It’s less than a week left for the Academy Awards, and the audience is waiting with bated breath to watch their pick of the litter sweep the top honors. One thing you can say about the Oscars is that the show is very long, and you need a good host to keep the audience entertained while the winners are announced in each category. Up steps Conan O’Brien, who is set to host Hollywood’s biggest night for the second time.
Conan O’Brien can’t turn the “switch” off
Although he admits to feeling a bit nervous before the gala event, O’Brien will never let the opportunity go to waste, even though he has nothing left to prove in show business. Conan O’Brien is a wildly successful former late-night TV host who spent nearly three decades hosting programs such as Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Tonight Show, and, later, Conan on TBS.
Furthermore, he has also written for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. Safe to say, comedy runs in his blood, and he will be looking forward to his jokes landing in front of a star-studded audience.
The comedian is preparing extensively for the show, working with writers and even testing jokes at comedy clubs, as he doesn’t want to disappoint in what he describes as a “high-risk” job. But perhaps the thrill of chasing the laughter can’t be switched off, as he continues to put himself in such high-pressure situations. In a recent interview with Variety, O’Brien stated, “I want to turn it off, but I can’t. That’s not always a fun ride, but that’s the deal.”
Furthermore, the longtime TV host remarked that there is a “Viking” in him that makes him want to take on difficult tasks. “There’s a little bearded Viking inside me. He’s been there since I was 10 years old. And when that Viking decides on something—whether it’s replacing David Letterman with no experience, skiing some advanced slope I have no business going down, or hosting the Oscars—that’s what’s going to happen.”
Many of O’Brien’s industry friends, including executive producer Jeff Ross, have stated that Conan has “nothing to prove” but still wants to host one of the biggest award ceremonies, as it is a “fun” thing for him to do.
Apart from hosting the Academy Awards, other “fun” things that Conan O’Brien is currently involved in include hosting his popular podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend and starring in the travel-comedy series Conan O’Brien Must Go.
Notably, Conan O’Brien’s performance at the 97th Academy Awards was well-received, and therefore, he was given the chance to host again. Now, he is preparing hard for the Oscars this year, and it remains to be seen whether this year’s ceremony surpasses the previous one in creating memorable highlight reels.