It’s official: Conan O’Brien is stepping back into the spotlight as the host of the upcoming Academy Awards, marking his triumphant return to one of Hollywood’s biggest stages. The news, announced on March 17, 2025, has sent waves of excitement through fans and industry insiders alike, who’ve long admired the comedian’s sharp wit and irreverent charm. Known for his decades-long tenure in late-night television, O’Brien last hosted the Oscars in 2006, a gig that left audiences in stitches and cemented his reputation as a master of live TV. But this time, he’s coming back with a twist—alongside the announcement, he dropped a hilarious bombshell about a strict rule the Academy has imposed on him, one so absurd it’s already sparking laughter across the internet.
O’Brien shared the news during a surprise appearance on his podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, where he couldn’t resist poking fun at the gig. “I’m thrilled to be hosting the Oscars again,” he said, his voice dripping with mock gravitas. “It’s an honor to stand before Hollywood’s elite and remind them why I’m still not in their movies.” The 61-year-old comedian, whose red hair and lanky frame have become as iconic as his humor, then revealed the one thing the Academy has explicitly forbidden him from doing during the broadcast: “They told me, under no circumstances, am I allowed to perform my interpretive dance to the In Memoriam segment.” The mental image of O’Brien flailing gracefully—or gracelessly—to a somber tribute montage was enough to send his podcast co-hosts into hysterics, and it’s not hard to see why the idea has fans chuckling.
The Academy’s decision to bring O’Brien back comes after years of fluctuating ratings and mixed reviews for the ceremony. Recent hosts like Jimmy Kimmel, Chris Rock, and the hostless experiments of 2019 and 2020 have kept the show in the headlines, but none have quite captured the unpredictable energy O’Brien brings. His 2006 stint was a standout, blending self-deprecating humor with clever jabs at the industry—like when he opened with a montage of himself being rejected for iconic film roles. “Conan’s a safe bet with an edge,” said an insider close to the production. “He’s got the experience to handle the room, but he’s not afraid to push the envelope—just not with a dance routine, apparently.”
O’Brien’s career trajectory makes his return all the more fitting. After leaving The Tonight Show in 2010 amid a high-profile NBC fallout, he reinvented himself with Conan on TBS, where he thrived for over a decade until 2021. Since then, he’s leaned into digital platforms, with his podcast becoming a hit and his travel series Conan Without Borders earning critical acclaim. Hosting the Oscars again feels like a full-circle moment for the veteran entertainer, who’s never shied away from embracing the absurdity of fame. “I’ve spent years perfecting my craft,” he quipped on the podcast. “By that, I mean figuring out how to make rich people uncomfortable for three hours straight.”
The Academy’s ban on his In Memoriam dance has already become a running joke online. Fans on X have flooded the platform with mock choreography ideas, with one user posting, “Conan doing the worm while they honor Meryl Streep’s career would’ve been peak TV.” Another wrote, “The Academy just robbed us of the greatest Oscar moment never seen.” O’Brien himself leaned into the gag, tweeting a grainy photo of himself in a leotard from the ’90s with the caption, “This is what they’re afraid of. Their loss.” The lighthearted rebellion is classic Conan—playful yet pointed, a reminder of why he’s such a beloved figure.
Behind the laughs, though, there’s a serious challenge ahead. The Oscars have struggled to stay relevant in an era of streaming and short attention spans. Last year’s ceremony drew 18 million viewers—a rebound from pandemic lows but still far from its late-’90s peak of 55 million. O’Brien’s job will be to keep the energy high, the pacing tight, and the A-listers on their toes, all while dodging the kind of controversy that’s plagued past hosts. His 2006 performance avoided major pitfalls, but the cultural landscape has shifted since then, with social media amplifying every misstep. “I’m not worried,” he said on the podcast. “If I bomb, I’ll just blame the teleprompter and flee to Ireland.”
Details about the ceremony remain scarce, but early reports suggest O’Brien is already workshopping material with his longtime writers. Expect plenty of nods to his outsider status in Hollywood—he’s famously never been a fixture in blockbuster films—and maybe a few barbs at the Academy’s expense. As for the forbidden dance, he hinted he might sneak in a subtle tribute. “I can’t dance, but I can sway menacingly,” he deadpanned. “They didn’t say anything about that.”
With the Oscars set to air in early 2026, anticipation is building for what could be one of the most memorable nights in recent memory. O’Brien’s return promises a mix of nostalgia, chaos, and his signature brand of humor—minus the interpretive dance that never was. For now, fans can only imagine the hilarity that might’ve been, and laugh at the thought of the Academy sweating over a 6-foot-4 comedian twirling across their sacred stage.
