Conan O’Brien, the Emmy-winning comedian, writer, producer, and former late-night television host, has been selected to emcee the 97th Academy Awards, as announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Friday.
This will be O’Brien’s inaugural hosting role for the Oscars, following two years where Jimmy Kimmel took on the emcee duties. The awards ceremony recently celebrated an Emmy win for outstanding variety special (live), attracting over 20 million viewers.
Staying true to his comedic style, O’Brien humorously reacted to the news: America demanded it and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars.
In a joint statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang expressed their excitement and pride in announcing that the exceptional Conan O’Brien will serve as the host for this year’s Oscars.
They highlighted his unique blend of sharp wit, passion for cinema, and extensive live television experience as ideal qualities to guide our worldwide tribute to film. His extraordinary talent for engaging with audiences is sure to unite viewers in celebrating the outstanding films and filmmakers of the past year.
Craig Erwich, the head of Disney Television Group, emphasized Conan O’Brien’s qualifications for the role. Conan is a leading comedic talent with decades of success defined by his unique humor and viewpoint, Erwich remarked.
He will be joining a legendary lineup of comedy icons who have previously held this position, and we are thrilled to have him take center stage during the Oscars.
The show’s executive producers, Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, also shared their excitement about the decision, highlighting O’Brien’s established expertise in live television along with his one-of-a-kind comedic style.
Conan embodies all the traits of an exceptional Oscars host—he is sharp-witted, charming, and hilarious and has demonstrated his prowess in live event broadcasting, they stated.
We eagerly anticipate collaborating with him to create a vibrant, thrilling celebration for Hollywood’s most significant evening. O’Brien is widely recognized for his 20-year career as a late-night host on shows like Late Night With Conan O’Brien, The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien, and Conan.
Prior to making his mark in late-night TV, he worked as a writer for NBC’s Saturday Night Live and Fox’s The Simpsons. Currently, he hosts the popular podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend and recently appeared in the travel series Conan O’Brien Must Go. Throughout his career, he has received 31 Emmy nominations and secured five wins.
The Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theatre located in Ovation Hollywood and will be streamed live to over 200 regions across the globe.
This year’s lineup of films is anticipated to feature a diverse range of nominees, including Sean Baker’s dramedy Anora, Jon M. Chu’s musical adaptation of Wicked, and Ridley Scott’s grand sequel Gladiator II.
The event is scheduled to air live on ABC and various international channels on Sunday, March 2, 2025, starting at 7 p.m. ET and 4 p.m. PT. Prior to the main event, a red carpet pre-show will kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET and 3:30 p.m. PT.