LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Emmy-winning television host, writer and producer Conan O'Brien will make his debut hosting the Academy Awards ceremony next year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Friday.
O'Brien will helm the 97th Oscars ceremony scheduled for March 2 at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The show will be televised on ABC.
"America demanded it and now it's happening: Taco Bell's new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I'm hosting the Oscars," O'Brien quipped in a statement.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Zang said they are thrilled and honored to have O'Brien host the Oscars.
"He 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. 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," Kramer and Yang said in a statement released Friday.
The Harvard-educated O'Brien is known for hosting late-night TV shows, including "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and "Conan." He was briefly the host of "The Tonight Show," and previously was a writer for "Saturday Night Live" and "The Simpsons."
O'Brien hosts the podcast "Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend" and recently starred in the 2024 travel show "Conan O'Brien Must Go." He has won five Primetime Emmys Awards and earned 31 nominations.
"Conan has all the qualities of a great Oscars host -- he is incredibly witty, charismatic and funny and has proven himself to be a master of live event television," said Oscars executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan. "We are so looking forward to working with him to deliver a fresh, exciting and celebratory show for Hollywood's biggest night."
Last year's host, late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, recently told the Los Angeles Times he was not interested in returning to host again. Kimmel hosted the show four times. Various media reports indicated that comedian John Mulaney was offered the hosting job but turned it down.
Although it will be his first time hosting the Oscars, O'Brien is no stranger to awards show duties. He hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards ceremonies in 2002 and 2006.