They renewed me uh halfway through the first show last year. I was on stage when they said you’re doing it again next year, which, um, and they came out and told me in front of people, which I thought was awkward. But um you gotta roll with things. I was very happy to do it again and it worked out because it’s an insanely good year for movies. I mean, we’ve had so many groundbreaking films this year that uh I thought, well this is *** great year to do it. So I remembered in high school starting to realize I really like this comedy thing. So, Brookline did that to me and I used to go to see movies in Coolidge Corner. And my dad would take me to see classic comedies there. So, Brookline is *** big part of my story, and um I go back there several times *** year and wander around and bother people. So if you’re watching right now, look for me. I’ll probably be, be back in town in uh *** couple of weeks, just wandering around hoping someone recognizes me. It’s very sad.

Massachusetts-native Conan O’Brien returns to host Oscars for second consecutive year

Updated: 9:28 AM EDT Mar 13, 2026

Editorial Standards

Conan O’Brien — the Massachusetts native, comedian, actor, producer, writer and host — is back for a second year of hosting the Oscars. “Yeah, they renewed me halfway through the first show last year. I was on stage when they said, ‘You’re doing it again next year,'” he recently told NewsCenter 5. “They came out and told me in front of people, which I thought was awkward, but you’ve got to roll with things. I was very happy to do it again. And it worked out because it’s an insanely good year for movies.”Last year, O’Brien’s first time leading the show attracted the biggest broadcast audience in five years for the Oscars. An estimated 19.7 million viewers watched the 97th Academy Awards ceremony, according to broadcaster ABC, with a big lift among people aged 18 to 49, driven by mobile and laptop watches from younger viewers. It was also the most-watched prime-time entertainment show of 2025.”We’ve had so many groundbreaking films this year that I thought, ‘Well, this is a great year to do it.’ So, happy to have signed up,” O’Brien said. Oscars coverage on Channel 5 begins at 7 p.m. Sunday.After the Hollywood award season, O’Brien is scheduled for a return to Massachusetts. He was invited to give the commencement speech at Harvard in May. O’Brien grew up in Brookline, graduated from Harvard and said that Massachusetts was where he realized his life’s calling.”I remembered in high school, starting to realize I really like this comedy thing. So Brookline did that to me,” he said. “And I used to go to see movies in Coolidge Corner, and my dad would take me to see classic comedies there. So, Brookline is a big part of my story. And I go back there several times a year and wander around and bother people.”

Conan O’Brien — the Massachusetts native, comedian, actor, producer, writer and host — is back for a second year of hosting the Oscars.

“Yeah, they renewed me halfway through the first show last year. I was on stage when they said, ‘You’re doing it again next year,'” he recently told NewsCenter 5. “They came out and told me in front of people, which I thought was awkward, but you’ve got to roll with things. I was very happy to do it again. And it worked out because it’s an insanely good year for movies.”

Last year, O’Brien’s first time leading the show attracted the biggest broadcast audience in five years for the Oscars. An estimated 19.7 million viewers watched the 97th Academy Awards ceremony, according to broadcaster ABC, with a big lift among people aged 18 to 49, driven by mobile and laptop watches from younger viewers. It was also the most-watched prime-time entertainment show of 2025.

“We’ve had so many groundbreaking films this year that I thought, ‘Well, this is a great year to do it.’ So, happy to have signed up,” O’Brien said.

Oscars coverage on Channel 5 begins at 7 p.m. Sunday.

After the Hollywood award season, O’Brien is scheduled for a return to Massachusetts. He was invited to give the commencement speech at Harvard in May.

O’Brien grew up in Brookline, graduated from Harvard and said that Massachusetts was where he realized his life’s calling.

“I remembered in high school, starting to realize I really like this comedy thing. So Brookline did that to me,” he said. “And I used to go to see movies in Coolidge Corner, and my dad would take me to see classic comedies there. So, Brookline is a big part of my story. And I go back there several times a year and wander around and bother people.”

Share.
Leave A Reply

Exit mobile version