“You will see their ads about the magic of cinema on the Oscars,” Kramer notes. “We have a beautiful partnership with them that transcends the show.”

That’s the kind of partnership that Kramer hopes to continue building with other brands to help further the Academy’s non-profit mission. “We’re always working with brands to figure out how we can add value,” he says. “It’s about creating diversified revenue for a sustainable future for the Academy.”

Vox tux

For the record, host Conan O’Brien is doing his part to give back to Los Angeles. When the time came for him to suit up for his inaugural Oscars emcee gig, the late night icon made a point of shopping locally, enlisting the bespoke L.A. clothing company High Society to craft his custom tuxedo.

“I didn’t just want to go with whatever designer,” O’Brien said at the press conference. “We wanted to do something for the community.”

Unfortunately, the High Society tux—which O’Brien calls the “nicest thing I’ve ever put on in my life”—isn’t his to keep. After the Oscars, its next destination is most likely going to be the Academy museum. “I’m 6’4″—who else is going to get it?” the lightly miffed host joked. “Is John Tesh going to get it? I want that tuxedo!”

Kramer probably has the power to make that happen—and he’s definitely among O’Brien’s biggest fans. “He’s been so great to work with, and is bringing so many fresh ideas to the table,” the CEO raves. Those ideas include incorporating social media platforms like TikTok, something that O’Brien is well-versed in having built his own digital media company in the years since leaving linear television.

“Conan understands that world better than anyone,” Kramer notes. “I’m thrilled about his success in that space, and it’s helping us think about the show in new ways.”

Sounds like that expertise is definitely worth the price of a new tux.