Welcome to an Oscars full of murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery & treachery.
Welcome Oscars: WWTT? fans to the 2003 Oscars for the films of 2002. In the US we are in post-9/11 recovery; in the Middle East the Iraq War has just begun and on the Oscar stage it’s a battle between the hit musical adaptation of Chicago VS. The Hours, Gangs of New York, The Pianist and Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. So, which film about murder and/or death takes home the gold and why? And who else should have been considered? That’s what we’re here to find out as we re-examine an Academy Awards show that was equal parts razzle-dazzle and controversy — including some things that would never fly today!
MOVIES MENTIONED
Bowling for Columbine
Chicago
Gangs of New York
The Hours
The Pianist
Frida
Road to Perdition
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Adaptation
Far From Heaven
Talk to Her
About Schmidt
Catch Me if you Can
Spiderman
Oliver
Joker 2
The Aviator
Shutter Island
The Lord of the Rings
25th Hour
Minority Report
Spirited Away
Y tu mama tambien
The Quiet American
Leaving Las Vegas
One Hour Photo
Punch Drunk Love
Uncut Gems
8 Mile
Secretary
Igby Goes Down
Unfaithful
The Deer Hunter
Entrapment
About a Boy
Winged Migration
Roger & Me
Fahrenheit 9/11
The Wild Thornberrys Movie
The Lion King
A Hard Day’s Night
Cats
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
The Departed
Amelia Perez
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1:08:29
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
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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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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.
Ireland