The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!

Atomic Entertainment
The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!

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.

  1. JUN 30

    1944 - Play it Again, Oscar

    Hey Oscars fans, welcome to the 1944 Oscars for the films of 1943.  Not surprisingly the theme of many movies this year was war as most of the globe fought in WWII.   There was a movie just called Air Force!  And among these war and war adjacent films came one of the most beloved, quoted and classic movies of all time… Casablanca!  But while Casablanca did take home some awards… did it take home enough awards?  In fact, two movies that year had more nominations than Casablanca.   Join us as we take you on a journey through some of the best movies and performances ever and discuss how and why some of them inexplicably lost out or weren’t even nominated.   Along the way you’ll discover lots of films to add to your must-watch list and learn some great film history in the process.  Oh, and we know the title of this episode is a mis-quote from Casablanca!  As always, thanks for listening.  Contact us and let us know your opinions! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577252340445 Email: info@oscars.wtf Website: www.oscars.wtf Movies Mentioned! Casablanca (must see) The Song of Bernadette  (must see) For Whom the Bell Tolls Air Force This is the Army Heaven Can Wait The Human Comedy In Which We Serve Madame Curie The More the Merrier The Ox-Bow Incident  (must see) Watch on the Rhine To Be or Not to Be Ninotchka Trouble in Paradise Design for Living The Shop Around the Corner Shadow of a Doubt  (must see) 12 Angry Men   Five Graves to Cairo The Gunfighter Mildred Pierce Yankee Doodle Dandy The Adventures of Robin Hood The African Queen Sergeant York High Noon Duel in the Sun Sahara The Constant Nymph Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Maltese Falcon So Proudly we Hail! Gone With the Wind Princess O’Rourke Action in the North Atlantic Destination Tokyo Holy Matrimony Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon How Green Was my Valley Citizen Kane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 14m
  2. JUN 2

    1981 - Ordinary vs. Raging Oscar

    Hey Oscars fans, welcome to the 1981 Oscars for the films of 1980.  This is a HUGE year in terms of the conceit of this show — because while the Oscar winning film is respected, the film that DIDN’T WIN is regarded as a true masterpiece and one of the greatest films of all-time. If you know, you know, and if you don’t get ready to be enraged.  Or maybe not.  And that’s just the start of some curious decisions, omissions and oversights. Whether you’re a total film nerd (like us) or not — this was objectively a great year for movies and for debating the awards given to them!  And along the way, we hope to add a few more hidden gems to your movie-watching list.  As always, thanks for listening! Movies Mentioned The Elephant Man Raging Bull Coal Miner’s Daughter Fame Ordinary People  Tess The Empire Strikes Back Melvin and Howard Private Benjamin The Stuntman 9 to 5 Stir Crazy Airplane Any Which Way You Can Smokey and the Bandit 2 The Blue Lagoon The Blues Brothers Crash (Haggis version) Barry Lyndon The Empire Strikes Back The Shining Stripes Protocol Wildcats Jumping Jack Flash Stardust Memories Duel in the Sun Chinatown The Two Jakes Color of Night The Eyes of Laura Mars Return of a Man Called Horse Never Say Never Again American Gigolo The Big Red One Cruisin’ Tribute The Great Santini Urban Cowboy The Long Good Friday Breaker Morant Inside Moves Resurrection Gloria Carrie Eyes Wide Shut Altered States Flash Gordon The Zero Hero Honeysuckle Rose The Competition 8 Mile Kagemusha The Last Metro The Gods Must Be Crazy Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears Can’t Stop the Music (Razzie Winner!) Bachelor Party 2 (Direct to Video) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 2m
  3. MAY 19

    1964 - My Fair Oscar

    Hey Oscars fans, welcome to the 1965 Oscars for the films of 1964 — a year that had a lot of great films, some of which have stood the test of time… and then there were the winners.   We’re kidding of course. Half kidding. But as you’ll hear ‘Tex” is not a huge fan of this year’s winner and would have preferred any of the other nominees (and another movie that wasn’t nominated) — while Bruce Vilanch supplies the context and support of the winner.   So, what were these films and how and why did they win or lose out?  You’ll have to listen to find out.  And as always, there are lot of great film recommendations to add to your viewing catalogue!  Thanks for listening! Movies Mentioned Minecraft Mary Poppins Becket My Fair Lady Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte Zorba the Greek The Unsinkable Molly Brown Dr. Strangelove Night of the Iguana Breakfast at Tiffany’s Fail Safe Seven Days in May Fiddler on the Roof Gone With the Wind Little Women A Philadelphia Story A Double Life Born Yesterday Cleopatra Lawrence of Arabia Masque of the Red Death Seance on a Wet Afternoon Marriage Italian Style The Pumpkin Eater The Americanization of Emily The Miracle Worker The Chalk Garden The Best Man Topkapi Spartacus Quo Vadis The Barefoot Contessa That Man From Rio Breathless The Organizer One Potato, Two Potato A Hard Day’s Night Father Goose Robin and the Seven Hoods Dear Heart Where Love Has Gone Fate is the Hunter Cheyanne Autumn What a Way to Go Gigi A House is Not a Home Kisses for my President The Visit The King and I Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow The Umbrellas of Cherbourg Woman in the Dunes The Young Girls of Rochefort Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 6m
  4. APR 21

    In an Oscars, far, far away…

    Welcome Oscars: WWTT? Fans to the 1978 Oscars for the films of 1977 — the year that changed movies forever.  That’s because this is the year Star Wars came out.  But did Star Wars win the Oscar?  And if not, what legendary movie rose up to beat it?  And what other legendary film about outer space creatures by a luminary director wasn’t even nominated that year. And what movie about dancing was nominated over Saturday Night Fever?  Join us as we look back at a truly amazing year of movies, awards, oversights and possible snubs.   And as always, Bruce Vilanch shares his personal stories with some of the stars and filmmakers of the era — including how he was cast in the opening credits of Footloose and how he wound up writing the Star Wars Holiday Special!   MOVIES MENTIONED Spinal Tap  Manchurian candidate The Odd Couple Airplane Airplane 2 Casablanca Singing in the Rain Star Wars Julia The Turning Point The Goodbye Girl Annie Hall Jaws Gravity Arrival Close Encounters of the Third Kind West Side Story Gypsy Saturday Night Fever The Duelists Three Women Goodbye Mr. Chips The Owl and the Pussycat Play it Again Sam The Sunshine Boys Funny Lady Footloose Equus A Special Day Parasite Moonlight Anora The Spy Who Came Out of the Cold The Empire Strike Back Sleeper Love & Death The Godfather The Godfather II The Graduate The Pumpkin Eater Klute The Miracle Worker Opening Night Looking for Mr. Goodbar All the President’s Men Bridge on the River Kwai The Lavender Hill Mob The Horse’s Mouth Oh God! The Late Show Hannah and Her Sisters Midnight in Paris Citizen Kane A Bridge Too Far Slap Shot Snow White French Connection The Deer Hunter Rocky The Star Wars Holiday Special! To learn more go to www.oscars.wtf Email us at info@oscars.wtf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 3m
  5. MAR 24

    1951 - ALL ABOUT OSCAR

    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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 11m

Trailer

4.7
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About

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.

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