Oscars 2025: Conan O’Brien to Host Oscars Ceremony

Emmy-winning comedian, writer, producer and late-night host Conan O’Brien will host the 97th Oscars, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Friday.

This marks O’Brien’s first stint as host, coming after consecutive years with Jimmy Kimmel as emcee.

The latest ceremony won an Emmy for outstanding variety special (live), from a telecast that yielded over 20 million viewers.

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O’Brien responded with humor to the announcement. “America demanded it and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars,” he said.

“We are thrilled and honored to have the incomparable Conan O’Brien host the Oscars this year,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang said in joint statement. “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 honor the spectacular films and filmmakers of this year.”

Craig Erwich, president of Disney TV Group, said: “Conan is a preeminent comedic voice, whose decades-long success is marked by distinctive humor and perspective. He joins iconic roster of comedy greats who have served in this role, and we are so lucky to have him center stage for the Oscars.”

The show’s exec producers, Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, noted O’Brien’s skills in live television and his unique sense of humor. “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,” they said. “We are looking forward to working with him to deliver a fresh, exciting and celebratory show for Hollywood’s biggest night.”

O’Brien is known for his two-decade as a late-night host, including shows such as “Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” “The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien” and “Conan.”

Before that, he built a career as a writer for NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” and Fox’s “The Simpsons.”

He currently hosts the podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” and recently starred in the travel show “Conan O’Brien Must Go.”

Over his career, O’Brien has been nominated for 31 Emmys, winning five.

The Oscars will take place at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be broadcast live worldwide.

The broadcast is set to air live on ABC and other international outlets on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. A red-carpet pre-show will precede the ceremony at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

Oscars 2025: Conan O’Brien to Host Oscars Ceremony–March 2, 2025

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