NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� A year after turning to comedian Jimmy Kimmel for the second time to host their big show, the will pivot to another familiar TV funnyman 鈥�
鈥淎merica demanded it and now it鈥檚 happening: Taco Bell鈥檚 new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I鈥檓 hosting the Oscars,鈥� O鈥橞rien said in a statement Friday.
It will be his first time as Oscar host, but he's emceed other high-profile awards shows, like the Emmy Awards in 2002 and 2006 and the White House Correspondents鈥� dinner in 1995 and 2013.
The Oscars will air live on ABC on March 2.
O鈥橞rien is best known for hosting the late-night talk shows 鈥淟ate Night with Conan O鈥橞rien,鈥� 鈥淭he Tonight Show with Conan O鈥橞rien鈥� and 鈥淐onan.鈥� Before his TV hosting career, O'Brien was a writer for 鈥淪aturday Night Live鈥� and 鈥淭he Simpsons.鈥�
O'Brien joins the list of Oscar hosts that includes Johnny Carson, Billy Crystal, David Letterman, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Rock, Jon Stewart, Hugh Jackman and Neil Patrick Harris.
鈥淗e joins an iconic roster of comedy greats who have served in this role, and we are so lucky to have him center stage for the Oscars,鈥� said Craig Erwich, president, Disney Television Group.
O鈥橞rien left late-night television in 2021 and has since led the podcast 鈥淐onan O鈥橞rien Needs a Friend,鈥� and a spinoff travel show for the Max streaming service called 鈥淐onan O鈥橞rien Must Go.鈥�
Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press
