By BERNICE FOX
St. Patrick’s Day is not known for gift-giving. But the Motion Picture Academy has given a special one to Palisadian Conan O’Brien.
They’re bringing him back to host next year’s Oscars.
This also is a gift to the Oscar audience, in the Dolby Theatre and watching at home.
Reviews for O’Brien as host of the Oscars earlier this month were quite good, from the Hollywood Reporter writing “O’Brien was a fully capable host” to Variety saying he “rocked” it by “walking the perfect line between acid and affection.”
Next year’s Academy Awards are set for Sunday, March 15, 2026.
Meantime, O’Brien’s travel show has been renewed for a third season, even though the second season hasn’t been released yet. Season two of “Conan O’Brien Must Go” will stream on Max starting in May.
And because he apparently doesn’t want even a minute of down time, he continues to turn out his podcast, “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend.” That podcast began in fall 2018 with O’Brien chatting with celebrities and some non-celebs.
(Editor’s note: The question most Palisades residents want an answer for is “Why hasn’t Conan been asked to be the town’s honorary mayor, yet?”)