Oscars Host Conan O’Brien Wants the Show to ‘Put a Light on’ the People of LA Recovering from the Wildfires
At a time when Conan O’Brien should be thinking about parody songs he can sing about “The Brutalist” and “Conclave,” the host of the 97th Academy Awards is instead trying to figure out how Hollywood will want to celebrate amid tragic losses endured in the Southern California wildfires. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter while at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, the former late night host and current podcaster shared that he has started working with his writers and the producers of the Oscars on material, but is not yet sure what exactly the ceremony should be. Especially considering there are fires still raging and anything can change between now and March 2, when the awards show is set to be held at Ovation Hollywood in the Dolby Theatre.
“You never know one way or the other. It’s a moving target, so I want to make sure we do that show that meets the moment on March 2nd,” said O’Brien. “And that we put a light on a lot of the people in LA that have been affected — that we’re a mixture of sensitive, but also understanding and, I hope, uplifting. That there’s some fun.”
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Despite these hopes, O’Brien is more than aware what a fine line he’ll have to walk and how delicate everyone in the room will be as a result of current events. Nonetheless, he’s determined to provide a special evening for everyone and to use the Oscars to celebrate the beauty that still remains in Los Angeles.
“It’s a crazy combination. It’s not the easiest assignment I’ve ever had, but I’m embracing it. It’s not about me, obviously,” O’Brien told THR. “This is a moment for all of us to step back, be humble, and say, ‘This is a massive moment. This is a terrible thing that’s happened in Los Angeles.’ I know people are politicizing it and yelling about it. It’s just a human tragedy.”
For O’Brien, seeing the kind of devastation he’s used to witnessing on the television set unfold right outside his front door is still shocking for him, as it is for many currently living in Los Angeles. The comedian hopes the city and its population can all take some time to process, but understands his responsibility in bringing everyone together and helping people to move forward.
“As an entertainer I need to try and figure out what’s the best way to respond to this,” said O’Brien. “So we will figure that out over the next five weeks and it’ll probably come together 45 minutes before the show.”
Watch O’Brien’s interview with THR below.
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