L.A. Firefighters Roast ‘Joker 2’ at Oscars: ‘Our Hearts Go Out to Those Who Lost Their Homes. And I’m Talking About’ the ‘Joker’ Producers

variety.com:

Rebecca Rubin Senior Film and Media Reporter Oscar host Conan O’Brien gave Los Angeles firefighters the opportunity to deliver a few zingers during Hollywood’s biggest night.

On stage at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, O’Brien told the audience of A-listers, “Now, I know you’re going to find this hard to believe, but there are some jokes even I’m not brave enough to tell.” So he enlisted a number of first responders — members of the fire service who battled this year’s devastating Palisades and Eaton wildfires — and instructed them: “On behalf of myself, would you please read what’s in the prompter?” O’Brien first turned back to the crowd to say, “Remember — everyone in this audience has to laugh; these are heroes!” Los Angeles Fire Department captain Erik Scott kicked things off with a doozy: “Our hearts go out to those who have lost their homes,” he said. “And I’m talking about the producers of ‘Joker 2.'” You see, it’s funny because “Joker: Folie à Deux” was one of 2024’s biggest theatrical bombs.

The Warner Bros. comic book sequel, which cost $200 million to produce and roughly $100 million to market and distribute, stalled at the box office with $206 million globally.

The production was projected to lose $150 million to $200 million for the studio in its big screen run, so it’s safe to assume its backers took a painful financial hit.