Oscars host Conan O’Brien is well aware of the impact the recent wildfires have had on Los Angeles.
Ahead of taking the stage at the 97th Academy Awards in March, the comic and former late night host opened up to Chris Connelly of ABC News this morning, explaining that he is taking the “traumatic experience” that the city has endured into account as he gears up for this year’s awards show.
“There’s a misconception sometimes that, oh, some rich people lost their homes …,” he shared, noting that his own assistant’s home was lost in the fires. “This is something that touched everybody, regardless of your income.”
In approaching his material for the big night, he also pointed out that “there’s a lot that’s happening nationally that people are very tense about and it changes day to day.”
“And so my job right now with my writers is to create possibilities,” he added. “That’s what we’re doing. We’re working hard to create possibilities. And then I don’t know, I think we’re going to have to get very close to the actual air date to figure out.”
O’Brien also addressed the task while speaking with The Hollywood Reporter at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
“It’s not the easiest assignment I’ve ever had but I’m embracing it. And it’s not about me, obviously,” he said earlier this month. “This is a moment for all of us to step back and say, ‘Be humble.’ Just be humble and say, ‘This is a massive moment. This is a terrible thing that’s happened in Los Angeles.”
On Jan. 9, Hacks star Jean Smart issued a statement on Instagram asking television networks to consider not airing awards shows in the midst of the wildfires, and instead donate to firefighters and fire victims.
Meanwhile, Meghan Markle delayed the release of her Netflix series With Love, Meghan, citing her “focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in [her] home state of California” in a statement. Among the stars who have lost their homes are James Woods, Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore.
O’Brien is succeeding Jimmy Kimmel as host of the Oscars, who marked his fourth year in the coveted gig in 2024. Puck News reported in July 2024 that Kimmel and John Mulaney had turned down the job. As for O’Brien, who was announced as host in November 2024, he told Connelly that in the time since Conan ended, he’s “been saying yes to things.”
“It’s been this time of yes,” he continued. “So I did an independent film at Sundance. I headlined at the Newport Folk Festival. I’m just saying yes to things that I wouldn’t have done before. I’m a black belt in karate now. I’m a licensed neurosurgeon. I mean, there are all these things I’m doing now that I didn’t think I would ever do before.”
The 2025 Oscars air March 2 at 7/6c on ABC and Hulu. Check out the full list of this year’s nominees.
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