Conan O’Brien will officially return to host the Oscars for a third straight year, after ABC, Disney, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences lauded the comedian for two widely applauded performances that re-energized the industry’s most-watched night with sharp humor and boundless energy. The 99th Academy Awards, set to air on ABC and stream on Hulu on March 14, 2027, will once again feature O’Brien at the mic after his highly praised turns in 2025 and 2026. Disney executives hailed this late-night veteran for delivering fresh momentum to the ceremony at a moment when awards shows continue to grapple with slipping ratings and shifting viewer habits. Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group, stated that “Conan has created a remarkable energy around the Oscars,” adding that “his distinctive humor makes the biggest night in Hollywood one of the year’s most entertaining celebrations.”
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O’Brien’s consecutive stints as host cemented him as one of the Academy’s brightest talents, fusing absurd humor, rapid-fire improvisation, and sharp industry satire in a way that resonated with online audiences and in the Dolby Theatre alike.
During the 2026 ceremony, O’Brien immediately grabbed headlines by joking that he was probably “the last human host of the Oscars” before “a Waymo in a tuxedo” would eventually replace him.
Throughout the night, he repeatedly skewered the industry’s growing obsession with streaming platforms, artificial intelligence, and corporate consolidation. At one point, O’Brien singled out Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, and quipped:
“Why are all these people here having fun? They should be alone so I can monetize them!” This line quickly ricocheted across social media and became one of the ceremony’s viral moments.
« An alternate Oscars ceremony, hosted by Kid Rock, is taking place right now at a nearby Dave & Buster’s. »
– Conan O’Brien, host of the 97th Academy Awards
O’Brien also leaned heavily on his signature self-deprecating comedy, taking aim at himself and some of the year’s most notable films. While riffing on Wicked, he delivered one of the night’s most shared jokes by describing the film as ideal for audiences who, after seeing The Wizard of Oz, wondered:
“Where did the supporting characters go to college?”
The host then transformed historical drama into political satire, joking about Hamnet and remarking that a scene depicting a woman giving birth alone in the woods has now become shorthand for “affordable health care.” Even moments that could have turned political in the room were deftly defused by O’Brien’s surreal humor. Addressing celebrities anxious about political controversies, he reassured the audience by declaring that “an alternate Oscars ceremony, hosted by Kid Rock, is happening right now at a nearby Dave & Buster’s.”
The joke elicited a roar of laughter inside the venue and became a tabloid favorite the next day.
In recent years, the Oscars have increasingly leaned on seasoned late-night personalities, with producers seeking hosts capable of balancing celebrity-driven humor, the unpredictability of live television, and political commentary. Jimmy Kimmel had already hosted the 95th ceremony in 2023 and the 96th in 2024, bringing his familiar blend of light public interaction and topical jokes to the stage.
Before this late-night era, the 94th Oscars in 2022 experimented with a three-host format featuring Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes.
The success of O’Brien at the 97th Oscars in 2025 quickly convinced ABC and Disney executives to bring him back the following year. The rise in ratings, strong online engagement, and positive critical reception solidified his status as the Academy’s preferred modern host.
Industry analysts have noted that O’Brien’s success stems largely from his ability to strike a balance between insider Hollywood satire and broad, accessible comedy that resonates beyond the entertainment business itself. Unlike several previous hosts who were overwhelmed by the increasingly political atmosphere surrounding award shows, O’Brien has managed to address controversial topics while keeping a deliberately ridiculous, self-deprecating tone. Critics have particularly praised his willingness to mock both Hollywood elites and the corporate culture of entertainment without letting the ceremony fall prey to partisan clashes.
Vanity Fair’s entertainment columnist Richard Lawson previously described O’Brien’s Oscars performances as “chaos in a controlled environment,” while social media users repeatedly applauded his knack for creating viral moments without eclipsing the awards themselves. His performances have also introduced a younger online audience to the anarchic late-night humor that first made him famous during his run on NBC and TBS.
« Conan has infused a remarkable energy into the Oscars. »
– Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group
The 99th Academy Awards, coming up soon, will also mark the end of an era for the event’s traditional broadcast model. The 2027 edition is expected to be the final Oscars aired on ABC and streamed on Hulu before the Academy shifts to a new distribution framework starting in 2028, which will include YouTube as the primary broadcast partner. This move mirrors broader changes reshaping television, streaming, and live event distribution across the entertainment industry.
By bringing O’Brien back during this transitional moment, Disney and the Academy appear invested in preserving the comedic momentum and online cultural relevance built over the past two years. As Hollywood continues to adapt to declines in traditional TV viewership and the fragmentation of streaming platforms, executives now see O’Brien’s unpredictable humor and viral appeal as among the Oscars’ strongest assets.
