Conan’s Oscars Secrets Revealed

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Rob Mills, executive vice president of unscripted and alternative entertainment at Walt Disney TV, expressed that Conan O’Brien is always welcome to return as the host for the Oscars. This statement was made during a conversation with EbMaster on Monday morning. Mills appreciated the positive feedback for both O’Brien’s performance and the overall Oscar ceremony, which attempted to reintroduce classic Academy Awards elements such as a grand orchestra, while infusing them with Conan’s distinctive humor.

Mills remarked, “Conan’s performance was spot on! It reminded me of three decades of his work in late-night television, hosting awards shows like the Emmys, and various other projects. It felt like a compilation of Conan’s best moments. There was something for everyone: A hilarious opening monologue that embodied Conan’s unique style – humor, self-deprecation, and jokes that were funny initially but proved to be even funnier later on.”

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Mills commented, “Conan really hit the mark! His performance brought back memories of his 30-year journey in late-night TV, hosting events like the Emmys, and other ventures. It was a sort of ‘Best of Conan’ show. The audience enjoyed a little bit of everything: A side-splitting monologue that mirrored Conan’s signature style – wit, self-deprecation, and jokes that were initially amusing but later proved to be even funnier.

As for whether Conan will return, it’s ultimately his decision, but we certainly hope he does, Mills shared. I can’t say if it’s an official offer or not, but I truly wish he wants to come back. Working with him was a pleasure and a privilege, and I think it was the only ‘methadone’ for me to be able to do the show without Jimmy Kimmel.

One potential rephrasing of your text could be:

“One potential drawback of the Oscars on Sunday was the introduction of a Hulu live stream alongside ABC’s coverage by Disney. However, this new feature didn’t seem to run smoothly, as many viewers encountered difficulties logging into Hulu on that day and voiced their dissatisfaction on social media platforms. At the time, Hulu attributed these issues to a ‘technical problem with the login system.’

During the midpoint of the program, it was proudly declared on Hulu’s support platform that their team had successfully resolved the issue causing the problem earlier. However, this held true until the Best Actress award was announced. Unfortunately, due to the Oscars telecast exceeding its scheduled time limit and the Hulu livestream failing to adjust accordingly beyond 10:30 PM ET, some viewers experienced an interruption in their stream due to a scheduling system glitch.

The technical issue served as a valuable learning experience for Disney, ABC, Hulu, and the Academy. Since they are soon to engage in negotiations to extend their agreement past 2028, this incident may very well be a topic of discussion during their meetings. (It’s worth noting that, as usual, the Oscars could be watched live on ABC through regular broadcast.)

Mills stated, “I’m not familiar with this issue, and it seems you’re upset about the viewers missing the show – that’s too bad. I believe the best approach is to learn from it and prevent such occurrences in the future. This isn’t an isolated incident in streaming, and unfortunately, it may happen again. However, we are making progress by adapting to our audience’s needs.

Across The Walt Disney Company, our unique strength lies in our ability to offer both broadcasting and premium streaming services. This means no matter where you choose to watch your favorite shows, we aim to ensure it’s always accessible,” Mills explained. “Generally, this setup functions exceptionally well for programs like ‘Dancing With the Stars.’ We look forward to making next year’s viewing experience even better.

This year’s Oscar event didn’t completely change its traditional format, but it added some interesting twists to keep things fresh. Producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan, along with Jeff Ross (longtime producer of host Jimmy Kimmel), were praised for these creative decisions regarding the broadcast. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions and behind-the-scenes facts about this year’s Academy Awards:

The original plan did not include the “Fab Five” presenters honoring this year’s acting nominees before the Karla Sofia Gascón social media scandal occurred. As Mills explained, these plans had been set months prior to the incident. When selecting presenters who have previously won in their respective categories, the pool of candidates isn’t vast, making it challenging to secure a large number of Academy Award-winning actors and actresses for the event. It’s quite difficult to arrange this many winners to attend.

The reason for utilizing the “Fab Five” nominee presentations was to draw more attention towards artisans such as Lily-Rose Depp, Elle Fanning, John Lithgow, Connie Nielsen, Bowen Yang. These individuals were there to celebrate Oscar-nominated costume designers from their respective films. As Mills explained, this focus on the “Fab Five” presentations was premeditated for this year, with an aim to highlight artisan categories. Additionally, it served as a means to shed light on some technical categories like cinematography and costuming. This was not related to Karla in any way.

Demi Moore wasn’t expecting that the show would start with Conan apparently exiting her body in a manner reminiscent of “The Substance.” The idea for this segment was born during O’Brien’s initial brainstorming sessions, as the visuals from “The Substance” were particularly memorable throughout the year. Mills found it impressive, remarking that such segments often stood out when Conan celebrated show anniversaries. He likened it to how people would think of Billy Crystal whenever he opened with those brilliant pre-taped skits.

On Sunday night, O’Brien chose to limit his Gascón jokes due to the fact that the scandal had started to subside a bit, and he wanted to maintain an appropriate atmosphere. However, when it came to the joke about Kendrick Lamar accusing Drake of being a pedophile, O’Brien was more daring – although this raised some eyebrows at ABC, Mills gave his approval. “During rehearsal, when he told that joke, I was with Jeff Ross, his producer, and we thought it would be a hit. It was indeed! It was somewhat unexpected from Conan, but that’s what made it exciting.

The medley of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Ariana Grande (originally from “The Wizard of Oz”), “Home” by Cynthia Erivo (from “The Wiz”) and both singing “Defying Gravity” (from “Wicked”) was proposed early in the Oscar planning process by producer Kapoor as an opening number. According to Mills, this idea originated with Raj and Katy. It’s not a given that Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo would perform together again since their last joint appearance, especially for “Defying Gravity.” This was the approach Raj had envisioned all along, and it seems like he’d been mulling over this concept for quite some time.

The concept for featuring Doja Cat, Raye, and Lisa in a James Bond tribute track originated from Kapoor’s background as a Grammy producer, which played a role in choosing their songs – specifically, Lisa performing “Live and Let Die,” Doja Cat singing “Diamonds Are Forever,” and Raye covering “Skyfall.” The response to this selection was varied, but the producers felt it worked well. Mills explained that Raj, one of the Grammy producers, has strong connections with artists, enabling him to secure the participation of these women.

The concept didn’t arise until later for Margaret Qualley to initiate the Bond tribute with a dance, as Mills explained. He found it remarkable and thought she was fantastic. It’s likely that they are now considering her as someone who could be part of the James Bond series in the upcoming film.

The Academy didn’t actually invite Bob Dylan to present the best original song award, contrary to what Mick Jagger implied. In truth, Mick Jagger jokingly suggested that Dylan was the Academy’s top pick for the job, but he declined the offer. Jagger humorously remarked that Dylan recommended finding someone younger, and it’s worth noting that at 81, Mick Jagger is indeed younger than Bob Dylan, who is 83 years old. However, according to Mills, everyone knows that if you’ve ever attended a Rolling Stones concert or watched them on TV, Mick Jagger has a great sense of humor. The truth is that Mick Jagger was always the first choice for this task, but it was widely assumed he wouldn’t accept – and yet, he did! This marked his first time at the Oscars, which might come as a surprise to some.

Over the weekend, there was a flurry of activity following the news that Gene Hackman and his wife had both passed away on February 27th. In our discussions about how we could honor him, we knew right away that we wanted to include him in our montage. However, it was crucial for us to decide on an appropriate tribute that would do justice to the legacy of Gene Hackman. The show was already running long, but we felt it was vital. I must give a special mention to [Oscars talent producer] Taryn Hurd, who had always made it her mission to try and get Gene to present at the awards every year. There was always a conversation about it, but it never seemed like the right time. With Gene’s passing, she took the loss particularly hard, and it was essential for her to ensure that the right person paid tribute to him. Fortunately, Morgan Freeman agreed to fly in to do so.

Despite being locked, an exception was made to accommodate Hackman. “In a pinch like this, things can be tricky. However, we managed. I recall when Bill Paxton passed away during the show, it was tough. But here, it was fortunate that we could include him and conclude the tribute.

Choosing a somber “In Memoriam” musical piece sung by a choir accompanied by an orchestra playing Mozart’s “Requiem in D Minor,” was made to differentiate the Oscars from other award shows that might have featured a solo singer.

Mills stated, “The quote comes from the Oscar-winning movie ‘Amadeus.’ However, I believe it could be rephrased to say, ‘In light of the recent Grammys and their exceptional singers, we excel in different areas. We’ve always had talented vocalists, but the Grammys shine there. Our strength lies in creating memorable film scores, orchestral music for dramatic scenes, and enhancing actor’s dialogue with sound effects – that’s what the Oscars are known for. I should also mention that TCM excels in their In Memoriam tributes as well.” Essentially, Mills is emphasizing that while the Grammys are renowned for discovering great singers, the Oscars and TCM have their own unique strengths in the realm of film and music.

This year, the orchestra was intentionally moved to a prominent position at the forefront of the Oscars stage. As Mills stated, this choice gave the event a fresh yet classic feel, which is characteristic of Raj and Katy’s work.

Despite the show running overtime, the producers realized it was crucial to let Adrien Briody speak his piece. As Brody began his extended acceptance speech, the music eventually came on signaling him to conclude. However, Brody refused: “I’m wrapping up now, please turn off the music,” Brody declared. “I’ve done this before. It’s not my first time around, but I will be concise.”

Mills asked, “What’s your plan?” He suggested that if Adrien Brody had kept his chewing gum in his mouth, he might not have given such a lengthy speech. However, it’s important to note that Adrien Brody is a remarkable artist. Frankly, the speech was so long that it’s challenging to recall its main points. Before the show, everyone is advised to be brief and memorable. Indeed, we aim to keep the event lively, but brevity also benefits the speaker because it makes the speech more memorable. To be honest, what I remember most about Adrien Brody’s speech was when he said, “This isn’t my first rodeo. Don’t play me off.” It seems that some people were a bit anxious because the show was running long. Of course, they were concerned. However, at the end of the night, I believe it shouldn’t overshadow the fact that Adrien Brody’s performance this year was one of the best movie experiences.

Martin Scorsese eagerly joined in on Jimmy Kimmel’s “CinemaStreams” satire, and promptly sent over his video contribution via phone call. One of the highlights of the show was the mock venture “CinemaStreams,” which essentially promoted movie theaters to children who are accustomed to streaming their movies. Among those promoting the idea: Martin Scorsese. Scorsese expressed his interest and approval for the concept, then sent over the amusing video he recorded.

Ben Stiller orchestrated his intentional trip on stage during the performance. In the realm of comedy, Ben Stiller has a knack for physical humor. So it was only fitting that he decided to make light of the technical aspects of the event, which he was there to honor with an award. As he attempted to announce the nominees, the platform beneath him malfunctioned – all part of his plan to demonstrate the importance of technical aspects like production design and their operation.

Mills stated, ‘He perfected it on Saturday, and he practically aced it.’ Ben is known for having a clear vision when collaborating with other producers or crew members. When compared to others in their field, he approaches projects with a preconceived plan. I believe this was the case here, as he seemed to have a concept in mind and effortlessly brought it to life during rehearsals. It turned out that executing his idea was relatively straightforward for him once he started practicing.

As the weeks passed following the Los Angeles-area wildfires, producers debated extensively on how much to mention them. Eventually, by the time of the Oscars, it was agreed that people were tired of contemplating and discussing the disaster, hence the opening monologue wasn’t lengthy, and didn’t directly refer to the fires.

Rather than delving into various topics, it primarily showcased film excerpts instead. Kapoor and Mullan oversaw the opening homage to Los Angeles and Hollywood, featuring snippets from “The Fast and the Furious,” “Rocky III,” “White Men Can’t Jump,” “Barbie,” “La Bamba,” “Chinatown,” “Iron Man 2,” “La La Land,” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” “The Long Goodbye,” “L.A. Story,” “Straight Outta Compton” and “Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Mills expressed great joy during rehearsal upon seeing Rocky and Apollo running on the beach in Rocky III. He found it incredibly thrilling. Not only was this scene exciting in the movie, but the shots chosen were exceptional and full of thoughtfulness. For instance, consider the shot from ‘Chinatown’ featuring Jack Nicholson or the shot from ‘The Long Goodbye.’ Mills believed everything they did was flawless and authentic, particularly given his long-term residence in LA. After our difficult start to the year, he said, this moment was truly refreshing. It would be wonderful if such scenes were continuously played whenever one visits Los Angeles.

I personally decided to have O’Brien mention the fires late in his monologue instead of at the beginning for a more dramatic effect. Moreover, not only did he acknowledge the brave firefighters who battled the fires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, but he even crafted some humorous lines for three of them to deliver. After much refinement, those jokes were finally delivered by the three fire officials on stage.

John Lithgow was more than happy to join in with his serious expression to drive home the point that speeches should be kept brief. Mills commented on how advantageous it was to have Conan, who boasts three decades of strong connections within the celebrity world. It was intriguing to observe the presenters backstage as they reminisced about their interactions with Conan, either as guests or colleagues. Conan is universally admired, much like Jimmy, making it effortless to secure John Lithgow’s participation. Additionally, Conan’s producers, Jeff Ross, are exceptional, and I believe the talent appreciates knowing they are in capable hands.

In my film-loving perspective, it appears that the “new James Bond” executive named Steven Belsky, who’s been making headlines as Amazon’s senior VP of global affairs, is merely a character. The man in the photograph is actually Dan Cronin, a talented writer and comedian.

After his performance at the Oscars, Adam Sandler expressed a desire to linger longer – and it’s suspected he chose to do so in his casual attire. In a twist that had late-night host Conan O’Brien raising an eyebrow, Sandler appeared unfazed by the formal atmosphere of the Dolby Theatre, lounging comfortably in a sweatshirt and shorts. Despite initial impressions, it appears Sandler wasn’t just sticking around for his skit; sources claim he asked to stay on longer, although the exact duration remains unknown. “I don’t think he was joking about that basketball game,” commented an insider.

This year, Nick Offerman is the one chosen by Jimmy Kimmel to replace David Alan Grier as the Oscars announcer, just like last year. It was Jimmy who initiated the idea of having a humorous person for the role, as stated by Mills. Interestingly, it turns out that Ronald Reagan was the first Oscar announcer, which I recently discovered. Perhaps next year we’ll have George W Bush step in. However, Conan had his own ideas about who would be suitable, and he believed Nick Offerman would excel at this task, and he did.

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2025-03-03 23:20