The Academy Awards has a new host — Conan O'Brien is taking the reins at the annual Hollywood gala.
The former late-night TV host will headline the 97th Oscars airing live on ABC on March 2, the network announced Friday.
“America demanded it, and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars,” O’Brien said in a statement.
In a joint statement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer and its president Janet Yang, the pair called O'Brien the "perfect person" to headline the "global celebration of film with his brilliant humor, his love of movies, and his live TV expertise."
"His remarkable ability to connect with audiences will bring viewers together to do what the Oscars do best — honor the spectacular films and filmmakers of this year," Kramer and Yang said.
O'Brien, 61, is a late-night TV veteran — he spent years as the face of NBC's "Late Night," before hosting his TBS show, "Conan," from 2010 to 2021.
In recent years, the Oscars broadcast has been helmed by Jimmy Kimmel. The "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" personality emceed the show the past two years, as well as in 2017 and 2018.
During this year's ceremony held in March, Kimmel took aim at former President Trump live from the Oscars stage after the ex-commander in chief had panned his hosting skills.
"Has there ever been a worse host than Jimmy Kimmel at the Oscars?” Kimmel, reading Trump's social media post, said to the audience.
“Isn’t it past your jail time?” Kimmel retorted to Trump.
