Conan O’Brien, an Emmy-winning late-night talk show host and podcaster, will host the 97th Academy Awards, marking his first time hosting the Oscars. Known for his off-kilter humor and decades of live broadcasting experience, O’Brien is seen as the perfect person to lead the global celebration of film. The Oscars will air live on ABC on March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. O’Brien expressed excitement about hosting the Oscars, jokingly linking it with the launch of Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme.
O’Brien began his career as a writer on shows like “Saturday Night Live” and “The Simpsons” before transitioning to on-camera roles on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien,” and “Conan.” He left the late-night circuit in 2021 but remains active with his podcast and travel series. With five Emmys to his name, O’Brien will take over hosting duties from Jimmy Kimmel, with a hope to reverse the recent decline in Oscar viewership.
The producers behind the Oscars, Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, are confident that O’Brien’s wit and charisma will help deliver a fresh and exciting show for Hollywood’s biggest night. The Academy is looking to boost viewership numbers after recent shows experienced a decline, with this year’s show drawing more than 19.5 million viewers. With successful nominees like “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie,” there is hope that O’Brien’s hosting will bring a renewed energy to the prestigious event.
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