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The producers behind this year’s Academy Awards are opening up about some of the biggest moments from the ceremony, including the surprising “host for life” comment directed at Conan Obrien, the controversial omissions in the In Memoriam segment, and several creative choices that shaped the broadcast.
According to Walt Disney Television executive vice president Rob Mills, the comment suggesting that Obrien could be the Oscars host for life was not meant as a throwaway joke. Mills said the offer is very real, at least for the remaining two years of ABC’s current deal to broadcast the awards. Speaking the morning after the ceremony, Mills said the team is treating the moment as genuine even though Obrien has not formally accepted the role.
One of the most talked about parts of the broadcast was the ambitious opening sequence. In the sketch Obrien appeared as Aunt Gladys from the film Weapons while moving through scenes inspired by several of the year’s biggest movies. Producers explained that the segment required extensive work and was filmed only a few weeks before the ceremony. The shoot itself took several days and involved complex staging and post production work. Mills compared the approach to earlier comedy film segments Obrien created during special events such as the Emmys, noting that those creative films helped inspire the Oscars opener.
Another memorable moment involved an animated version of Obrien inserted into KPop Demon Hunters. Producers explained that the solution was surprisingly simple. They located an animation company that could complete the work quickly so the gag could be finished in time for the show.
The opening also featured children who resembled the eerie kids from Weapons. Those performers were real child actors selected through a casting call. Meanwhile a visual gag showing multiple versions of Michael B Jordan in the audience was created by filming the actor separately and compositing the shots together. Jordan reportedly loved the idea and agreed to film several reaction shots that were later combined.
Even celebrities in the audience were sometimes caught off guard. Leonardo DiCaprio did not know he would become part of a meme style moment during the broadcast, which explains his initial confusion before he eventually played along.
Music also played a role in the show’s pacing. Singer Josh Groban helped create a short comedic song about Obrien’s dream acceptance speech. Mills said Obrien enjoys performing musical numbers and deliberately kept the bit brief so it would land quickly and keep the program moving.
One unusual production decision was having actor Matt Berry serve as the show’s announcer from London rather than appearing in person. Producers said the technology allowed his voice to be broadcast live without delay and that they liked the idea of highlighting the international nature of the Oscars. Berry attended rehearsals remotely but one additional camera appearance was ultimately cut because of time constraints.
The ceremony also drew attention for its In Memoriam segment, which again left out several well known names. Mills acknowledged that the choices often lead to criticism but said the Academy faces a difficult task every year because so many influential figures pass away. He described the process as one of the hardest decisions the organization makes.
Another issue involved acceptance speeches being cut short when winners exceeded their time. Mills admitted that the producers plan to review how speeches are handled in future ceremonies. One possible idea is encouraging groups with multiple winners to choose a single spokesperson, while allowing others to continue their remarks backstage or on social media.
In the end the Oscars broadcast featured a mix of ambitious comedy, elaborate performances, and emotional tributes. Whether Conan Obrien truly becomes the long term host remains to be seen, but according to the executives behind the show the offer is very real and, as Mills put it, solid as oak.
