In a surprising twist of events, former Oscars host Conan O’Brien shared an intriguing story on the podcast "Conan Needs a Friend" with his head writer Mike Sweeney. O’Brien recounted his experience pitching promotional ads for the Oscars, which involved a humorous domestic scenario with a 9-foot tall Oscar statue. However, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences quickly shot down his creative ideas.
Keep that Oscar upstanding. Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP.
O’Brien’s concept featured him and the Oscar statue in a playful partnership, tackling everyday couple disputes. One particular ad had O’Brien vacuuming while suggesting the Oscar lift its feet or help with chores like loading the dishwasher. Unfortunately, the Academy firmly rejected the idea of laying the Oscar statue horizontally on a couch, stating that "Oscar can never be horizontal."
This strict rule baffled O’Brien, who humorously compared the Oscar to a sacred relic, saying, "Like, wow, this is like the thigh bone of St. Peter. This is a religious icon." Additionally, the Academy insisted that the statue remain "always naked," thwarting another of O’Brien’s ideas where the Oscar would wear an apron and serve leftovers.
The Academy's stringent rules on Oscar iconography might seem peculiar, but they are within their rights to enforce them. While it's disappointing that we missed out on seeing O’Brien’s comedic vision come to life, fans are hopeful he'll return with equally entertaining ideas for future ceremonies. Here's to hoping for Team Conan Oscar Host 2026!
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