Oscars host Conan O'Brien is irked he can't keep his tux, but happy he's finally invited
Conan O'Brien has revealed the real reason that he's hosting the Oscars. The two-time Emmy Awards host has never been allowed to even attend the prestigious film awards.
"I’ve never even been invited, to be honest," O'Brien said of the Oscars during a news conference for the awards show's creative team on Wednesday. "I only agreed to host so that I could get invited."
The former late-night host and "Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend" podcast host has ensured not only attendance but that he'll be master of ceremonies at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday (ABC 7 p.m. ET/4 PT). O'Brien, 61, is in the spirit, helping to roll out the famed Oscar red carpet (before lying down on the rolled-up carpet).
Here's what we learned about the upcoming Oscar show and host:
The 2025 Oscars will delve into politics and honor Los Angeles after the wildfires
O'Brien says he will address the challenging political climate during the awards, but the show will not get bogged down in divisive jokes, given its focus on great 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, according to executive producer Raj Kapoor. "There will be special moments throughout the show," he said. "That's a very important theme."
O'Brien said he even had LA tailor High Society make his tuxedo for the night, which he has lobbied unsuccessfully to keep.
"We wanted to do something that was from the community. It’s the nicest thing I have ever put on in my life," said O'Brien. "It has my name on the inside, but I’m still told I won’t be able to keep it. I’m 6-foot-4. Is John Tesh going to get it?"
Conan O'Brien has consulted past Oscar hosts, and one stuck him with a dinner bill
O'Brien said he has consulted past Oscar hosts, including nine-time host Billy Crystal. "He's the all-time great and mastered hosting the Oscars, in my opinion," O'Brien said.
He claims his talk with Jimmy Kimmel went poorly after the four-time Oscars host insisted on going to an expensive restaurant, ordered pricey seafood appetizers "and stuck me with the bill." However, Molly McNearney, Kimmel's wife, who wrote for the Oscars when Jimmy hosted, pitched great ideas.
"Molly is the genius there," said O'Brien. "There was a lot of chewing from Jimmy, crab claws were flying. He took some of it home. He brought a bucket with him."
Taylor Swift's tour choreographer Mandy Moore promises more dance energy
Mandy Moore, the choreographer for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, oversaw the unforgettable "I'm Just Ken" routine at the 2024 Oscars with Ryan Gosling. While Moore won't be bringing "Kenergy" back, the choreographer promised "really great performances and a lot of joy" in Sunday's routines. Working on the Oscars is as big as working on Swift's mega-tour, she said.
"It’s the Oscars. I’m the little kid sitting in the living room in small-town Colorado, watching the Oscars," said Moore. "It’s imprinted in my brain. Every time I’m here, it’s a dream come true."