Conan O’Brien wrapped up this year’s Oscars with a word of support to his pal Martin Short: “We Love You Martin Short!” he shouted from the Dolby Theatre stage as he signed off the telecast.
Short postponed his comedy tour with Steve Martin following the death of his daughter Katherine Short, who died last month at the age of 42 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
After his daughter’s death, Short and Martin postponed upcoming dates for their “The Best of Steve Martin & Martin Short.” It’s unclear when the tour will resume, although dates starting in April are listed on Martin’s website.
“It is with profound grief that we confirm the passing of Katherine Hartley Short,” Martin Short’s rep said last month in a statement. “The Short family is devastated by this loss, and asks for privacy at this time. Katherine was beloved by all and will be remembered for the light and joy she brought into the world.”
Short also recently suffered the loss of his “SCTV” co-star Catherine O’Hara, who died in January.
Short has been a frequent guest of O’Brien’s through the years, including on O’Brien’s “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” podcast. Here’s an episode from eight months ago:
And he’s a time Short appeared on “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” in 2002:
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This repped the second year that O’Brien hosted the Oscars, which aired live Sunday night on ABC and Hulu. O’Brien opened the show by taking aim Hollywood figures including Timothée Chalamet, Ted Sarandos and more.
O’Brien also got serious at a point, noting that “tonight is an international event. If I can be serious for just a moment, everyone watching right now around the world is all too aware that these are very chaotic, frightening times. It’s at moments like these that I believe the Oscars are particularly resonant. 31 countries across six continents are represented this evening. And every film we salute is the product of thousands of people speaking different languages, working hard to make something of beauty. We pay tribute tonight not just to film but to the ideals of global artistry, collaboration, patience, resilience, and that rarest of qualities today, optimism.”
O’Brien opened the show with a pre-taped segment where he was made up as Amy Madigan’s Aunt Gladys from “Weapons,” and then ended the show with another pre-taped segment, in which he was offered the gig of hosting the Oscars “for life” — but then was sent to a nondescript office where he was poisoned with gas and then cremated, just like Sean Penn’s character in “One Battle After Another.”
From Variety US