For Conan O’Brien, hosting the Oscars isn’t just another professional gig; it’s way more personal. This year, as he returns to the Academy Awards stage, the comedian-turned-host opened up about a memory that’s stuck with him since childhood: watching Johnny Carson host the Oscars with his late father. As a kid, seeing his dad laugh at Carson’s jokes, Conan started to understand what comedy could do. Now, years later, standing on that same stage, he can’t help but feel like things have come full circle.
What did Conan O’Brien say?
On Wednesday, March 11, Conan joined producers and designers at a press conference to talk about this year’s Oscars. He’s 62 now, but he still remembers what it was like to look up to his dad and try to find some way to connect. “When I was growing up, and this is probably true for a lot of kids, I’d look at my dad and think, what does he like? Is that something we could share?” he said.
For the unversed, Conan’s father, Dr. Thomas O’Brien, passed away in December 2024. Just three days later, Conan’s mom, Ruth Reardon O’Brien, who’d been married to Thomas for 66 years, also passed away.
“His treat,” Conan said, “was watching Johnny Carson. Sometimes I’d get to stay up and watch with him.
I remember so clearly Johnny Carson hosting the Oscars, and I’d watch my dad watching Johnny, just cracking up.”
He called it “a triangle.” That connection between Carson, his dad, and himself meant a lot. “To think that now, in some cosmic way, I’m part of that equation. It’s pretty amazing,” Conan said.
Conan shared that Carson, who passed away in 2005, once made a joke at the Oscars that Conan never forgot. Back during the 444-day Iran hostage crisis, ABC’s Nightline used to announce how many days it had lasted. “And Johnny said, ‘Well, it is day 44 of this Oscars,’” Conan recalled, laughing about that famously long telecast. “It was this perfect, topical joke; everybody was thinking it, and it just brought everyone together for a second. That always stuck with me.”
At the press conference, Conan and the Oscar producers also teased some fun reunions planned for the show, including cast members from Bridesmaids and stars from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Conan O’Brien: All about the comedy icon
Conan O’Brien has been a fixture in American TV for over thirty years. Not only is he quick-witted, but he’s always ready to poke fun at himself, too. As an acclaimed comedian, O’Brien has left a huge mark on late-night comedy.
O’Brien started out writing for ‘Saturday Night Live’ (SNL) and ‘The Simpsons’, but really broke through in 1993 when he took over ‘Late Night with Conan O’Brien’. After that came ‘The Tonight Show’, then his long run on ‘TBS with Conan’.
For nearly three decades, Conan’s been known for his playful style, offbeat sketches, and hilarious remote segments. Per People, he got inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2025, with plenty of other awards along the way.
Hosting the Oscars: The return of the debutant
Conan first took on Oscar hosting duties in 2025, just last year, mixing his trademark absurd humor with a genuine love for movies. He managed to make people laugh while still showing respect for the films and the night itself. Per ABC News, the broadcast’s ratings jumped, and the Academy didn’t waste any time inviting him back for the 98th Oscars in 2026.
Now, he’s coming back for his second year in a row. This time as well, he’s bringing back his longtime collaborators, like Jeff Ross and Mike Sweeney, to help write and produce.
The Oscars ceremony is set to take place this Sunday, March 15, 2026.
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