Everything Everyone Needs to Know About the Oscars on Sunday

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The Oscars are set to return this coming Sunday, promising a sparkling spectacle. Will Anora dominate the awards, or will The Brutalist unexpectedly take the lead? How will the Emilia Pérez scandal affect the outcome? Will Kieran Culkin maintain his winning streak? Could Demi Moore generate some affection for The Substance? And what about Conclave, I’m Still Here, Nickel Boys, A Complete Unknown, Dune: Part Two, and Wicked? These are just a few of the questions on everyone’s lips.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve got you covered! Here’s all you need to know before we dive into the action.

What time does the show start?

The performance commences at 4 p.m. Pacific Time or 7 p.m. Eastern Time on March 2nd. This is the second consecutive year that the event will start an hour earlier, catering to the late-night routines of East Coast residents. Given it’s a school night, it’s thoughtful! The broadcast will be live across the country, originating from the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.

The red carpet event starts a full thirty minutes prior, commencing at 3:30 PM Pacific Time. Julianne Hough and Jesse Palmer are set to be the hosts.

Who is the host?

For the very first time, Conan O’Brien will be the host. On Wednesday, Raj Kapoor, the showrunner and executive producer, assured us that “he has an abundance of content such that even the most precious pieces might not make it on-screen.” Additionally, Kapoor expressed, “We are truly fortunate for the amount of effort Conan has put into this show.

Nick Offerman will take on the role of the show host, a position that Kapoor revealed was originally suggested by O’Brien. The list of presenters includes stars such as Joe Alwyn, Halle Berry, Sterling K. Brown, Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Ana de Armas, Lily-Rose Depp, Robert Downey Jr., Elle Fanning, Whoopi Goldberg, Selena Gomez, Goldie Hawn, Scarlett Johansson, John Lithgow, Cillian Murphy, Connie Nielsen, Amy Poehler, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, June Squibb, Ben Stiller, Emma Stone, Oprah Winfrey, Bowen Yang, Dave Bautista, Gal Gadot, Andrew Garfield, Margaret Qualley, Alba Rohrwacher, Rachel Zegler, Harrison Ford, Zoe Saldaña and Samuel L. Jackson.

Who’s performing?

The Oscars revealed in January that they would no longer include live performances of nominated songs, opting instead to delve into the backgrounds of each songwriter. However, music will still play a significant role at the event: Doja Cat, Lisa from Blackpink, Queen Latifah, and Raye have been confirmed for “spectacular performances.” Additionally, the Los Angeles Master Chorale is expected to make a special appearance. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, both Oscar-nominated, will also perform something from Wicked. We’ll need to watch the show to discover which number they’ll be performing.

Will the show do anything about the fires?

The disastrous Eaton and Palisades fires caused significant distress within Hollywood back in January, and numerous award ceremonies have since acknowledged the victims and the destruction they caused. It has been confirmed that the Oscars will also honor this tragedy, and according to Academy CEO Bill Kramer in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter‘s Awards Chatter podcast, “the segment of the show focusing on the recent fires in the Los Angeles area is essentially about unity, affection for our homes, and admiration for L.A. as a hub for filmmaking and artistic genius.

O’Brien has shared his thoughts on how the devastation affected his role as host. He stated, “It’s not an easy task I’ve taken on, but I’m making the best of it.” Speaking with THR, he added, “This isn’t about me. It’s a time for us all to be humble and acknowledge that this is a significant moment. This tragedy in Los Angeles is truly immense.

Who’s going to win?

If you’re interested, you should definitely tune in for the announcement. However, if you can’t wait and want to place your bets, here’s a list of all the potential nominees.

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2025-02-28 18:25