'Oscar Can Never Be Horizontal' — Conan O'Brien Reveals the Weird Academy Demands for Oscars Statues in Promos

In a surprising turn of events, former Oscars host Conan O’Brien shared a peculiar tale on his podcast, "Conan Needs a Friend," about the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' strict rules regarding their iconic Oscar statue. O’Brien revealed that his creative promotional ideas for the Oscars ceremony were shot down due to the Academy's stringent guidelines on how the Oscar can be portrayed.

O’Brien's concept involved a humorous domestic setup with a 9-foot tall Oscar statue, portraying a life-like partnership. One particular idea included the statue lounging on a couch while O’Brien humorously nagged about household chores like vacuuming and loading the dishwasher. However, the Academy was firm in their refusal, insisting that the Oscar must never be depicted horizontally.

O’Brien expressed his astonishment at the Academy's rules, likening the Oscar to a sacred relic. He further noted that the Academy also insisted the statue remain "always naked," which thwarted another of his ideas featuring the Oscar in an apron, serving leftovers.

These strict guidelines highlight the Academy's protective stance over their iconic symbol, which might seem odd to outsiders but reflects their commitment to maintaining the statue's dignity and prestige.

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While the Academy's decisions might dampen the creative freedom of hosts like O’Brien, they have every right to uphold their standards. Fans of O’Brien's wit and humor missed out on what could have been an entertaining series of promos. Nevertheless, there's hope that O’Brien will return with fresh, innovative ideas for future ceremonies, and we're rooting for him to host again in 2026.