At the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Conan O’Brien takes the stage once again to host the Academy Awards for the second year in a row. With rave reviews from his debut in 2025, anticipation is high for O’Brien to deliver another stellar performance. Known for his comedic charm, O’Brien is sure to keep Hollywood’s biggest night running smoothly.
Hosting the Oscars is no easy task, as past ceremonies have shown. For every successful moment, there are unforgettable missteps. As viewers prepare to watch on ABC, let’s look back at the hosting moments that fell short, ranked from mildly awkward to downright memorable.
Kicking off the list is the awkward chemistry between Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin as co-hosts of the 82nd Academy Awards in 2010. Despite their individual comedic talent, the duo struggled to find a rhythm on stage, leading to awkward moments and poorly received jokes throughout the night.
Moving on to the 83rd Academy Awards in 2011, James Franco and Anne Hathaway found themselves in a mismatched hosting situation. While Hathaway brought energy to the stage, Franco seemed disengaged, leaving their co-hosting dynamic unbalanced and the overall evening feeling off-kilter.
In 2015, Neil Patrick Harris, riding high from his success on “How I Met Your Mother,” faced criticism for certain moments during the 87th Academy Awards. Harris’ jokes and running bits, including one about a documentary producer’s dress and another about an actor’s accent, missed the mark with viewers.
Continuing down the list, Chevy Chase’s solo hosting gig at the 60th Academy Awards in 1988 quickly went south. With limited material due to a writer’s strike, Chase’s attempts at comedy fell flat, leading to a rough and uncomfortable night for both the host and the audience.
Venturing back to the 1975 ceremony, Bob Hope and fellow hosts found themselves in the midst of a political firestorm. A controversial statement made by a winner during his acceptance speech led to tension backstage and highlighted a growing divide in Hollywood at the time.
Wrapping up the list is Seth MacFarlane’s hosting of the 85th Academy Awards in 2013. Known for pushing boundaries with his humor, MacFarlane’s performance that night drew backlash for its tone-deaf jokes and inappropriate references, leading to one of the most criticized moments in Oscar history.
As we reflect on past hosting moments at the Oscars, it’s clear that navigating Hollywood’s biggest stage is no easy feat. Each host brings their own style and humor to the ceremony, but not every performance hits the mark. Ultimately, hosting the Oscars requires a delicate balance of comedy, timing, and understanding of the audience—a challenge that not every host can master.
Peace Nero is a writer and blogger who loves to explore different topics of self-development. She shares her personal experiences in order to help people discover their true purpose in life.