It's been a long time coming. America has been asking for it, and it's finally happening.
Conan O'Brien is hosting the Oscars for the first time!
The former late-night host will take over for four-time Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel to be the master of ceremonies at the 97th Academy Awards on March 2, 2025.
To commemorate the exciting news confirmed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, O'Brien made a hilariously humbling announcement video, which starts with him stunned at being handed an Oscar statuette.
"I'm an Oscar winner," he says in disbelief, while an off-camera voice tells him, "No."
Pretending he didn't hear them, O'Brien continues, "It's amazing."
The unseen person corrects him and says, "No, you're the host."
After the joyous expression is drained from his face, O'Brien asks for confirmation that he's not a winner but is hosting.
When the person confirms, "Exactly, " O'Brien then asks:
"Oh, but do I still get to keep the Oscar?"
He's promptly told, "No, you don't," as a white-gloved hand snatches the prized trophy from O'Brien's arms.
Here's the clip.
The suddenly dejected TV personality asks when the ceremony will be taking place and is told it's on "March 2."
O'Brien chuckles and asks if he still gets to keep the Oscar and is told no.
Well, it didn't hurt to ask.
O'Brien shared the funny ad and wrote in the caption:
"America demanded it and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme."
"In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars."
Fans approved of this choice.
Fans are sure to be tuning in.
O'Brien hosted his eponymous program, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, from 1993 for 18 seasons and relocated from New York to Los Angeles in 2009 for The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, an extension of NBC's Tonight Show franchise.
After a contractual dispute, he graciously bowed out and left NBC to host the variety and late-night talk show Conan on TBS for 11 seasons from 2010 to 2021.
With his final bow as the TBS host on June 24, 2021, his late-night TV hosting duties, combined with his NBC talk shows, spanned a total of 28 years.
His latest endeavor was for an international travel series that debuted on Max in April, called Conan O'Brien Must Go.
The venerated comedian and writer hosted the 54th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2002 and the 58th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2006; the 2014 MTV Movie Awards, the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in 1995 and 2013; and the 5th Annual NFL Honors in San Francisco, California in 2016.
The 61-year-old can now add an appearance at the Academy Awards to his extensive resume—but as host, Conan. Remember?
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