Ever watched the Academy Awards and thought, What were they thinking? You’re not alone. Join legendary comedian and writer of over 25 Oscar telecasts, Bruce Vil...
Strap in, it’s going to be a bumpy Oscars! On this episode Bruce and “Tex” look back at one of the greatest years in filmmaking history, the 1951 Oscars for the films of 1950. A year which produced perhaps the greatest Oscar battle of all time: SUNSET BOULEVARD vs. ALL ABOUT EVE. Hollywood tragedy vs. Broadway deception. With double digit nominations and luminary actors, writers, and directors for each project — this was a true heavyweight showdown where it would be almost impossible to get it wrong. Yet in some cases, they may have! (I’m looking at you Best Actor Award!) This is one of our favorite episodes to record just from the sheer volume of outstanding movies and performances — some of which you may not have seen or heard of and should promptly add to your playlist! “Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my Oscar!”
MOVIES MENTIONED
All About Eve
Sunset Boulevard
The Substance
Gone with the Wind
Titanic
La La Land
Mrs. Miniver
Born Yesterday
Samson & Delilah
Annie Get Your Gun
The Asphalt Jungle
Broken Arrow
Caged
Cinderella
Father of the Bride
King Solomon’s Mines
The Third Man
Destination Moon
The Flame and the Arrow
Harvey
The Magnificent Yankee
Adam’s Rib
The Gunfighter
Cyrano de Begerac
Roxanne
Mr. 880
Village of the Damned
Phffft
It Should Happen to You
Platoon
Arsenic & Old Lace
The Solid Gold Cadillac
Chicago
Caged Heat
Of Human Bondage
My Fair Lady
Gigi
The Ghost and Ms. Muir
A Letter to Three Wives
Sleuth
No Way Out
Cleopatra
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
Key Largo
The African Queen
The Maltese Falcon
Gaslight
A Star is Born
The Philadelphia Story
David Copperfield
The Chapman Report
Panic in the Streets
Bitter Rice
Mystery Street
When Willy Comes Home
The Red Danube
The Furies
Stage Fright
D.O.A.
Night and the City
Cheaper by the Dozens
The Pink Panther
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1:10:32
1999 Pt. 2 - Oscar in Love
In this episode we continue looking at the 1999 Oscars for the films of 1998. However, we're doing things a little differently as we focus mainly on one of, if not, the most controversial Oscar campaigns of all-time. In fact, the tricks, stunts and machinations pulled by Harvey Weinstein to secure the Oscar for Shakespeare in Love not only live on in Oscar lore — they forever changed the way Oscars are campaigned (both good and bad). In addition to laying out all the behind-the-scenes maneuvering — Bruce and “Tex’ share personal stories of their dealings with Weinstein, uncover what really went on behind-closed-doors in 1998, and shine a light on the impact this Oscar campaign has had on the Academy today. This one is for true Oscar buffs looking to know more about one of the craziest Oscar races in Academy History. And if you're more interested in the actual awards of that year -- listen to 1999 Pt. 1 - Saving Private Oscar. Enjoy!
Movies Mentioned
Shakespeare in Love
Saving Private Ryan
Wicked
Dune 2
The Greatest Show on Earth
Big Top Pee-wee
Just Friends
Get Bruce
Legends of the Fall
Glory
The Last Samurai
Annie Hall
The Alamo
Sunset Boulevard
All About Eve
To Leslie (Andre Riseborough film referred to)
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36:47
2025 Oscar Reaction! (Is Adrien Brody still talking?)
While it goes against the premise of the show (using the test of time to look back at past Oscars) we felt we had to respond to the Oscars of 2025. Especially since Adam and Mark's former classmate at NYU, Mr. Sean Baker, cleaned up with his film Anora! We don't discuss all the awards (we'll do that in 2030)...but we do look at all the top awards and give our thoughts and opinions on the winners/losers and possible snubs and mistakes. Enjoy!
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44:37
Introducing The Daily Brain
From Atomic Entertainment, creators of The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?, Brain Games, Who Smarted? and Brainchild – comes an exciting new way to re-evaluate History — through the lens of brain science. And a chance for you to get smarter in the process!
Introducing The Daily Brain, a brand-new podcast designed to sharpen your mind in just a few minutes a day. Hosted by Emmy nominated producer and writer, Jerry Kolber – The Daily Brain explores fascinating moments in history, unpacks how your brain shapes your decision-making (both good and bad), and gives you simple, yet powerful tricks, tips and tools to boost memory, focus, and problem-solving. How’s that for an award?
Listen to Daily Brain on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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8:59
1999 - Saving Private Oscar
On this episode of ‘The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?’ Bruce and “Tex” storm the beaches of one of the Academy Awards’ biggest Best Picture controversies.
Of course we’re talking about the 1999 Oscars, for the films of 1998. This is known as the year that changed everything thanks to a guy you may have heard of named Harvey Weinstein. In a shocking upset, a brash, shameless, indie upstart managed to out-campaign the Hollywood elite and take home a best picture Oscar for an artsy film about love and Shakespeare. Using the test of time, many people look back at this year as a complete miscarriage of justice. But was it really? And what other controversies and unbelievable moments took place that evening? Bruce was there and is more than happy to share them with us. What do you think? Did Shakespeare deserve Oscar love? Or did Saving Private Ryan “Earn it?”
MOVIES MENTIONED
From Russia With Love
Shakespeare in Love
Elizabeth
Saving Private Ryan
The African Queen
Life is Beautiful
The Thin Red Line
Armageddon
A Simple Plan
The Truman Show
Affliction
Civil Action
Apollo 13
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
In Like Flint
Shine
Rushmore
The Big Lebowski
Rocky Horror Picture Show
A Fish Called Wanda
Gods and Monsters
Hillary and Jackie
Little Voice
Primary Colors
Mrs. Brown
Schindler’s List
Amistad
Warhorse
Lincoln
West Side Story
Munich
The Mask of Zorro
Out of Sight
The Big Chill
Mighty Joe Young
King Kong
What Dreams May Come
Pleasantville
Velvet Goldmine
Beloved
The Last Days
Dance Maker
The Farm Angola USA
Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth
Regret to Inform
Prince of Egypt
Patch Adams
Mulan
A Bug’s Life
The Horse Whisperer
Babe: Pig in the City
Skyfall
Barbie
Quest From Camelot
Wicked
Tango
The Grandfather
Children of Heaven
Central Station
Frankenstein
Bride of Frankenstein
American History X
Two Women
Lord of the Rings
One True Thing
Gia
Bulworth
The Best Years of our Lives
E.T.
The Day the Clown Cried
Guilty By Suspicion
On the Waterfront
Streetcar Named Desire
East of Eden
A Face in the Crowd
Splendor in the Grass
America, America
Gentleman’s Agreement
Viva Zapata
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Ever watched the Academy Awards and thought, What were they thinking? You’re not alone. Join legendary comedian and writer of over 25 Oscar telecasts, Bruce Vilanch, and screenwriter/film nerd Adam “Tex” Davis (Just Friends) as they dive into Oscar history, unpacking the flubs, snubs, and surprises from Hollywood’s biggest night. From behind-the-scenes stories of A-list stars to insider insights on how the nominations and winners are really chosen, Bruce and Tex break down each Oscar ceremony year by year to reveal what the Academy got right—and what they didn’t. If you’ve ever questioned why your favorite movie or actor got overlooked, this podcast is for you. The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?
Did you know that two of the Top 100 American Films of All-Time came out the same year but weren’t even nominated for an Academy Award? Or that the film often cited as the ‘Greatest Film of All Time’ didn’t win the Oscar in its year? Or that Cuba Gooding Jr. has the same number of acting Oscars as Al Pacino?
Look, stuff happens. But if you’ve ever watched or read about the Academy Awards, you’ve probably been left scratching your head over which movies and performers won – and how many beloved films weren’t even considered.
Why do so many Best Picture winners become some of the least remembered movies? How is it that legendary directors like Stanley Kubrick never won an Oscar? And why do great actors miss out on their best performances, only to win later for less impressive work?
Sure, the Oscars aren’t sports – there’s no scoreboard to show the winners. But with so many Academy members voting, you’d think they’d get it right. Spoiler alert: They often don’t.
On The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?, Bruce Vilanch and Adam “Tex” Davis take a deep dive into Oscar history, looking back at the biggest mistakes, controversies, and snubs. From Shakespeare in Love beating Saving Private Ryan to Dances with Wolves winning over Goodfellas, we’ll examine where the Academy went wrong.
Along the way, you’ll hear incredible behind-the-scenes stories and never-before-told moments from Hollywood’s biggest night. We’re re-examining each Oscar ceremony, year-by-year, award-by-award, to see what the Academy got right, what they missed, and how we would “fix” the Oscars.
Whether you’re a dedicated movie buff or just a casual fan, this is the podcast for you. Join us for The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?, where we break down the flubs, snubs, and forgotten gems of Oscar history.
USA