WATCH: Oscars 2015 Opening Performance With Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris opened up the 2015 Oscars by welcoming the whitest, “I mean brightest,” stars in Hollywood, poking fun at the racial protests that have surrounded the awards season. Harris then dove right into an opening number about movies in general as well as moments he hopes for throughout the night. Halfway through the performance, Anna Kendrick dropped in to sing in a sort of Cinderella moment. Then Jack Black added some comic relief, interrupting from his front-row seat and then jumping up on stage to make fun of the song. Harris finished things off surrounded by characters from movies throughout the years and dozens of gold Oscar statues.

After the musical performance, Harris took time to joke about Oprah as well as some of the nominees.