Conan O'Brien discusses 2025 Oscars opening changes

Conan O'Brien discussed changes to the 2025 Oscars opening in a recent podcast. The original plan featured him in various movie spoofs, but it was scrapped due to disagreements with the Academy. O'Brien wanted to include humorous elements, like being green from "Wicked" while portraying a gladiator. He also suggested a skit on a couch, but the Academy rejected these ideas. The Academy insisted that the Oscar trophy must remain "naked" and cannot be shown in a horizontal position. O'Brien expressed surprise at the strictness of these guidelines.