Comedian Conan O’Brien will host The Oscars on the Disney-owned ABC network. Many now wonder whether the typically apolitical O’Brien will put an end to the cringe-inducing political commentary that has plagued the event in years past.
This marks the first time the 61 year-old longtime late night host will serve as emcee of Hollywood’s biggest night. It also comes after one of the most contentious presidential elections in history. The majority of Hollywood A-listers were left scorned and infuriated by Donald Trump’s massive electoral victory over their preferred candidate Kamala Harris and they haven’t been quiet about it.
Conan O’Brien is officially your 97th Oscars host!
Tune into the biggest night in Hollywood on Sunday, March 2nd at 7e/4p, LIVE on @ABCNetwork! #Oscars @TeamCoco @ConanOBrien pic.twitter.com/ZpsGM9LEIq
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) November 15, 2024
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The Academy of Arts & Sciences announced Conan O’Brien as host of The Oscars on X via a video. O’Brien is holding an Oscar trophy and starts giving an acceptance speech as though he’s won the award. He’s then informed that he’s the host of the show, which airs March 2.
Hilarity ensues.
O’Brien shared the post to his own X account.
America demanded it and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars. https://t.co/OFIlxI3wh4
— Conan O’Brien (@ConanOBrien) November 15, 2024
“America demanded it and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme,” O’Brien said, bringing his special brand of self-deprecating humor to the announcement. “In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars.”
Many are hoping that O’Brien as host will put an end to the political pandering often seen in year’s past. Hosts like ABC late night “comedian” Jimmy Kimmel have used their position to speak on political matters and lambast President-Elect Donald Trump. In the most recent of Kimmel’s three stints as Oscars host, he went as far as to read Trump’s posts on Truth Social live during the ceremony.
Kimmel recently made headlines yet again for his monologue following Trump’s election win.
Kimmel, the former host of The Man Show, who closed every episode with “chicks jumping on trampolines,” opined for the future of women in this country while openly crying on stage.
Kimmel confirmed in July that he would not return to host the show for a fourth time this year.
O’Brien, whose talk show Conan went off the air in June 2021, is famously a-political, which makes him far different than just about every other modern late night host. Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, and (the atrociously unfunny) Jimmy Fallon have turned their platforms into political sounding boards with monologues focused exclusively on bashing the incoming president.
A screenshot of Jimmy Kimmel crying on TV after the election of Donald Trump – YouTube, Jimmy Kimmel Live
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While O’Brien has previously spoken against Trump and vocally supported President Joe Biden in the 2020 election, he doesn’t typically include politics in his comedy.
“So I always thought when Trump came along, what a lot of people have to revert to is: ‘Doesn’t he suck? I hate that guy. He’s an a******, and those aren’t jokes,” O’Brien said on an episode of Kara Swisher’s podcast in 2023.
Of course, just because the host himself won’t lambast the former president, that doesn’t mean the presenters and those accepting awards will be as gracious. Many Hollywood actors have been extremely vocal since Trump’s win. This includes Mark Hamill, Mark Ruffalo, Whoopi Goldberg, Josh Gad, and most notably Rachel Zegler, who issued an apology for her remarks after appearing to wish harm or misfortune on Trump’s supporters.
Rachel Zegler as Maria in 20th Century Studios’ WEST SIDE STORY. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2021 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
“(Conan) 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,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said. “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.”
Back in 2019, the Academy Awards pulled in an audience of over 40 million people. However, in 2024 that number was down to 19.4 million. We’ll see come March whether Conan as host will overcome the public’s growing apathy toward Hollywood on what is supposed to be its biggest night.
Will you watch Conan O’Brien Host The Oscars? Do you think the show can be apolitical in the current Hollywood climate? Sound off and let us know!
