Conan O’Brien Reveals The Oscars Rule That Left Him Stunned!
Conan O’Brien, who hosted the 2025 Oscars, shared some behind-the-scenes details about the ceremony during a recent episode of his Conan Needs a Friend podcast. While the event is known for its star-studded moments and jaw-dropping speeches, O’Brien had a few ideas that didn’t make the cut, all thanks to the Academy’s surprisingly strict rules. Some of these concepts were so funny that they would’ve brought an entirely different flair to the prestigious event.
The Oscars Statue Gets a Personality
One of O’Brien’s more outlandish ideas involved giving the Oscar statue a quirky personality. “At one point, I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if [Oscar] was just on the couch?’” O’Brien revealed. The bit was to feature the statue lounging on a large couch while O’Brien vacuumed around it, saying things like, “Could you at least lift your feet? Or could you at least get up and help? Load the dishwasher?”
Sounds hilarious, right? Well, the Academy didn’t agree. O’Brien recalled the Academy’s response: “No, no, no, that can’t happen.” The reason? “Oscar can never be horizontal,” O’Brien continued. He was flabbergasted. Apparently, the Oscars statue is so sacred, it’s treated almost like a religious artifact. “It’s like the thigh bone of St. Peter,” O’Brien joked, poking fun at how serious the Academy took the trophy’s sacred status.
No Clothing Allowed on Oscar
If O’Brien’s couch idea wasn’t enough, there was another concept involving Oscar as a housewife—this time serving leftovers to the host. It was all part of the comedic vision O’Brien had for the ceremony, but once again, the Academy vetoed the idea. “No clothing on Oscar,” he said, emphasizing that the statue is always presented “naked”—no exceptions.
It’s not every day that you hear about strict guidelines governing an award statue, but it seems the Academy has a deep attachment to keeping Oscar pure and untouched.
A Longer Opening Sequence Cut from the Show
O’Brien’s ideas didn’t stop at the Oscars statue. He also had a grand opening sequence planned for the show, which involved him spoofing several movies in a comedic montage. The original plan was to have O’Brien perform a lengthy, multi-part sequence, starting with him dressed as the Wicked Witch from Wicked. He’d then transition into a gladiator in Gladiator II, but something was off—the entire time, O’Brien would still be wearing green face paint. The joke was that the dye wouldn’t come off between scenes.
“I had to shoot it in one day, and the dye wouldn’t come off,” O’Brien explained. The extended opening sequence, which involved rapid costume changes and clever references, was ultimately cut, but fans still got a taste of the humor in the final show.
The 2025 Oscars: Big Moments Despite the Cuts
While some of O’Brien’s plans were axed, the 2025 Oscars had plenty of memorable moments, including:
- Adrien Brody and Halle Berry’s Amorous Reunion: After two decades, the two reconnected on the red carpet, sparking memories of Brody’s famous kiss when he won the Best Actor Oscar for The Pianist.
- Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s Wicked Tribute: The dynamic duo kicked off the ceremony with a powerful performance of “Defying Gravity” and other iconic songs, celebrating their roles in Wicked.
- Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg’s Ghost Reunion: The two actresses reunited on the red carpet, drawing cheers from fans who remembered their legendary roles in Ghost.
- Margaret Qualley and Elle Fanning Backstage: Though neither actress was nominated, both had significant roles during the evening, with Qualley appearing in a James Bond tribute and Fanning presenting an award for Best Costume Design.
Final Thoughts on the 2025 Oscars
Even though Conan O’Brien had to scrap some of his most comical ideas for the show, the 2025 Oscars still delivered an unforgettable night of laughter, nostalgia, and surprises. From reuniting iconic co-stars to showing off unforgettable performances, the night had something for everyone—even if the Oscar statue didn’t get to lie down on a couch!
