In a surprising twist of events, former Oscars host Conan O'Brien disclosed on the podcast "Conan Needs a Friend" that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences rejected his creative promotional ad ideas for the ceremony. O'Brien had envisioned a humorous series of commercials where he and a 9-foot tall Oscar statue played the roles of a domestic couple, engaging in everyday squabbles. However, the Academy firmly opposed the concept of laying the Oscar statue horizontally or dressing it in any way.
O'Brien shared one particular scenario where the Oscar would be lounging on a large couch while he vacuumed, humorously asking it to lift its feet or help with chores like loading the dishwasher. Despite the light-hearted nature of the idea, the Academy was adamant in their refusal. O'Brien recounted the Academy's response on the podcast, saying, "One of the people from the Academy came forward and said, 'Oscar can never be horizontal.' And that blew my mind."
The comedian likened the Oscar to a sacred relic, humorously comparing it to the thigh bone of St. Peter. He further revealed that the Academy insisted the statue must always remain "naked," which also thwarted their plan to dress the Oscar in an apron, portraying it as a housewife serving leftovers.
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While the Academy's strict rules on the Oscar statue's portrayal might seem perplexing, they hold the authority to enforce them. It's unfortunate that viewers missed out on experiencing O'Brien's creative vision in these promotional ads. Fans are hopeful that Conan O'Brien will return as the Oscars host in 2026 with equally innovative and entertaining ideas.
