During the Oscars, Conan O’Brien took a swipe at Turning Point USA’s “All American Halftime Show,” mocking it as a Kid Rock event at a Dave & Buster’s. But the joke says more about Hollywood’s attitude than it does about the millions of Americans who tuned in to watch an unapologetically patriotic alternative to the NFL’s increasingly politicized entertainment.
Second-time Oscars host Conan O’Brien used his platform Sunday night to take a cheap shot at Turning Point USA’s “All American Halftime Show,” tossing out a line clearly meant to get laughs from a friendly Hollywood crowd.
“I should warn you, tonight could get political, okay, and if that makes you uncomfortable, there’s an alternate Oscars being hosted by Kid Rock. Now, it’s at the Dave and Busters down the street. A lot of tickets for that,” O’Brien said.
The punchline was predictable: mock the people outside the entertainment elite, take a jab at heartland America, and let the applause roll in.Conan O’Brien: “I should warn you, tonight could get political. And if that makes you uncomfortable, there’s an alternate #Oscars hosted by Kid Rock at the Dave & Busters down the street” pic.twitter.com/AkunRe5wd7
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) March 15, 2026
But while Hollywood may enjoy ridiculing conservative audiences, the numbers tell a different story. TPUSA’s alternative halftime event, which featured Kid Rock, drew roughly 6 million live viewers and reportedly picked up another 20 million views through streaming. That is not a fringe audience. That is a clear sign that millions of Americans are hungry for entertainment that reflects their values, their culture, and their country.
TPUSA organized the “All American Halftime Show” after the NFL chose Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny for the official Super Bowl halftime performance. For many Americans, that performance felt less like a unifying national moment and more like another reminder that major institutions are increasingly disconnected from the people they claim to represent.
Critics pointed out that Bad Bunny’s show was performed entirely in Spanish, leaving many English-speaking viewers unable to connect with it. He also declined to include the continental United States on his recent tour, citing opposition to immigration enforcement policies. For many Americans, that decision only reinforced the sense that mainstream entertainment has become more interested in political messaging than in bringing the country together.
That is exactly why alternative platforms are gaining ground. Americans are tired of being mocked for wanting entertainment that celebrates faith, freedom, patriotism, and shared national identity. They are tired of being told their values are backward while being expected to applaud performances and cultural messaging that often seem openly hostile to them.
Conan O’Brien’s joke may have landed in the room. But outside that bubble, millions of Americans are making it clear that they are ready for something better.
