Conan O’Brien Will Host the 2025 Oscars

Fresh off an Emmy win for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) for the most recent Oscars, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has chosen award-winning writer, producer, and comedian Conan O’Brien to host the 97th Oscars. As announced by Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang, O’Brien will be hosting the telecast for the first time live on ABC and other broadcast outlets worldwide on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, after the official live red carpet show that is airing at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

Best known as the host of “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien,” and “Conan,” after breaking out as a writer for “The Simpsons” and “Saturday Night Live,” O’Brien is a departure from two years of top ABC hosting talent Jimmy Kimmel both hosting and executive producing the Oscars.  O’Brien currently hosts the podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” and recently starred in the 2024 travel show “Conan O’Brien Must Go” on Max, which earned him a fifth Primetime Emmy in September.

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“We are thrilled and honored to have the incomparable Conan O’Brien host the Oscars this year,” said Kramer and Yang via 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 do what the Oscars do best — honor the spectacular films and filmmakers of this year.”

“America demanded it and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars,” said O’Brien as part of the announcement. The host appeared on the Academy’s social media as well to share the news, and clarify that this does not make him an Oscar winner (yet.)

“Conan is a preeminent comedic voice, whose decades-long success is marked by his distinctive humor and perspective,” added Craig Erwich, President, Disney Television Group. “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,” said Oscars executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan. “We are so looking forward to working with him to deliver a fresh, exciting and celebratory show for Hollywood’s biggest night.”

The 97th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide.

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