Conan O’Brien to host Oscars for first time in 2025

Jimmy Kimmel may be stepping down from the Oscar throne… but the Academy Awards aren’t stepping down from humor. After hosting the world’s most famous awards ceremony four times, the well-known comedian won’t be at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 2. In 2025, he will be replaced by another man who has made America laugh every night for years: Conan O’Brien.

The renowned TV host and comedian, 61, has been confirmed as the host of the 97th edition of the Oscars through a statement released by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. “We are thrilled and honored to have the incomparable Conan O’Brien host the Oscars this year,” said the CEO of the Academy, Bill Kramer, and its president, Janet Yang. “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. 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.”

O’Brien — in his usual caustic tone — said in the same statement: “America demanded it and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars.”

The comedian has a career spanning more than 40 years, including three seasons in the 1980s as a writer for Saturday Night Live and another three for The Simpsons. From 1993 to 2009, he hosted his famous show, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, which was broadcast live from New York City to an audience of around 2.5 million viewers. He then went on to work for NBC on another very similar program, The Tonight Show, which, after Jay Leno departed, he hosted in 2009 and 2010.

After a break during which he toured the U.S., Conan returned to mainstream television, from which he decided to retire in June of 2021. In addition to dubbing and producing, he’s had a podcast for a few years now and has launched a four-part travel series with HBO.

Months ago, following his multiple successes at the Oscars, Kimmel had already hinted that he wouldn’t be hosting the ceremony in 2025. According to several media outlets such as People and Entertainment Weekly, the position was also rejected by comedian John Mulaney.

During a podcast, Kimmel — who hosted the ceremony in 2017, 2018, 2023 and 2024 — explained that the long preparation for the ceremony used to affect his daily TV show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! He didn’t want the situation to repeat itself this year.

“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. And I don’t want to deal with that this year. Last year was too much,” he said. Nor will his regular producer (and wife) of 20 years, Molly McNearney, reappear at the ceremony.

Craig Erwich, the chairman of the Disney Television Group, praised the choice of Conan, describing him as a “preeminent comedic voice whose decades-long success is marked by his distinctive humor and perspective.” Disney has a say in the choice, because the Academy Awards are broadcast on its network: ABC.

Meanwhile, Oscar executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan have highlighted that “Conan has all the qualities of a great Oscars host — he is incredibly witty, charismatic and funny.” While awaiting the list of nominees and guests for the ceremony, both are eager to work with him “to deliver a fresh, exciting and celebratory show for Hollywood’s biggest night.”

The nominations for the most important film awards of the year will be announced on January 17, 2025. The awards ceremony will be held on March 2, as the closing of the entire Hollywood film awards season. Last year, the gala — which is broadcast in more than 200 countries — had an audience of almost 20 million viewers in the U.S. alone. This made up for the numbers lost due to the pandemic, when it barely exceeded 10 million.

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