Can Conan save the Oscars?

Plus: Paddington meets Interstellar, RIP Gene Hackman, and Christopher Nolan's favorite Batman scene.

Author

Brock Swinson
February 28, 2025

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FEATURE 

🎭 Conan: The Oscar Host We Deserve

"The perfect blend of smart and stupid."

After years of host musical chairs and failed experiments, the Academy Awards need a reliable hand at the helm — and there's no one better suited than Conan O'Brien. While the Oscars continue their desperate search for ratings relevance, they've somehow overlooked the 6'4" redheaded solution who's been hiding in plain sight for decades.

The comedic sensibility that makes O'Brien ideal is exactly what the ceremony lacks: that rare ability to be simultaneously intellectual and absurd. As he famously put it himself: "When smart and stupid come together, it's very difficult, but if you can make it happen, I think it's the most beautiful thing in the world."

1. The Self-Deprecation Factor. Unlike hosts who pander to Hollywood's self-importance or those who seem terrified of the A-list audience, Conan's greatest strength has always been his willingness to make himself the butt of the joke. His gangly dance moves and manic physical comedy would bring a refreshing contrast to the ceremony's typical stiffness.

The Oscars don't need another host who treats celebrities like royalty — they need someone who can deflate the room's ego while still celebrating film. That's Conan's sweet spot.

2. The Improvisation Skills. When technical difficulties inevitably strike (as they always do during live broadcasts), imagine Conan riffing with his trademark string dance or summoning Jordan Schlansky to explain the intricacies of Italian cinema. His ability to create comedy gold from awkward moments would transform potential disasters into highlights.

His Harvard education provides the intellectual heft to appreciate cinema's artistic merits, while his willingness to put a remote-controlled mechanical mouth on Triumph the Insult Comic Dog demonstrates he's never above ridiculous sight gags.

3. The Guest Chemistry. Perhaps Conan's most underrated talent is his ability to make guests feel comfortable while still generating genuine moments. Where Jimmy Fallon interrupts constantly and Jimmy Kimmel often leaves guests feeling ambushed, O'Brien has mastered the art of drawing out genuine reactions through carefully calibrated conversation.

As evidenced by his masterful interview with the notoriously shy Rooney Mara, Conan possesses a rare ability to put even the most reserved personalities at ease. Imagine what he could do with the nervous first-time nominee or the overwhelmed international filmmaker suddenly thrust into the spotlight.

The true beauty of a Conan-hosted Oscars wouldn't be the prepared bits (though they'd be stellar) — it would be watching him navigate the inevitable chaos of live television with the same improvisational brilliance that's defined his career.

In an era where hosts seem afraid to offend or struggle to command attention, O'Brien represents that vanishing breed of performer who can simultaneously roast and celebrate an institution without diminishing either. The Academy would be wise to recognize what late-night viewers have known for decades: there's never been another Conan O'Brien, and there never will be.

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