Conan O'Brien will officially take the stage as the host of the 2025 Academy Awards on March 2, marking his debut as emcee for Hollywood's biggest night. The announcement came from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who expressed their excitement about having O'Brien lead the ceremony, noting his extensive television experience and unique sense of humor as strong assets for the role.
Known for his sharp wit and engaging personality, the 61-year-old comedian joked, "America demanded it and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. America also demanded I host the Oscars. And now it's happening!" O'Brien brings over four decades of experience, having originally made his mark as a writer on Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons before becoming the iconic late-night host we know today.
His hosting skills aren't untested; O'Brien's impressive history includes hosting the Emmys twice and the White House Correspondents' Dinner on two occasions. Bill Kramer, CEO of the Academy, alongside President Janet Yang, stated, “We are thrilled and honored to have the incomparable Conan O’Brien host the Oscars this year. 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.”
Replacing Jimmy Kimmel, who has hosted the Oscars four times, was no easy task. Kimmel declined the opportunity to lead the ceremony again this year after expressing the toll it took on his own show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! According to Kimmel, "It’s hard—it’s a lot of work and my show suffers a little bit, to be honest. When I focus on the Oscars, I focus less on my show. I just decided I didn’t want to deal with it this year. Last year was too much." Fellow comedian John Mulaney also declined the opportunity when presented with the offer.
Craig Erwich, chairman of the Disney Television Group, which oversees the Oscars broadcast on ABC, praised O'Brien saying he is “a preeminent comedic voice, marked by his distinctive humor and perspective.” This sentiment was echoed by Oscar's executive producers, who believe O'Brien possesses “all the qualities of a great Oscars host. He is incredibly witty, charismatic, and funny.”
With the Oscars nominations set to be announced on January 17, the producers are already eager for O'Brien's input to gel the show together. They aim to create a fresh and exciting presentation for the event, ensuring it celebrates the year’s biggest films and filmmakers. The ceremony is set to broadcast live, with red carpet coverage beginning just before the main event.
It's not just the award winners they want to highlight this year; there's also plenty to look forward to as contenders such as Angelina Jolie for her role in Maria, Colman Domingo with Sing Sing, and Mikey Madison with Anora vie for the spotlight. The audience numbers were also promising last year, where nearly 20 million viewers tuned in, indicating Oscar night is still one of the must-watch events on television.
The 2025 Awards will occur at the Dolby Theatre, which has been the venue for this prestigious ceremony for several years, providing the perfect backdrop for O’Brien’s highly anticipated debut.
From his quirky sense of humor to his deep-rooted love for movies, Conan O’Brien is stepping forward to take on this significant responsibility. That’s bound to make for one unforgettable Oscars night!
