Paul Zimmerman
He’s Conan the Entertainian!
Comedian and former late-night host Conan O’Brien will host this year’s Oscars, for the first time in his career, ABC announced Friday
“America demanded it, and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars,” O’Brien said in a statement released by ABC.
O’Brien is best known for his late-night hosting career that spanned more than two decades.
Before that, he wrote for “Saturday Night Live” and “The Simpsons.”
He currently hosts the podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” and recently starred in the 2024 travel show for Max, “Conan O’Brien Must Go,” that was recently renewed for a second season.
He also joked that he wanted to join “The White Lotus” Season 3 and offered to play a male gigolo.
Despite being a legend in the entertainment industry, O’Brien has not yet hosted Hollywood’s big night, though he has hosted the Emmys twice, in 2002 and 2006.
In July, Jimmy Kimmel and John Mulaney turned down hosting the 2025 Oscars, People reported.
Kimmel, who hosted the ceremony in 2017, 2018, 2023 and 2024, told the LA Times, “I know how much work goes into [the Oscars], so I thought, ‘Yeah, I don’t necessarily want to do this ever again.’”
Aside from Kimmel, the most recent Oscar hosts include Regina Hall, Wanda Sykes and Amy Schumer in 2022, Chris Rock in 2016, Neil Patrick Harris in 2015, Ellen DeGeneres in 2014, and Seth MacFarlane in 2013.
“Conan is a preeminent comedic voice whose decades-long success is marked by his distinctive humor and perspective,” Craig Erwich, president, Disney Television Group, said in a statement announcing the news.
“He joins an iconic roster of comedy greats who have served in this role, and we are so lucky to have him center stage for the Oscars.”
“Conan has all the qualities of a great Oscars host — he is incredibly witty, charismatic and funny and has proven himself to be a master of live event television,” Oscars executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan said in a statement.
“We are so looking forward to working with him to deliver a fresh, exciting and celebratory show for Hollywood’s biggest night.”
The 2025 Oscars will air March 2 at 7 p.m. on ABC.