The awards season has found its unlikely heartbeat in the energetic, self-aware charm of Conan O’Brien, who is once again preparing to host Hollywood’s biggest night. As the 2026 Oscars draw closer, the veteran late-night host is leaning into his signature mix of absurdist humor and razor-sharp satire, treating the ceremony not just as a show, but as a live experiment in how far a host can push the room while still keeping the industry on his side.
In newly released behind-the-scenes footage, O’Brien is seen workshopping bits, riffing with writers, and testing out sight gags that play to his towering, lanky physicality and dry, self-deprecating tone. The material hints at a ceremony that will be fast, playful, and slightly chaotic in the best way—exactly what viewers expect from a host who has spent decades reinventing what comedy on television can look like. The videos also tease a focus on making the broadcast feel looser and more spontaneous, with O’Brien determined to keep the energy high in the room while holding on to the emotional core of honoring the year’s films.
Conan O’Brien is here to make sure Oscar doesn’t crack under the spotlight.
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 2, 2025
Watch the 97th #Oscars TONIGHT, March 2nd, at 7e/4p on ABC and Hulu. pic.twitter.com/unsgbH3PFE
Offstage, the entertainment world is just as charged. Harry Styles has ignited the music conversation with his new single “Aperture,” a shimmering, tightly produced track that marks a bold new chapter in his evolution as a solo artist. Positioned as the lead single from his upcoming album, the song is already being dissected for its lyrics, sound, and potential chart dominance. Fans and critics alike are framing this release as a major comeback moment, a carefully curated re-entry into the pop landscape that keeps Styles firmly at the center of global music chatter.
At the same time, the intersection of celebrity, litigation, and private communication has erupted into public fascination. Text messages involving Blake Lively and Taylor Swift, referenced in legal filings connected to a lawsuit involving Justin Baldoni, have fueled an intense news cycle. The fact that friendly exchanges and offhand comments can become legal and public fodder underscores how fragile privacy has become for high-profile figures. Every phrase is scrutinized, every nuance debated, transforming what might once have been mundane conversations into cultural flashpoints.
Adding a more sobering note to the day’s stories, Bethenny Frankel’s recent health diagnosis has drawn widespread attention and concern. The reality star and entrepreneur, long known for her candid public persona, now finds her personal well-being at the center of a larger conversation about stress, fame, and long-term health. Her situation resonates with audiences who have watched her transition from reality TV fixture to outspoken business figure, and it adds emotional weight to an otherwise glitzy entertainment news cycle.
Together, these threads paint a vivid picture of the current moment: an Oscars host preparing to deliver a high-wire live performance; a global pop star reshaping the musical narrative with a single release; A-list friendships and private messages pulled into legal and public arenas; and a reality icon confronting deeply human challenges in full view of the world. In an age where every announcement, diagnosis, and leaked exchange can dominate the timeline, Conan O’Brien’s return to the Oscars feels like more than a booking—it feels like a much-needed chance to laugh, reflect, and watch Hollywood react to its own reflection in real time.
