Overview
- Rob Mills, who oversees the Oscars for Walt Disney Television, said the show will treat Conan O’Brien’s “host for life” line as fact and extend an open-ended invitation.
- O’Brien has not formally accepted another turn, though he has expressed enjoyment with hosting and joked during the show about being “a Waymo in a tux” next year.
- Mills added that if O’Brien does not return, the next Oscars emcee might not be human, signaling openness to non‑human hosting options.
- ABC/Disney’s influence on host selection is time‑limited, with the Oscars telecast reported to move to YouTube starting in 2029.
- O’Brien’s 2025 hosting drew 19.7 million viewers, a five‑year high reported by trade coverage that helps explain Disney’s enthusiasm for his return.