Conan O’Brien Balances Oscars Prep and Wildfire Recovery

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Comedian Conan O’Brien, preparing to host the 97th Academy Awards, is navigating both personal loss and the aftermath of devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. O’Brien, 61, spoke about the challenges he and his community are facing during the Sundance Film Festival premiere of his film, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” on Friday, Jan. 24.

“It has been a lot happening in a very short time,” O’Brien told PEOPLE at the event. “There’s a lot that happened in my personal life starting in December that was intense, and then going into this month with the fires and prep for what’s coming up.”

O’Brien’s father, Dr. Thomas O’Brien, died at 95 on Dec. 9, followed by his mother, Ruth Reardon O’Brien, who passed away at 92 on Dec. 12. The comedian described the past few months as a time to “take it a day at a time,” a sentiment he has shared with others affected by the wildfires.

The Palisades Fire, which has burned 23,448 acres, is 77% contained as of Jan. 24, while the Eaton Fire is 95% contained after burning 14,021 acres. The Hughes Fire, which burned 10,396 acres, is 56% contained, according to fire officials.

O’Brien, who is temporarily displaced from his home due to the fires, emphasized the importance of supporting those affected. “It’s the time to be asking other people how they’re doing, listening to them,” he said. “Some of the things I’m doing, like coming here to Sundance or preparing for the Oscars, can seem silly and trivial, but they’re also important because we keep going. We keep making stuff.”

The 97th Oscars, set to air live on Sunday, March 2, will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. O’Brien and his team are working to ensure the show reflects the current challenges faced by the community. “We want to be sensitive to the moment and what’s happened,” he said. “It is top of our minds, and we are talking about it a lot.”

O’Brien’s film, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” co-stars Rose Byrne and premiered at the Library Center Theatre in Park City. The comedian’s appearance at Sundance comes as he balances his professional commitments with personal and community recovery efforts.