The acclaimed talk show host and comedian, Conan O’Brien, has been selected to host the upcoming 97th Academy Awards scheduled for March 2, as announced by the academy on Friday.
For O’Brien, this will be his debut as the host of the Oscars. The academy is relying on O’Brien’s unique, quirky sense of humor and his extensive experience in live television to breathe new life into the ceremony and attract viewers to a program that has been grappling with falling ratings lately.
“We are delighted and privileged to have the unparalleled Conan O’Brien as the host for this year’s Oscars,” proclaimed Bill Kramer, the CEO of the Academy, and President Janet Yang in a collective statement. “With his clever humor, passion for cinema, and expertise in live television, he is the ideal choice to guide our worldwide celebration of film.”
Over a span of more than thirty years in television, the 61-year-old O’Brien has perfected his unique style of self-mockery and absurdist comedy. His career began as a writer for “Saturday Night Live” and “The Simpsons” in the 1980s and 1990s. He then transitioned to late-night television, hosting shows such as “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien,” and “Conan.” After concluding his 28-year stint in late-night in 2021, O’Brien expanded his fan base with his popular podcast, “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,” and recently made a comeback to television with his Max travel show, “Conan O’Brien Must Go.” His filmography mostly consists of cameo appearances as himself and voice roles in animated movies like “The Lego Batman Movie” and “The Mitchells vs. the Machines.”
“America called for it and now it’s a reality: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars,” O’Brien humorously announced in his own statement.
The producers of the show are banking on a seasoned professional like O’Brien — similar to fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, who hosted the 2017 Oscars when the notorious “Moonlight” Best Picture mix-up occurred — to handle the unpredictability of live TV while bringing some much-needed humor. The Oscars are taking place at a time when the film industry is dealing with several challenges, including the ongoing streaming revolution, consolidation, the aftermath of a monumental strike, and the ambiguity of a potential second term for President Trump.
Once a prestigious task for comedians such as Bob Hope and Billy Crystal, the demanding role of the Oscars host has become increasingly challenging to fill as the scrutiny on the show has escalated and ratings have consistently declined from their all-time high of over 55 million viewers in 1998. The broadcast in March, which was driven by the “Barbenheimer” craze and hosted by Kimmel for the third time, attracted 19.5 million viewers, a 4% increase from the previous year.
In earlier attempts to streamline the broadcast and modify its format, the Oscars went without a host from 2019 to 2021. In 2023, the ceremony was hosted by a trio—Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes, and Regina Hall—on a night that was overshadowed by Will Smith’s infamous slap of Chris Rock.
“Conan possesses all the traits of a superb Oscars host — he is exceptionally witty, charismatic, and humorous, and has demonstrated his mastery of live event television,” stated the executive producers of the show, Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan. “We are eagerly looking forward to collaborating with him to create an invigorating, exciting, and celebratory event for Hollywood’s biggest night.”
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My name is Alex Carter, a journalist with a deep passion for independent cinema, alternative music, and contemporary art. A University of California, Berkeley journalism graduate, I’ve honed my expertise through film reviews, artist profiles, and features on emerging cultural trends. My goal is to uncover unique stories, shine a light on underrepresented talents, and explore the impact of art on our society. Follow me on SuperBoxOffice.com for insightful analysis and captivating discoveries from the entertainment world.