‘Simpsons’ Fans Got Big Monorail Vibes From Conan O’Brien’s Opening Song

Everyone is talking about the big musical number that opened the Academy Awards — not the Wizard of Oz/Wicked medley performed by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, we’re talking about Conan O’Brien’s “I Won’t Waste Time” song. 

Conan wrapped up his monologue with an elaborate song-and-dance routine in which he repeatedly promised not to squander any precious airtime, complete with background dancers, a guy in a Deadpool costume and a piano-playing sandworm from Dune.

Oscar hosts belting out songs isn’t always comedy gold, lest we forget Billy Crystal’s many, many, many medleys, or Seth MacFarlane’s unfortunate “We Saw Your Boobs.” Although Hugh Jackman did use his opening song to unload a particularly harsh burn. 

But Conan’s composition didn’t try to comment on every single Best Picture nominee, nor was it a sweaty attempt to be button-pushing. It was simply ridiculous for the sake of being ridiculous, and exactly the type of abject silliness that Conan’s fans were likely hoping for tonight. It also reminded some viewers of another musical number that’s closely associated with O’Brien: “The Monorail Song.”

The show tune from The Simpsons’ surprisingly controversial classic episode “Marge vs. the Monorail” was co-written by O’Brien, who penned the episode. And Conan himself performed “The Monorail Song” during The Simpsons Take the Hollywood Bowl live show. 

While he didn’t don a straw hat and a red jacket, Conan similarly brought out an old-timey cane for his Oscars performance. And, as a lot of Simpsons fans pointed out on social media, the random musical interjection certainly felt of a piece with the Monorail routine from 32 years ago. 

Incidentally, the song, and the episode itself, were inspired by the Broadway musical The Music Man — and the 1962 film adaptation was nominated six Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It ultimately lost the big prize, presumably because it didn’t include any doomed public transit systems.