In an unexpected twist, former Oscars host Conan O'Brien recently shared that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences vetoed his creative promotional ideas for the ceremony. On the podcast "Conan Needs a Friend," hosted by his Oscars head writer Mike Sweeney, O'Brien revealed his plan to feature a humorous series of ads where he and a 9-foot tall Oscar statue portrayed a domestic partnership.
O'Brien described one of his concepts where the statue would be lounging on a couch, with him humorously nagging it to help with household chores like lifting its feet or loading the dishwasher. However, the Academy firmly rejected this idea, insisting that the Oscar statue must never be depicted horizontally.
"One of the people from the Academy came forward and said, 'Oscar can never be horizontal.' And that blew my mind," O'Brien recounted, likening the statue to a sacred relic. He also mentioned another rejected idea where the Oscar would wear an apron, serving leftovers, but was told the statue must always remain "naked."
The Academy's strict guidelines on the portrayal of their iconic statue might seem peculiar, but they are clear in their stance. Despite the disappointment, fans are eager to see what creative ideas O'Brien might bring to future ceremonies. Many are already rooting for him to host the Oscars again in 2026, hoping for another showcase of his unique comedic talent.
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