Conan O’Brien Reveals Gladiator II, Wicked, Conclave And More Joke Ideas Scrapped By Oscars, ‘Fighting About…’

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At this year’s Oscars, Conan O’Brien was an absolute hit, keeping everyone amused. Yet, it seems that a couple of the host’s concepts proposed for the show’s advertisements and the opening act, aimed at making them more enjoyable, were rejected by the Academy.

During my recent conversation with Mike Sweeney, the brilliant mind behind Oscar’s headwriting, on his captivating podcast “Conan Needs A Friend”, we delved into the creative debates surrounding our promo ideas. To put it in a relatable context, these discussions mirrored the kind of disagreements that couples often have.

O’Brien expressed that in a moment, he found himself contemplating, “How wonderful if it were simply on the couch? Let’s place it there on an enormous sofa, and while I’m vacuuming, I could say something like, ‘Could you please lift your feet for me? Or perhaps get up to assist? Help load the dishwasher?’

I couldn’t help but remember when they mentioned it was impossible, yet here we are making it happen. One of the Academy members had said to me, “Oscar can never lie flat,” and that statement left me astounded. It was like discovering a hidden relic, an iconic symbol of our shared passion for creativity.

During the talk show, it was mentioned that the host desired a moment to drape an apron over the trophy too, yet the Academy refused this request.

In the podcast discussion, it emerged that the initial concept for the 2025 Oscars opening was likewise abandoned. The proposed sketch featured the host making fun of all the movies. He shared that this concept originated from his role in Wicked, where he would be dressed entirely in green, performing ‘Defying Gravity’ or one of those songs.

In a later development, O’Brien mentioned that following his completion of work, he would feature in Gladiator II, engaging in sword fights, portraying a gladiator. It’s worth noting that even in this role, he remains relatively inexperienced or unseasoned.

OBrien proceeded to attend the Conclave, a place where people cast their votes on ballots. Remarkably, one of the hands was still green. Later, the host ventured into the universe of Dune: Part Two, where Javier Bardem prepared to shatter the fourth wall by directly addressing OBrien, as he had initiated the Oscar parody by adopting a green hue for Wicked.

The TV talk show host mentioned that the entire discussion was planned around the delay of their guests’ arrival. They had to complete the recording in a single day. Moreover, he noted that if they had enough time, they would have incorporated characters such as Count Orlok from Nosferatu into the program as well.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I must express my heartfelt appreciation for this particular element, which we meticulously crafted prior to the Los Angeles wildfires. Even amidst the unforeseen events, we refined and perfected it further.

As a lifestyle expert, let me clarify for those who may not be familiar: A humorous sketch that graced the stage during the awards show was a parody titled “The Substance.” In this skit, the host of the show dramatically emerged from a character portrayed by Demi Moore in an intriguing and attention-grabbing way.

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2025-03-14 14:08