The 97th Academy Awards are heading our way, and though this year may not have a front-runner in the way that Oppenheimer was, that’s all the more reason to get excited. What is this feeling? Uncertainty. Plus, an eight-foot-tall, ginger court jester that we are altogether thrilled about will host. All that, and internet dwellers will actually be able to watch the ceremony — by which we mean that, for the very first time, the Academy Awards will be available on streaming. The Oscars are coming, the Oscars are coming!
Who’s hosting the ceremony?
That would be the beautiful and talented Conan O’Brien, hosting for the first time and taking the reins from Jimmy Kimmel, who’s hosted a total of four times — 2017, 2018, 2023, and 2024. We’re jumping for joy to see someone new in the position and to see how he uses his secret weapon: his assistant Sona Movsesian.
Where can I watch it?
Well, the usual suspect ABC is always an option for anybody still attached to cable. However, there’s also, for the very first time, an option that brings the Oscars into the 21st century: Stream the Academy Awards live on Hulu! (And there was much celebrating in the streets, for the Oscars were finally available to stream.) Notably, that does not include ABC’s sister in Disney-dom, Disney+. Just the green goddess.
What’s nominated?
We don’t know yet! The Oscar nominations will be announced the morning of January 17. All we have so far are the slightly less exciting but still nice Golden Globe nominations, released December 10, which are an entirely different affair altogether. For example, they include the rat-faced people of television.
When are the Oscars?
The 2025 Oscars will be held on March 2 at 7 p.m. ET. That’s pretty early, but please remember: This thing typically goes on for 19 hours. And that could easily go to 20 if they end up awarding Ariana Grande and she has to spend a full hour talking about her love for Cynthia Erivo.