Conan O’Brien to host the Oscars for the first time: report
The Academy on Friday morning announced that Conan O'Brien will debut as Oscars host next year, when he takes over from Jimmy Kimmel to host the 97th Academy Awards.
And the host is… Conan O’Brien. The comedian and talk show host will bring his signature humor and red locks to the Oscars stage when he hosts the 97th Academy Awards on March 2.
The five-time Emmy winner, 61, will serve as the sole host of the ceremony honoring the past year’s achievements in cinema, The Academy announced Friday morning.
“We are thrilled and honored to have the incomparable Conan O’Brien host the Oscars this year,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang. “He is the perfect person to help lead our global celebration of film with his brilliant humor, his love of movies, and his live TV expertise. His remarkable ability to connect with audiences will bring viewers together to do what the Oscars do best — honor the spectacular films and filmmakers of this year.”
O’Brien added: “America demanded it and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars.”
The Academy and O’Brien also announced the news in a joint Instagram post with ABC, which annually airs Hollywood’s biggest night.
In a Reel, O’Brien holds one of the statuettes given to winners, informing the viewer that he’s just won an Oscar before he’s corrected off-screen.
“I’ve been handed an Oscar! I’m an Oscar winner. It’s amazing,” he says. Oh! I’m hosting? I’m an Oscar host? Oh, but do I still get to keep the Oscar?” he asks before a pair of hands grabs the little golden man from him. “I’m hosting the Oscars. OK, yeah. And then I get the… No Oscar… ever.”
In 2022, after three years of host-less ceremonies, the Academy overcompensated with too many cooks in the kitchen, having Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes co-host. Jimmy Kimmel, who hosted in 2017 and 2018, reprised his hosting gig in 2023 as well as this year.
In August, the New York-born Emmy winner, 56, revealed the most recent go-round was “just too much” and he turned down the opportunity to host the 2025 ceremony.
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