Conan O’Brien, the former late-night host, will take over from Jimmy Kimmel, who served as M.C. for the last two Oscar ceremonies, organizers said on Friday.
Conan O’Brien, who has never hosted the Oscars before, is likely to bring a certain freshness to the show for the 97th Academy Awards 2025
In their quest to find a host who will generate buzz but not blow up in their faces, Academy Awards organizers have traded a current late-night comedian (Jimmy Kimmel) for a former one: Conan O’Brien.
“We are thrilled and honored to have the incomparable Conan O’Brien host the Oscars this year, 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.” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said it on Friday in a statement.
When and where will be held 97th Academy Awards 2025 show
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said on Friday that O’Brien would serve as M.C. for the 97th Oscars will take place Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and will air live on ABC.
Mr. O’Brien left late-night television in 2021 and has since focused on a popular podcast, “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,” and a spinoff travel show for the Max streaming service called “Conan O’Brien Must Go.”
“America demanded it and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme,” Mr. O’Brien said in a statement. “In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars.”
Mr. O’Brien meets many of the Academy’s needs. As a first-time Oscar host, he brings fresh energy to an event often seen as outdated or disconnected. At the same time, he’s a reliable choice, with years of experience and a polished comedic style. He has also successfully hosted other major award shows, like the Emmys.
What makes Mr. O’Brien stand out is his ability to handle both serious and lighthearted topics with ease. This skill will be important at the Oscars, where the host needs to talk about big issues, like political divisions, while keeping the event fun and engaging for viewers.
Mr. O’Brien is also known for orchestrating viral moments, something that academy officials have increasingly coveted both for the Oscars telecast and for the advance promotion of it. Mr. O’Brien has 27 million followers on X.
In recent years, the Oscars have been struggling with declining ratings, leading the Academy and ABC to experiment with different formats. In 2022, they tried having three hosts—Wanda Sykes, Regina Hall, and Amy Schumer—and from 2019 to 2021, there were no hosts at all. For the 2023 and 2024 shows, they brought back a single host, Jimmy Kimmel, who had previously hosted in 2017 and 2018.
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Kimmel helped bring some positive attention back to the event after the dramatic moment in 2022, when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage. The 96th Academy Awards in 2023, with Kimmel as host, saw a boost in viewership, attracting 19.5 million viewers—its highest number in four years. (Before 2018, the Oscars never had fewer than 32 million viewers.)
However, Kimmel announced in August that he would not be hosting again anytime soon, saying he needs a break.
Hosting the Oscars used to be a prestigious gig for top comedians like Billy Crystal, who hosted nine times, and Whoopi Goldberg, who hosted four. But nowadays, many stars are hesitant to take on the role because of the time commitment and the potential for negative reactions. In the age of social media, it’s become common for people to criticize the Oscars—whether it’s about the awkward jokes, the award choices, or the whole event itself.
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