Conan O’Brien is one of the most experienced hosts out there, having hosted late-night shows for nearly 30 years. He’s also hosted the Emmys twice, plus the MTV Movie Awards and the White House Correspondents’ dinner.
But one hosting gig that’s eluded him has been the Academy Awards – until now.
O’Brien has officially been tapped to host the 97th Academy Awards, which will take place on March 2 and be broadcast live on ABC. “America demanded it and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars,” said O’Brien in the announcement from the Academy.
O’Brien, who takes up the hosting gig after Jimmy Kimmel’s two-year stint, is best known for hosting the late-night talk shows Late Night with Conan O’Brien (1993-2009), The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien (2009–2010), and Conan (2010-2021). O’Brien, who hosted the the Emmy Awards in 2002 and 2006, hosted Late Night from 1993-2009, and Conan from 2010 through 2021. Before his late-night run, he was a writer for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. O’Brien currently hosts the podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend and recently starred in the 2024 travel show Conan O’Brien Must Go.
“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,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang in a statement. “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.”
After experimenting with a hostless Oscars for three years and then a trio of hosts (Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes) in 2022, the Academy returned to its tried and true model of hiring an experienced comic by bringing back Kimmel to host in both 2023 and 2024. O’Brien, a beloved comedian with decades of experience in everything from opening monologues to silly skits and energetic musical numbers, should be able to easily follow in those footsteps.
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