Conan O'Brien Exposes Bizarre Oscar Statue Rules for Promos

In a surprising twist, former Oscars host Conan O'Brien shared on the podcast "Conan Needs a Friend" that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences rejected his creative promotional ideas for the ceremony. O'Brien had envisioned a series of ads featuring him in a domestic partnership with a 9-foot tall Oscar statue, but the Academy was not on board with his plans, particularly regarding the statue's positioning and attire.

O'Brien described one concept where he and the Oscar statue would engage in typical couple disputes. "We’re fighting about things couples fight about," he said. He imagined a scene where the Oscar would be lounging on a large couch while he vacuumed, asking it to lift its feet or help with chores. However, the Academy firmly declined, stating that the Oscar "can never be horizontal."

This strict rule about the statue's orientation left O'Brien astonished. "Like, wow, this is like the thigh bone of St. Peter. This is a religious icon," he remarked. Additionally, the Academy insisted that the statue remain "always naked," thwarting another of O'Brien's ideas where the Oscar would wear an apron and serve leftovers.

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45 ImagesWhile the Academy's decisions might seem peculiar, they are within their rights to enforce such rules. It's unfortunate that viewers missed out on O'Brien's humorous take on the Oscar statue, but fans are hopeful he'll return with equally entertaining ideas for future ceremonies. We're definitely rooting for Conan to host the Oscars again in 2026.