It’s official. The 97th Oscars have a bunch and his identify is Conan O’Brien.
The Emmy® Award-winning tv host, author, producer and comic would be the sole host for the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, 2025, Academy CEO Invoice Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang introduced right this moment. Will probably be O’Brien’s first time internet hosting the printed.
“We’re thrilled and honored to have the incomparable Conan O’Brien host the Oscars this 12 months,” stated Kramer and Yang. “He’s the proper individual to assist lead our world celebration of movie together with his good humor, his love of flicks, and his dwell TV experience. His outstanding skill to attach with audiences will carry viewers collectively to do what the Oscars do greatest–honor the spectacular movies and filmmakers of this 12 months.”
“America demanded it and now it’s occurring: Taco Bell’s new Tacky Chalupa Supreme. In different information, I’m internet hosting the Oscars,” stated O’Brien.
O’Brien’s choice is a little bit of a shock since his identify hadn’t been prominently talked about as a attainable Oscar host this 12 months. Latest hypothesis and phrase from dependable sources indicated the Academy was leaning towards a format with a number of hosts sharing duties all through the present. This was floated after each Jimmy Kimmel, who hosted 4 occasions together with the Emmy successful 96th Oscar present, and John Mulaney who had hosted the non-televised Governors Awards to a lot reward, each reportedly turned down the gig. A combo of Deadpool & Wolverine stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman had been additionally amongst these buzzed to be within the combine, however as I reported final week Reynolds instructed me that was extremely unlikely although he stated he want to host it with Jackman “some day”.
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O’Brien in fact is well-known and preferred as a chat present host. Though he has by no means hosted the Oscars, he did host the Emmys to good notices in 2002 and 2006, and The MTV Film Awards in 2014. He additionally is aware of how to brighten up these exhibits even when not internet hosting. He went viral for his antics on the 2021 Emmys the place he was nominated for Excellent Selection Speak Sequence. Although he didn’t win he managed to get extra consideration than precise winner John Oliver. That look may give a clue to his off-the-cuff comedian type throughout a dwell awards present. You possibly can most likely rely on the form of intelligent filmed opening bits he did on the Emmy exhibits he hosted to kick issues off on the Oscars. O’Brien additionally isn’t recognized for political humor like Kimmel, Steven Colbert, Seth Meyers, and Jon Stewart who’ve all taken on internet hosting duties for prime profile awards exhibits. One supply with inside data of the discussions instructed me they needed to avoid that, particularly this 12 months with Donald Trump again within the White Home. It’s obvious with this selection that the Academy and ABC favor the normal sole comic host on the helm and O’Brien greater than fills the invoice.
“Conan is a preeminent comedic voice, whose decades-long success is marked by his distinctive humor and perspective,” stated Craig Erwich, President, Disney Tv Group. “He joins an iconic roster of comedy greats who’ve served on this position, and we’re so fortunate to have him middle stage for the Oscars.”
“Conan has all of the qualities of an excellent Oscars host–he’s extremely witty, charismatic and humorous and has confirmed himself to be a grasp of dwell occasion tv,” stated Oscars government producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan. “We’re so trying ahead to working with him to ship a recent, thrilling and celebratory present for Hollywood’s greatest evening.”
O’Brien is greatest recognized for internet hosting the late-night speak exhibits “Late Evening with Conan O’Brien,” “The Tonight Present with Conan O’Brien” and “Conan.” Earlier than his greater than two-decade internet hosting profession, he served as a author for “Saturday Evening Reside” and “The Simpsons.” O’Brien at the moment hosts the podcast “Conan O’Brien Wants a Pal” and lately starred within the 2024 journey present “Conan O’Brien Should Go.” He has gained 5 Primetime Emmys and earned 31 nominations for his work.
The 97th Oscars will probably be held on Sunday, March 2, 2025, on the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will probably be televised dwell on ABC starting at 7:00 pm ET/ 4:00 pm PT and in additional than 200 territories worldwide, with the official dwell purple carpet present airing at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.
