Hosted by Conan O’Brien for the second c0nsecutive year, the 98th Oscars are being broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre on ABC and Hulu.

Executive producing this year’s show are Raj Kapoor Katy Mullan. They are joined by co-executive producer Rob Paine and producers Jeff Ross, Mike Sweeney, Taryn Hurd, and Sarah Levine Hall. Hamish Hamilton is directing. Writers for this year’s show include Amberia Allen, José Arroyo, Josh Comers, Dan Cronin, Jessie Gaskell, Skyler Higley, Berkley Johnson, Ian Karmel, Brian Kiley, Laurie Kilmartin, Carol Leifer, Todd Levin, Jon Macks, Conan O’Brien, Matt O’Brien, Agathe Panaretos and Mike Sweeney.

Also returning to the show’s production team are music director Michael Bearden, production designers Misty Buckley and Alana Billingsley, lighting designers Bob Dickinson and Noah Mitz and supervising choreographer Mandy Moore.

In previous years, I have provided live updates throughout the Oscars broadcast, posting winners as they are announced. However, tonight conflicts with both Selection Sunday and the World Baseball Classic semifinals (Team USA vs. Dominican Republic). I’m a baseball fan and there’s no substitute for the thrill of watching live sports. it’s not the same as watching tape-delayed. Let’s be honest in that awards season is stretched out way too long to the point that they have become way too predictable in prior years. This year might be the first year in a while in which Best Picture is an actual toss-up for Best Picture between One Battle After Another and Sinners.

Cute start by Conan. The monologue got serious for a bit but a few nice jokes in there, highlighted by an expensive mountain set that took from Josh Groban’s fee.

Back from commercial break and Conan takes a dig at the attempt to illegally rename the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.

Will Arnett: “Tonight we are celebrating people, not A.I.” This will go down as one of the highlight quotes of the night.

Ventura Crossroads Labs uses sophisticated A.I. technology to preserve film history for the smartphone generation. Thanks to the skinny presentation, their name is displayed as TURDS. It’s not a way to watch a movie.

With The Devil Wears Prada 2 opening in May, it’s only right that Anne Hathaway is one of the presents for costume design.

And the winner is…

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Amy Madigan in “Weapons” (Warner Bros.)

Best animated feature film of the year
“KPop Demon Hunters” (Netflix) Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans and Michelle L.M. Wong

Best animated short film
“The Girl Who Cried Pearls” (National Film Board of Canada) Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski

Achievement in costume design
“Frankenstein” (Netflix) Kate Hawley

Achievement in makeup and hairstyling
“Frankenstein” (Netflix) Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel and Cliona Furey

Achievement in casting
“One Battle after Another” (Warner Bros.) Cassandra Kulukundis

The 98th Oscars are taking place on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC, Hulu, and in more than 200 territories worldwide.

Please subscribe to Solzy on Buttondown and visit Dugout Dirt.