Fri Feb 28 21:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Leno’s Backhanded Compliment: Oscars Host Conan O’Brien Navigates Past Feud with Jay Leno

**LOS ANGELES** – As Conan O’Brien prepares to host the Oscars this Sunday, a lingering feud with former Tonight Show rival Jay Leno has resurfaced. While Leno publicly wished O’Brien well, his comments to the New York Post were laced with thinly veiled digs. “I think he’ll be great,” Leno stated, adding, “I did get asked twice [to host the Oscars], and… we realised that when you see somebody on TV every night, it’s not special to see them hosting the Oscars. I think Conan will be good, because he’s not on every night like he used to be…”

The remark highlights the unresolved tension between the two comedians stemming from the infamous 2010 Tonight Show debacle. O’Brien, after a successful run as host of Late Night, was promised Leno’s coveted Tonight Show chair, only to be abruptly replaced months later in favor of Leno’s return. The controversy sparked a massive public outcry, with celebrities and fans rallying behind O’Brien.

This year’s Oscars appearance marks a significant comeback for O’Brien, whose career took a hit following the incident. He subsequently hosted a show on TBS and found renewed success with his HBO travel show and podcast, “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend.”

Despite the painful past, O’Brien’s personal resilience shines through. He’s hosting the Oscars amidst recent personal tragedies, including the loss of both parents. His home also narrowly escaped the devastating California wildfires, remaining uninhabitable.

The long-standing feud between Leno and O’Brien is rich with layers of bitterness, fuelled by perceived betrayals and career maneuvering. While O’Brien has publicly moved on, the subtext of Leno’s recent comments suggests the past remains a sore point. The Oscars, therefore, provides a stage not just for O’Brien’s comedic talents but also for a quiet, yet palpable, continuation of their complicated history.

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