Late-night icon Conan O’Brien took the stage as the host of this year’s prestigious Academy Awards, where he shared a handful of comedic gems that ultimately did not make the final cut. During an episode of his podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,” O’Brien engaged with his longtime writing collaborator Mike Sweeney, diving into the amusing and often surprising details from behind the scenes of the famed awards ceremony.
One of the wittiest insights that O’Brien shared involved an innovative promotional idea featuring an amusing scenario with a towering 9-foot-tall Oscar statuette. He envisioned a comedic skit where he and the Oscar would portray a domestic couple, arguing over everyday trivial matters—such as household chores and responsibilities that couples often bicker about. O’Brien’s playful concept included them being on a couch together, where he imagined himself vacuuming while pleading with the Oscar to lift its feet or help load the dishwasher.
However, this creative vision was met with an unexpected roadblock. O’Brien recounted how one of the Academy’s representatives arrived to clarify the restrictions surrounding the Oscar statuette. The representative firmly stated, “Oscar can never be horizontal,” leaving O’Brien both surprised and amused. The comedic host reflected on how the Oscar has been treated as somewhat of a sacred icon, humorously likening it to “the thigh bone of St. Peter,” emphasizing its elevated status in the world of cinema.
O’Brien’s intentions to inject a sense of humor into the Oscar’s character continued, as he initially hoped to dress the statue in an apron to depict Oscar as a housewife. To his dismay, this idea was swiftly shot down as well, with the strict adherence to the statue’s nudity being made clear: “No clothing on Oscar. Oscar is always naked.” Such limitations appear to loom large at events like the Academy Awards, where maintaining the esteemed image of the statuette takes precedence over comedic creativity.
Furthermore, O’Brien revealed more about the aspects of the show that were altered or scrapped entirely. For example, he mentioned that the original opening sequence of the Oscars was ultimately abandoned, having been replaced by a parody of the film “The Substance,” which starred Demi Moore. O’Brien’s initial proposal for this introduction was significantly broader, allowing more opportunities for film-based humor.
In discussing his opening gag, he provided a glimpse into his initial concept, which involved him dressing up as the green-skinned character Elphaba from “Wicked.” He imagined starting the segment by performing “Defying Gravity” before suddenly transitioning to a role in “Gladiator II,” where he would still be depicted as green amidst the intense backdrops of clashing swords and gladiatorial combat. The continuity of the joke, which centered around his character remaining green in various settings, extended through references to a voting scene in a fictitious film titled “Conclave,” where one of the hands was notably green.
The running gags about O’Brien’s character remaining green, reminiscent of Cynthia Erivo’s portrayal in *Wicked*, continued throughout his proposed sequences, even making appearances in imagined projects like “Dune: Part Two” and “Nosferatu”. Such clever reflections exemplified O’Brien’s unique ability to take mundane aspects of life and elevate them into comedic ideas, engaging his audience while offering insider glimpses into the creative process that accompanies large-scale productions like the Oscars.
These anecdotes from Conan O’Brien’s Academy Award journey demonstrate not only his comedic prowess but also highlight the intricate balance between creative expression and adherence to tradition within the high-pressure environment of the Academy Awards. By sharing these moments, O’Brien gives fans a chance to appreciate the humor that sometimes gets lost amidst the glitz and glamor of Hollywood.