American comedian Conan O’Brien will present the 97th edition of the Oscars, on March 2, 2025 in Los Angeles, the Hollywood Academy reported this Friday.
Through a statement, the Academy confirmed that the presenter will also replace Jimmy Kimmel, who directed the ceremony the last two years (and also in 2017 and 2018) and refused to do so for the next edition.
It will be the first time that the Emmy-winning television host and comedian is at the helm of the highest awards in American cinema.
“He is the perfect person to help lead our global celebration of cinema with his brilliant humor, his love of movies and his experience in live television,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President , Janet Yang.
Its “remarkable ability to connect with audiences,” they added, “will unite viewers to do what the Oscars do best: honor this year’s spectacular films and filmmakers.”
According to Oscar executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, O’Brien “has all the makings of a great host” for this event: “He is incredibly witty, charismatic and funny and has proven to be a master of event television. live”.
O’Brien is known for hosting the late night talk shows ‘Late Night with Conan O’Brien’, ‘The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien’ and ‘Conan’.
The comedian left late-night television in 2021 and has since focused on a podcast, ‘Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,’ and a travel show for Max called ‘Conan O’Brien Must Go.’
The announcement was also made on the social network This is incredible. “They gave me an Oscar,” while grabbing one of the statuettes.
In search of gaining more audiences, the Academy and the ABC network have been changing formats in recent years. In 2022 there were three hosts (Wanda Sykes, Regina Hall, Amy Schumer) and none between 2019 and 2021.
In 2023 and 2024, the Academy had Kimmel again, after the event that has had the most impact in a gala in recent years occurred a year earlier: Will Smith’s punch at comedian Chris Rock.
ABC’s broadcast of the 96th edition earlier this year attracted 19.5 million viewers, the highest audience in four years.
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