This year’s Oscars host Conan O’Brien has opened up about some of the very strict guidelines regarding how the iconic awards statue can and can’t be portrayed on screen.
Speaking on the latest edition of his podcast Conan Needs A Friend, the US comic revealed that he had several ideas for promo videos for the Oscars that the Academy ultimately nixed.
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In one, Conan suggested portraying himself and a human-sized rendering of the Oscar as a domestic couple.
“At one point, I thought, ‘wouldn’t it be great if it’s just on the couch?’,” he recalled, pitching the idea to “lay it on a really big couch and I’ll be vacuuming and say, ‘Could you at least lift your feet? Or could you at least get up and help? Load the dishwasher?’”.
“We wanted to do it and they just said, ‘No, no no, that can’t happen’,” Conan explained, noting that he was told “Oscar can never be horizontal”.
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Conan O’Brien poses with an Oscar in the lead-up to the 2025 Academy Awards
Andrew Eccles via Disney via Getty Images
He admitted: “That blew my mind. Like, wow, this is like the thigh bone of St. Peter. This is a religious icon.”
In another of his pitches, Conan said he wanted to portray the Oscar a traditional 1950s apron, only to be told: “No clothing on Oscar. Oscar is always naked.”
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Watch the promo that Conan was allowed to make below:
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But this year, host Conan O’Brien at least gave the event’s unrecognised cast members a snack box and a touching note, just as he did with the celebs.
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In an X post, the editor-in-chief of Variety Ramin Setoodeh said: There’s a note from Conan under every #Oscars seat with a snack box of water and a pretzel.”
Conan O’Brien at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party
via Associated Press
In the note, the host claimed that he’d planned to include another item in the box ― but that it had been given a “hard pass” from Disney, who has the rights to air the show.
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“Dear Star/Seat Filler, I hope you enjoy these complimentary snacks,” the note reads.
“I tried my best to include a gummy but Disney said that was a ‘hard pass’,” it continues.
“Have a great night, Conan,” the note ended, along with a doodle of the host himself (the comedian is known by fans for his drawings).
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Of course, it’s nowhere near as costly as this year’s Oscars goodie bag which went to all 25 top acting and directing nominees and included a five-night stay at a luxury resort and up to $1 million worth of emergency services to people affected by this year’s LA wildfires.
A commenter wanted to know what we were all wondering, too: “are [the notes] all the same copied and printed or did he handwrite them individually because he is both funny and genuine enough to do that?”
We reckon the reply to their question rings true though ― “I don’t think he’d have the time to handwrite hundreds of notes.”
This year, marketing company Distinctive Assets is in charge of their “Everyone Wins” Oscars bags, which will go to all 25 top acting and directing nominees.
“While our gifts may be famous for being fun and fabulous, they also serve as a means to elevate small businesses, minority-owned brands, female entrepreneurs and companies that give back,” the company’s founder, Lash Fary, said.
“This year, on the heels of the historically tragic LA fires, we have found even more ways that our celebrity swag can do good in our community.”
In practice, that means this year’s Oscars goodie bag will include a membership to disaster recovery charity Bright Harbor, who is offering $1 million worth of services to those affected by the fires.
“Whether they pamper themselves or share these bountiful gifts as a care package for a friend who may have recently lost their home, we give these gifts not based on the recipients’ need but out of a desire to brighten someone’s day and to acknowledge a job well done,” Lash shared.
But, of course, not everyone will be feeling quite so jubilant.
With only a handful of slots to fill, some of the biggest and most-celebrated performances of the past 12 months have gone unchecked by the Academy, with cinephiles on social media already going off about this year’s most notable “snubs”.
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Here are 11 of them…
Daniel Craig
Daniel Craig in Queer
Timothée Chalamet, Adrien Brody, Colman Domingo and Ralph Fiennes’ spots in the Best Actor category were pretty much dead certs by the time the Oscar nominations rolled around, leaving a few big names competing for the one remaining spot.
In the end, it’s gone to Sebastian Stan for his performance as Donald Trump in The Apprentice, but there are sure to be a few disappointed Daniel Craig fans.
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The former James Bond actor couldn’t have been further from the roles that have made him most famous in Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, in which he plays William Lee (a fictionalised version of the author William S Burroughs), an American writer who embarks on a journey of sexual and substance exploration.
Danielle Deadwyler and Ray Fisher in The Piano Lesson
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American performer Danielle Deadwyler received a wave of acclaim for her performance in the August Wilson adaptation The Piano Lesson.
While the film itself failed to score much awards season buzz, fans had hoped Danielle might scrape through in the Best Supporting Actress category for her role as Berniece, a woman determined to hold onto her late father’s piano when the rest of her family are hoping to sell it.
Considering the original Gladiator was a Best Picture recipient, it might come as a surprise to some to see the sequel pick up just one nomination in 2025, in the Best Costume Design category.
Lead actor Paul Mescal was among those to be singled out for praise when the action-packed epic hit cinemas last year, but it’s Denzel Washington who was really being tipped for awards buzz.
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After scoring a nomination at the Golden Globes last month, however, both the Baftas (who, interestingly, have never nominated Denzel in his entire 40-year screen career) and Oscars have paid him dust, making him one of this year’s most noticeable snubs.
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As their pasts and presents collide, and tensions run high, Tashi must ask herself, what will it cost to win.\n \nFOLLOW SONY SOUNDTRACKS: \n► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SonyMusicSoundtracks/\n► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonymusicsoundtracks/ \n► Twitter: https://twitter.com/sonysoundtracks/\n► Discord: https://discord.com/invite/DCKp3RYRK3 \n► TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sonysoundtracks \n► Newsletter: https://soundtracks.lnk.to/newsletter \n \nFOLLOW MILAN RECORDS: \n► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/milanrecords\n► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milanrecords/\n► Twitter: https://twitter.com/MilanRecLabel\n \nFOLLOW CHALLENGERS:\n► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/challengersmovie\n► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/challengersmovie/\n► Twitter: https://twitter.com/challengersmov\n► TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@challengersmovie\n \nSUBSCRIBE to our channels for more: \n► https://soundtracks.lnk.to/sonysoundtracksvevoID\n► https://milanrecords.lnk.to/youtube \n \nCHALLENGERS (ORIGINAL SCORE)\n \nTRACKLISTING – \n1. 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It’s rare that you’ll find outcry over a snub in the Best Score category – but then again, it’s rare a score will capture people’s attention in the way that Challengers’ did.
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The Nine Inch Nails musicians delivered one of last year’s most iconic contributions to the world of cinema when they scored Luca Guadagnino’s tennis-themed romance drama Challengers, perfectly amping up the tension between its central trio with their musical output.
We’re sure we’re not the only ones confused to see the score – which won a Golden Globe just a matter of weeks ago – not even nominated for an Oscar when it felt like such a shoo-in.
Margaret Qualley
Margaret Qualley in The Substance
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The Substance has been the surprise hit of 2025’s awards season, and we’re over the moon to see not just Demi Moore landing an acting nomination, but Coralie Fargeat’s name popping up on the Best Director shortlist.
However, there’s no denying that The Substance was a two-header, and while we’re over the moon for Demi scoring her first Oscar nomination at this stage of her career, we’re still a little sad there wasn’t space for Margaret Qualley in the Best Supporting Actress category.
The Maid star has made no secret of what she put herself through to help bring the character of Sue (and, perhaps more impressively, Monstro Elisasue) to life, and she was the perfect foil to her Golden Globe-winning co-star’s character in the graphic body horror.
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Marianne Jean-Baptiste
Marianne Jean-Baptiste in Hard Truths
She may not have had the fanfare and loud push behind her that the likes of Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo or even Demi Moore have had over the last few months, but Marianne Jean-Baptiste had quietly been climbing up the ranks as a contender for a Best Actress nomination thanks to her role in Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths.
When Hard Truths premiered at Toronto Film Festival towards the end of last year, Marianne’s performance as a pessimistic woman struggling to connect with those closest to her saw her being met with a wave of praise, which has translated into recognition from the Baftas and Critics’ Choice Awards.
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The British performer was nominated for an Oscar once before for her role in another of Mike Leigh’s projects, Secrets & Lies.
Pamela Anderson
Pamela Anderson in The Last Showgirl
Alright, we know this one was always going to be a long shot, but “Oscar nominee Pamela Anderson” had such a ring to it that we couldn’t help crossing our fingers that this could be her year.
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Oscar nomination or not, we’ll still be seeing The Last Showgirl the second it hits UK cinemas, and we’re certain this is the beginning of a new era of the former Baywatch star’s career.
For the past few months, Stanley Tucci has been hovering around the middle of the list of favourites to score a Best Supporting Actor nod (which would have marked his second ever nomination, after 2009’s The Lovely Bones) but sadly, it wasn’t to be.
He’ll just have to make do with being the entire internet’s imaginary husband instead, we suppose…
","type":"video","meta":{"author":"Warner Bros. Pictures","author_url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjmJDM5pRKbUlVIzDYYWb6g","cache_age":86400,"description":"Long Live the Fighters. #DunePartTwo only in theaters March 15.\n\n—————–\nhttps://www.instagram.com/dunemovie/\nhttps://www.facebook.com/dune\nhttps://twitter.com/dunemovie \nhttps://www.tiktok.com/@dunemovie \n—————–\nThe saga continues as award-winning filmmaker Denis Villeneuve embarks on “Dune: Part Two,” the next chapter of Frank Herbert’s celebrated novel Dune, with an expanded all-star international ensemble cast. The film, from Warner Bros. 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Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee. \nVilleneuve directed from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jon Spaihts based on Herbert’s novel. The film is produced by Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Villeneuve, Tanya Lapointe and Patrick McCormick. The executive producers are Josh Grode, Herbert W. Gains, Jon Spaihts, Thomas Tull, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, Kim Herbert, with Kevin J. Anderson serving as creative consultant.\nVilleneuve is again collaborating with his “Dune” creatives: Oscar-winning director of photography Greig Fraser; Oscar-winning production designer Patrice Vermette; Oscar-winning editor Joe Walker; Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Paul Lambert; Oscar-nominated costume designer Jacqueline West. Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer is again on hand to create the score.\n“Dune: Part Two” was filmed on location in Budapest, Abu Dhabi, Jordan and Italy. The film is slated for a March 15, 2024 worldwide release from Warner Bros. 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With 10 slots in the Best Picture category and only five in Best Director, there’s always going to be someone who winds up disappointed.
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But considering everything that Denis Villeneuve had to contend with to make Dune: Part Two the epic that it was (it’s one of the year’s most-nominated films thanks to recognition in more technical categories, which is no mean feat for a sequel), a Best Director nomination would have been fitting.
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie in character as Maria Callas
The Best Actress category was absolutely heaving with competition this year, and we understand there can’t be room for everyone, but Angelina Jolie’s major comeback to the cinema world after a few years away felt so triumphant that an Oscar nomination would have been more fitting – especially given the performance she delivers in Maria.
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While this may not be the year the former Best Supporting Actress wins over the Academy yet again, there’s no denying that it’s great to have Angelina back, and we can’t wait to see what this unusual thinker chooses for her next project.
Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez in Emilia Pérez
Emilia Pérez may not have been to everyone’s tastes, but do a quick search on social media for Selena Gomez’s name, and you’ll see it for yourself, there are a lot of people seriously pissed off that she didn’t make the cut.
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The divisive Netflix musical is, of course, this year’s most-nominated film at the Oscars, with 13 nods in total. Had Selena been recognised, that number would have matched Emilia Pérez with Titanic, All About Eve and La La Land as the joint most-nominated films in history.
During the chat, Renée was shown a photo from the 2005 Oscars, a year after her first win, where she presented the award for Best Supporting Actor to Morgan Freeman.
Looking at a photo of her red carpet ensemble, the two-time Oscar winner revealed that her night at that year’s ceremony involved a comedy of errors that could have been lifted straight from a Bridget Jones movie.
“As we were leaving that night, a gentleman stepped on the train [of my dress], and I kept walking in the other direction, and it ripped it right off my dress, from right beneath my booty,” she recalled with a laugh.
Renée continued: “There were parties and things afterwards, but I needed to go home and do a little bit of a costume change.”
Unfortunately, when she got there, she realised she’d come to the Oscars without taking her house key with her, leaving her “climbing up the balcony to the second floor” so she could enter through a bathroom window – all while still wearing her ruined dress “with a hole under my booty”.
Read Renée Zellweger’s full British Vogue interview here.
And that’s a steal in comparison to other sales ― Steven Spielberg purchased Bette Davis’s 1938 Best Actress Oscar for $578,000, for instance, and in 2014, Joseph Wright’s 1943 Best Colour Art Direction Oscar for My Gal Sal sold for $79,200.
Anyone who wins an Oscar has to sign an agreement that includes a 1951 no-resale rule introduced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
In 2015, a court ruling changed a rule that meant anyone selling an Oscars statue should offer it to the Academy for $10 first, and lowered it to one measly dollar.
“Award winners shall not sell or otherwise dispose of the Oscar statuette, nor permit it to be sold or disposed of by operation of law, without first offering to sell it to the Academy for the sum of $1.00,” says the Academy’s site.
“This provision shall apply also to the heirs and assigns of Academy Award winners who may acquire a statuette by gift or bequest.“
Jamie Lee Curtis, who won Best Supporting Actress last year for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once, attended last night’s Oscars awards in a glam black gown.
The actor was there to co-present the Best Supporting Actress award (which went to Da’vine Joy Randolph for The Holdovers this year).
However, she left early ― which is relatable in and of itself, but which becomes way more “she’s just like me”-level real when you realise why.
So… why?
Basically, she was hungry.
The actor posted on Instagram after the event to say that she’d dropped out as soon as she’d finished presenting to grab an In’N’out burger, sharing a snap of the tempting melee of fries and buns.
“FLY IN [check emoji] GET FLUFFED AND FOLDED [check emoji] PRESENT AT OSCARS [check emoji] GO TO @inandout_burger [check emoji] FLY AWAY,” the post read.
During Sunday’s show, moments before Al Pacino hit the stage to present Best Picture to “Oppenheimer,” Kimmel announced that he had a minute or so to spare before the end of the ceremony.
So, of course, he spent the time talking about his favourite hot topic: Trump.
Revealing that the former president had left him a scathing review of his hosting abilities on Truth Social, Kimmel began reading Trump’s message aloud from his phone to the audience.
“Has there EVER been a WORSE HOST than Jimmy Kimmel at The Oscars? His opening was that of a less than average person trying too hard to be something which he is not, and never can be. Get rid of Kimmel and perhaps replace him with another washed up, but cheap, ABC talent, George Slopanopoulos,” the late night host read. “He would make everybody on stage look bigger, stronger, and more glamorous.
“Blah, blah, blah,” Kimmel ad-libbed. “Make America Great Again.”
Kimmel didn’t finish reading the rest of Trump’s negative review, but the crowd roared in response to the non-scripted moment.
“Thank you, President Trump. Thank you for watching,” Kimmel quipped. “I’m surprised you’re still.”
And then, the six word zinger.
“Isn’t it past your jail time?”
Check out the complete list of Oscar winners here.
It’s safe that Al Pacino’s presentation of the night’s most important award is going to go down in history for how short, sweet and unbelievably ‘I don’t give af’ it was.
Rather than announcing the nominees for the award, The Godfather star simply went straight to opening the envelope before saying “my eyes see Oppenheimer.”
Zero suspense, zero build-up, no ‘the Academy Award goes to…’ for the biggest award of the night. Just straight up chaos – and honestly, we love to see it.
For the record, the nominees were: American Fiction, Anatomy of a Fall, Barbie, The Holdovers, Killers of the Flower Moon, Maestro, Past Lives, Poor Things, The Zone of Interest and well, Oppenheimer.
Naturally X users (formerly Twitter) were quick to share their takes… and did not disappoint:
Danielle Brooks paid tribute to Black female nominees who came before her with a statement manicure at this year’s Oscars.
The Color Purple actor, who was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for this year’s ceremony had the number 26 featured on her nails as she took to the red carpet.
She said: “I have ’26’ on my nail, because I’m the 26th black woman to be nominated for Best Supporting Actress, so I had to at least honour that.”
Brooks received her first ever Oscar nomination for her role as Sofia in last year’s “The Color Purple,” a musical adaptation of the classic Alice Walker novel of the same name. She has also played Sofia in Broadway productions of “The Color Purple.”
The actor also received nominations for her performance at other award shows this season, including the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Speaking about her recent award show recognition, Brooks told Entertainment Tonight last month that she “could have never imagined it being mapped out like this.”