News | Entertainment
1 May 2025 9:17
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Conan O'Brien is returning to host the Oscars again next year

    The 61-year-old comic proved to be a hit when he took the reins of the Academy Awards for the first time earlier this month and now ceremony organisers have confirmed he will be back in 2026


    And Conan joked he only agreed to return so he could hear the rest of 'The Brutalist' star Adrien Brody's speech after the Best Actor winner was forced to cut it short after speaking for a record-breaking five minutes and 40 seconds.

    He quipped: "The only reason I'm hosting the Oscars next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech."

    As well as Conan, ex ecutive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan will be involved for a third time, and Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney will produce once again.

    Academy CEO Bill Kramer and outcoming president Janet Yang said in a statement: "We are thrilled to bring back Conan, Raj, Katy, Jeff and Mike for the 98th Oscar.

    "This year, they produced a hugely entertaining and visually stunning show that celebrated our nominees and the global film community in the most beautiful and impactful way.

    "Conan was the perfect host - skillfully guiding us through the evening with humour, warmth and reverence. It is an honour to be working with them again."

    Conan recently revealed Academy bosses intervened over one of his planned sketches because of their strict rules about the Oscar statue's image.

    Speaking on his 'Conan Needs a Friend' podcast, he said: "They're very serious about certain things. There was a giant Oscar statue, and I shot something with it. It was really fun."

    He explained an idea that would have seen him and the statue sharing an apartment as a warring couple but it was quickly quashed.

    He said: "We're fighting about things couples fight about. At one point, I thought, oh, this would be really great if the Oscar was just on the couch.

    "Let's lay it on a really big couch. And I'll be vacuuming and say, 'Could you at least lift your feet or could you at least get up and help load the dishwasher?'

    "We wanted to do it, and they just said, 'No, no, no, that can't happen.'

    "One of the people from the Academy came forward and said, 'Oscar can never be horizontal.'

    "And that blew my mind. Like, wow, this is like the thigh bone of St. Peter. This is a religious icon."

    Conan and his Oscars head writer Mike Sweeney were also keen to put an apron on the 9ft statue to depict it as a housewife.

    However, the Academy told them: "No clothing on Oscar. Oscar is always naked."

    Conan noted: "I don't fault them, it's just this is what they do. The Oscar, the image of Oscar, is very important to them."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     01 May: Oprah Winfrey cried tears of pride when Gayle King flew into space
     01 May: Gwyneth Paltrow thinks Meghan, Duchess of Sussex is "very lovely"
     01 May: Finneas would be "really sad" if he had no children before dying
     01 May: Lar Park Lincoln has died
     01 May: dangers of social media
     01 May: Gordon Ramsay has only dined at his eponymous Michelin star restaurant twice - because it is "too posh" for him
     01 May: Linda Evangelista still doesn't "look in the mirror" following her botched cosmetic procedure
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Auckland sports fans have jumped at the chance to add Auckland FC to their rotation More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Kiwirail is warning customers early - there may be difficulties getting seats on Interislander ferries in the near future More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Oprah Winfrey cried tears of pride when Gayle King flew into space 9:08

    Entertainment:
    Gwyneth Paltrow thinks Meghan, Duchess of Sussex is "very lovely" 8:38

    Rugby:
    Auckland sports fans have jumped at the chance to add Auckland FC to their rotation 8:17

    Entertainment:
    Finneas would be "really sad" if he had no children before dying 8:08

    Law and Order:
    Tai Rawhiti Police have arrested a senior Mongrel Mob member in Wairoa following recent gang tensions 8:07

    Business:
    Kiwirail is warning customers early - there may be difficulties getting seats on Interislander ferries in the near future 7:57

    Health & Safety:
    The focus is on keeping the country's hospitals safe today - while five thousand senior doctors strike for better working conditions 7:57

    Education:
    This conclave, some of the most influential cardinals won't even be inside 7:57

    Politics:
    A top lawyer has called for Auckland Council to halt consultation on plans for a Western Springs stadium, until a legal challenge is complete 7:57

    Environment:
    People in some parts of the South Island are being told to stay home unless neccessary, with today's severe weather set to worsen before it gets better 7:47


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd