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

In a surprising twist, former Oscars host Conan O’Brien revealed the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ surprising rigidity regarding their iconic statue. O’Brien, during an episode of Mike Sweeney’s podcast, “Conan Needs a Friend,” detailed his rejected promotional ad pitches, which included some rather unconventional scenarios involving a nine-foot-tall Oscar statue.

One idea involved a humorous domestic partnership between O’Brien and the statue, complete with scenarios like the statue lounging on a couch while O’Brien vacuumed. “We’re fighting about things couples fight about,” O’Brien explained. “We wanted to lay it on a couch...and they just said, ‘No, no, no, that can’t happen.’ ”

The Academy's reasoning, according to O’Brien, stems from surprisingly strict rules surrounding the statue's depiction. “One of the people from the Academy came forward and said, ‘Oscar can never be horizontal.’ …This is like the thigh bone of St. Peter. This is a religious icon,” he recounted, adding that the Academy also insisted the statue remain “always naked,” thus nixing an idea of the statue wearing an apron.

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While the Academy's reasoning remains somewhat opaque, their rules are undeniably stringent. It's a shame we missed out on O’Brien's comedic vision for the Oscars promos, but here's hoping for equally inventive ideas in future ceremonies. We're definitely rooting for Conan as host in 2026!