Conan O'Brien Reveals the Shocking Oscars Rule That "Blew My Mind"

3 days ago 1

Oscars 2025 Host Conan O’Brien Calls Out Karla Sofía Gascón Amid Emilia Pérez Controversy

The 61-year-old, who hosted the 2025 Oscars earlier this month, revealed that some of his ideas for the show were blocked due to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ strict rules about their iconic Oscars statue, which is aptly named Oscar.

“At one point, I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if it’s just on the couch?’” Conan said on the March 13 episode of his Conan Needs a Friend podcast. “Let’s lay it on a really big couch and I’ll be vacuuming and say, ‘Could you at least lift your feet? Or could you at least get up and help? Load the dishwasher?’”

As he recalled, his humorous promo idea was met with the Oscars team responding, “No, no no, that can’t happen.”

“One of the people from the Academy came forward and said, ‘Oscar can never be horizontal,’” Conan continued. “That blew my mind. Like, wow, this is like the thigh bone of St. Peter. This is a religious icon.”

But the organization behind Hollywood’s biggest night didn’t just poopoo on Conan’s couch idea: According to Conan, when his team suggested they depict the trophy as a housewife in an apron serving the host leftovers, that bit was quickly shot down as well.

“No clothing on Oscar,” Conan added. “Oscar is always naked.”

While his promo ideas were allegedly not approved, they weren’t the only plans that required Conan to pivot. The former Late Night host apparently had to axe an extended version of the show’s opening sequence, too.

In a video that opened the March 2 ceremony, Conan spoofed one of the night’s winners The Substance by recreating a scene from the movie where Margaret Qualley crawls out of Demi Moore’s back. According to the comedian, the bit was meant to be much longer.

Frank Micelotta/Disney via Getty Images

“It was the idea that, ‘Oh, Conan’s now going to goof on all the movies,’” he explained. “It starts with me and I’m in Wicked and I’m all green, finishing ‘Defying Gravity’ or one of those songs.”

He added, “I finish it and then you cut to the next thing, which is Gladiator II and ‘clang, clang, clang’ with swords and you see that I’m a gladiator but then you notice that I’m still green. And then you go on to Conclave and you see people voting with their ballots and one of the hands is still green.”

As he explained of the canned bit, “The whole thing was that the dye wouldn’t come off and we had to shoot it in one day.”

While some of Conan’s proposals didn’t happen at the 2025 Oscars, there were plenty more memorable moments. Read on to see what you may have missed during the March 2 show.

Michael Buckner/Penske Media via Getty Images; Jay L. Clendenin/Shutterstock

Adrien Brody and Halle Berry Have an Amorous Red Carpet Reunion

Twenty-two years after Adrien Brody so memorably thanked presenter Halle Berry when he won his first Best Actor statue for The Pianist, he returned as a nominee for The Brutalist and she was prepared.

John Shearer/97th Oscars/The Academy via Getty Images

Wicked's Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Congratulate Each Other on a Job Well Done

No question, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are changed for good after starring in Wicked. The costars opened the 2025 Oscars with a medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz, "Home" from The Wiz and their own film's biggest banger, "Defying Gravity."

VALERIE MACON / AFP via Getty Images

Demi Moore & Whoopi Goldberg Have a Ghost Reunion

"Molly, you in danger, girl!" The Ghost co-stars reunite on the red carpet at the 2025 Academy Awards.

E! News

Host Conan O'Brien's Gift for the Real VIPs

Stars and the ever-important attendees who served as seat fillers when the A-listers got up to go do stuff were treated to these gifts from host Conan O'Brien.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner Sneak a Kiss

Best Actor nominee Timothée Chalamet hasn't been coy about who his main squeeze is like some young actors, bringing Kylie Jenner as his

date to the 2025 Oscars.

Rich Polk/Penske Media via Getty Images

Colman Domingo Keeps the Party Going

Best Actor nominee Colman Domingo starred in Sing Sing and started a dance-dance revolution during a commercial break, encouraging the audience to keep it moving.

John Shearer/97th Oscars/The Academy via Getty Images

Best Supporting Actor Winner Kieran Culkin Enjoys His Victory With Robert Downey Jr.

Noting in his Best Supporting Actor speech that the honor meant a particular lot coming from presenter Robert Downey Jr., A Real Pain star Kieran Culkin enjoyed his moment with last year's winner backstage.

John Shearer/97th Oscars/The Academy via Getty Images

Meg Ryan and Best Actress Nominee Demi Moore Have an Emotional Moment

Demi Moore, a first-time Oscar nominee for The Substance, was relishing her moment with fellow veteran star Meg Ryan earlier in the evening.

Alas, Moore's awards season accolades stopped short of Oscar night, Anora's Mikey Madison pulling off the Best Actress upset.

Rich Polk/Penske Media via Getty Images

2025 Best Actor Nominees, Assemble!

Best Actor nominees Timothée Chalamet, Colman Domingo, Adrien Brody, Ralph Fiennes and Sebastian Stan proved it's all love, even among competitors in the same category.

Richard Harbaugh/The Academy via Getty Images

Samuel L. Jackson and Selena Gomez Snap a Selfie

Past nominee Samuel L. Jackson and Emilia Pérez star Selena Gomez, paired to present Oscars for Best Documentary Short and Documentary Feature, made sure to capture the moment for posterity.

John Shearer/97th Oscars/The Academy via Getty Images

Best Supporting Actress Winner Zoe Saldaña Tunes in Backstage

Emilia Pérez star Zoe Saldaña, waiting backstage to present the Oscar for cinematography, caught Sterling K. Brown and Ana de Armas presenting Best Live Action Short to I'm Not a Robot.

John Shearer/97th Oscars/The Academy via Getty Images

Lisa Steals a Quiet Moment Backstage

Before Lisa performed "Live and Let Die" as part of a tribute to the James Bond franchise and producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, the Blackpink artist and White Lotus star stopped to collect herself backstage.

John Shearer/97th Oscars/The Academy via Getty Images

Margaret Qualley, Elle Fanning Catch Up Backstage

The Substance's Margaret Qualley and A Complete Unknown's Elle Fanning weren't among the nominees but producers found meaty roles for both: Qualley made a slinks surprise appearance in the evening's James Bond tribute as a dancer, while Fanning helped present Best Costume Design to Wicked's Paul Tazewell.

Rich Polk/Penske Media via Getty Images

What Did Kieran Culkin Just Tell Ariana Grande?

Ariana Grande, in attendance with Wicked costar and real-life love Ethan Slater, appears to have had her mind blown—but only her boyfriend and Kieran Culkin know for sure.

Jay L. Clendenin/Shutterstock

Halle Berry & Michelle Yeoh

The two Oscar winners and former Bond girls pose for pics together as they arrive for the ceremony.

Al Seib/The Academy via Getty Images

Oprah Winfrey Celebrates Quincy Jones With Queen Latifah

Entertainment royalty Oprah Winfrey and Queen Latifah joined forces to help honor the late, great Quincy Jones.

Disney/Scott Kirkland

Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison, Zoe Saldana & Kieran Culkin

Cheers! The newly-minted Oscar winners tap their trophies in celebration.

Richard Harbaugh/The Academy via Getty Images

Past Winners Cillian Murphy and Emma Stone Meet Again

Returning to pay it forward, 2024's Best Actor winner Cillian Murphy and Best Actress Emma Stone had a word up before heading out to present to this year's respective winners, Adrien Brody and Mikey Madison.

John Shearer/97th Oscars/The Academy via Getty Images

Best Actress Winner Mikey Madison Can't Stop Smiling

Anora star Mikey Madison flashed the written proof along with her Best Actress Oscar after her surprise win.

Richard Harbaugh/The Academy via Getty Images

Adrien Brody Thinks Billy Crystal Looks Marvelous, Darling

Best Actor winner Brody had an affectionate greeting for revered nine-time Oscars host Billy Crystal, who reunited with When Harry Met Sally costar Meg Ryan to present Best Picture to Anora.

Stefanie Keenan/VF25/WireImage for Vanity Fair

Chrissy Teigen, Selma Blair & Scout

The Cruel Intentions actress' handsome service dog stole everyone's hearts at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App

Read Entire Article