John Mulaney proves he should host all awards shows with hilarious pre-Oscars Governors Awards monologue

Though the Governors Awards are not televised, they remain one of the most celebratory and meaningful nights of awards season.

Tuesday night's ceremony — which awarded honorary Oscars to Mel Brooks, Angela Bassett, editor Carol Littleton, and founder of the Sundance Lab Michelle Satter — was no exception, bringing laughs, rousing speeches, surprise musical performances, and tears to Hollywood's Dolby ballroom.

There was plenty of A-lister hobnobbing — Emily Blunt helping Cillian Murphy hunt for his lost cell phone; Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper having an enthusiastic, lengthy conversation (could there be a collaboration in their future?); and Natalie Portman chasing down America Ferrera to give her a hug.

But the night's true highlights were in the heartfelt, hilarious, and moving moments on stage. So much so, that it's a real shame the evening is smushed into a brief clip package on the Oscars broadcast and not given its own airing à la the AFI Life Achievement ceremony on TCM.

John Mulaney gives good host

After Jo Koy's disastrous outing at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday night, one could once again see the argument for going hostless at an awards show. But John Mulaney — who was a surprise reveal once the ceremony got underway — reset the tone for the season with a killer set that was a master class in how to poke fun at the year's films and the absurdity of the industry without reaching for the low-hanging fruit.

He joked about Maestro with a quippy line about how the film's original title was "Bye, Felicia!" and poked fun at Cooper's six-year commitment to learning accurate conducting. Later, he riffed on Cooper's much-discussed prosthetic nose as Leonard Bernstein, joking that the same guy who did Cooper's makeup did honoree Mel Brooks' entire face, body, and personality for the last 97 years.

Mulaney called attention to the Globes without naming them, saying, "I'm sure you're looking me and thinking, 'Oh great, another god-damned stand-up comedian here to make fun of us and our sacred rituals.'" This led to a hilarious bit where he shared an email from his agents about auditioning for the role of "Young Cop" in an upcoming Untitled Maggie Gyllenhaal project, which he did not end up booking.

The opening was tight, concise, and genuinely funny, bursting with Mulaney's sardonic wit and a genuine love for the movies. Can he just host everything from now on?

Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane pay musical tribute to Mel Brooks

At 97 years old, Mel Brooks has a list of previous collaborators as long as a CVS receipt. But the Academy turned to two stars who made Brooks a success on Broadway to pay homage to the comedic master.

Lane and Broderick, who starred as the original Bialystock and Bloom on Broadway, delivered a heartfelt speech to Brooks and the impact of his films, before breaking out into a musical medley. The two sang new lyrics to some of the greatest hits from Brooks' oeuvre, including Blazing Saddles' title song and "I'm Tired," the High Anxiety theme song, and The Producers' "I Wanna Be a Producer," "We Can Do It," and "Springtime for Hitler."

"We'll regale Mel because we love to sing his songs," the two sang. And we love to hear two of Broadway's greatest stars deliver a duet in inimitable fashion — because when you got it, flaunt it.

Mel Brooks brings the laughs

Brooks, still spry and sharp as a tack, accepted his honorary Oscar in person. "This means a lot to me," the nonagenarian began, a tremor of emotion in his voice, before talking about his Best Original Screenplay Oscar for The Producers and joking that he had sold the statuette.

He took time to blow his nose in the midst of his speech, riffing about the absurdity of it, before talking about the deep meaning of being recognized by his peers. "I won't sell this one, I swear to God," he concluded. It was smart, heartfelt, a little lewd, and funny — in other words, pure Mel Brooks.

Glenn Close celebrates Carol Littleton

Those outside of the industry likely have never heard the name Carol Littleton, but they should. Littleton is a groundbreaking editor, responsible for cutting classics such as The Big Chill and E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial.

Close honored Littleton, describing the ways in which great performances and films are created in the editing room. "A great editor is an advocate, a detective, a humanist, a philosopher, and in some cases, a sensitive and articulate teacher," said Close.

The Big Chill marked Close's second film, and she noted that Littleton and her husband, cinematographer John Bailey, were like a set of parents to the family of the ensemble cast. "For me, The Big Chill was the beginning of my true education in the craft of film acting," she said. "In retrospect, it was really the wordless, emotional moments that gave Sarah Cooper her emotional weight with the audience — crying in the shower, joining the group after she'd cried in the shower, smiling at Mary Kay after she'd had sex with my husband. If you haven't seen the movie, see it. And dancing in the kitchen. I really thank you, Carol, for putting my butt in that shot because it made me look like a really good dancer."

Angela Bassett testifies

Of today's acting greats, Angela Bassett ranks high on the list of those who should have won an Oscar long before now. But like many greats before her, Bassett will have to relish the joy of this honorary Oscar as she continues to pursue a competitive one — and her acceptance speech demonstrated that this is a moment she's determined to savor.

After a beautiful introduction from Regina King asking Bassett to run for President, Bassett took the audience to church with her remarks. She reflected on the history of the Oscars and Black women, noting she was only the second Black actress to receive an honorary Oscar following Cicely Tyson, who was honored in 2018.

Bassett also called out Hattie McDaniel, the first Black person to ever win an Oscar, who has made headlines recently for the Academy's restoration of her lost Best Supporting Actress plaque to Howard University. Bassett celebrated McDaniel's historic win and the barriers she tore down with it, before calling out the names of the 10 Black actresses who have won Academy Awards in the organization's history as "beacons of hope."

"This honor isn't just for or about me," she said. "What I hope this moment means is that we are taking the necessary steps toward a future in which it is the norm, not the exception to see and embrace one another's full humanity, stories, and perspectives. This must be our goal, and to always remember that there is room for us all. When we stand together, we win together."

"To my fellow Black actresses, fill your hearts with courage and strength because regardless of what you may see or think or feel, your contributions do matter," she continued. "Take comfort knowing that your performances have given hope, offered a different perspective and for others just pure joy in a time of need. Never allow fear, frustration, or disappointment to get in the way of the blessings that are divinely and deservedly yours. Remember who you are and who are ancestors intended us to be. I proudly share this honor with women who stand up when they are told to stand back, who speak up when they are silenced, who remain determined when they are told they are defeated. These women represent those who I have had the honor to portray, as well as the everyday women who surround us and inspire us to keep striving."

"I have faith that someday the recognition and celebration will be solely on the performance and the performer, because at the end of the day, we all just want to have the opportunity to do great, meaningful work," she concluded. "And still I say, the best is yet to come."

Unsung hero Michelle Satter gets her flowers

Michelle Satter is largely responsible for the careers of some of Hollywood's biggest rising directors, including Ryan Coogler, Chloe Zhao, Sian Heder, and duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. Satter founded the Sundance Institute Directors and Screenwriters Lab of the Sundance Film Festival and serves as the founding senior director of the Sundance Institute's Artist Program. The Academy honored her with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her role in securing resources for up-and-coming independent filmmakers.

Both Coogler and Zhao paid tribute to Satter, with Coogler describing at length the impact Satter had on his life and career. But the moment was also tinged with heartbreak as Coogler and Zhao honored Satter's late son, Michael Latt, who was murdered by a home intruder in Nov. 2023.

"To know him was to know Michelle," Coogler said, as Zhao added, "Michelle, you're a mother to me. And you're a mother to Ryan. And you're a mother to so many people sitting in this room. You're a mother to all the artists that you've nurtured and supported. We're so grateful to you. We wouldn't be here without you. We know you're hurting. We're so sorry. And we know that there's nothing we can say that can take away the pain, but we want to say and we hope we can say this to you, we are all your children. We love you."

Check out more from EW's The Awardist, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis, and our podcast diving into all the highlights from the year's best in TV.

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