Oscars began with a jolt of offbeat comedy as Conan O’Brien introduced the ceremony through a sketch inspired by the Beastie Boys’ Sabotage video. The opening used the style of the famous clip to launch the show with a louder, more playful tone than a standard monologue.
The bit recreated the gritty, over-the-top energy of the original clip, complete with exaggerated action scenes, fake mustaches, and dramatic slow-motion shots. The segment played out like a parody crime show from the 1970s, echoing the visual style that made the Sabotage video so recognizable when it first appeared in the mid-1990s.
The performance leaned heavily into physical comedy. O’Brien and several participants ran through staged chases and mock confrontations, building the same chaotic momentum that defined the original music video. The familiar aesthetic, from vintage camera angles to stylized costumes, helped anchor the parody.
The opening aimed to set a playful tone for the ceremony, blending music nostalgia with the kind of sketch comedy O’Brien has long been known for. The segment quickly stood out as one of the broadcast’s most talked-about moments.