Conan O’Brien will take center stage at the Oscars for the first time on Sunday night.
The comedian and former late-night talk show personality was handpicked by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to be emcee for the 97th Academy Awards, which recognizes artistic and technical excellence in the film industry.
O’Brien’s “brilliant humor, his love of movies, and his live TV expertise,” as well as his “remarkable ability to connect with audiences” as reasons why he would make a good host for the show, Bill Kramer, Academy CEO, and Janet Yang, Academy President said in the November announcement.
“America demanded it and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars,” O’Brien said in a November statement.
The only reason O’Brien, who previously hosted the Emmys in 2002 and 2006, agreed to host the Oscars this year is because he’s never scored an invite, he said.
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“I’ve never even been invited, to be honest,” O’Brien said at a Wednesday news conference. “I only agreed to host so that I could get invited.”
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Here’s what to know about the Oscars host and the ceremony he’s been tasked with hosting.
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‘I cannot ignore the moment we’re in,’ O’Brien says
O’Brien plans to address the current political climate during the ceremony, but hopes to avoid bogging down with divisive jokes, given its focus on movies and entertainment.
“As the host, I cannot ignore the moment we’re in,” O’Brien said. “But we’re threading the needle, and we have to remember what we’re celebrating and infuse the show with positivity. It’s a difficult line to walk, but I’m determined to figure it out.”
The show will have “uplifting” moments dedicated to Los Angeles after January’s devastating fires, Raj Kapoor, executive producer of the show said. “There will be special moments throughout the show,” he said. “That’s a very important theme.”
Oscars 2025: See the full list of nominees
When and where are the 2025 Oscars?
The Oscars are broadcast live from Dolby Theater in Hollywood, which has served as the venue for the Academy Awards since 2001, on Sunday, March 2. The ceremony will air from 7-10 p.m. ET.
How to watch the 2025 Oscars ceremony, red carpet
The 97th Academy Awards will air live Sunday, March 2 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, on ABC. You can also stream the awards ceremony live on ABC.com, the ABC app, Hulu, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV and FuboTV.
The official red-carpet show, hosted by Julianne Hough and Jesse Palmer, starts at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 PT on ABC. E!’s “Live From the Red Carpet” special begins at 4 p.m. ET/1 PT.
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Contributing: Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY
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