In a surprising twist from the world of awards shows, former Oscars host Conan O’Brien recently shared an amusing yet baffling encounter with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. On the podcast "Conan Needs a Friend," hosted by his Oscars head writer Mike Sweeney, O’Brien recounted how the Academy rejected his creative promotional ideas for the ceremony, which involved a 9-foot tall Oscar statue.

O’Brien had envisioned a series of ads where he and the Oscar statue would portray a domestic partnership, engaging in everyday couple disputes. One particular concept involved the statue lounging on a large couch while O’Brien humorously nagged about household chores like vacuuming and loading the dishwasher. However, the Academy firmly declined this idea, insisting that the Oscar statue must never be depicted horizontally.

O’Brien expressed his astonishment at the Academy's strict rules, likening the Oscar to a sacred relic. He further revealed that the Academy also mandated that the statue must always be shown "naked," thwarting another of his ideas where the Oscar would wear an apron while serving leftovers.

The Academy's stringent guidelines on the Oscar's portrayal might seem peculiar, but they are within their rights to enforce them. While it's disappointing that audiences missed out on O’Brien’s comedic take on the Oscar statue, fans remain hopeful for his return as host in 2026, eager to see what creative ideas he'll bring next.

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