Hey Oscar fans, welcome to the 2005 Oscars for the films of 2004. Interestingly, nearly all the nominees were either bio-pics or felt like bio-pics. Even more interesting, while the choice for best picture isn’t bad — there was at least one film from that year that has become an all-time classic and an absolute favorite for many people — which was completely shut out of the Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor categories. With the recent release of the New York Times’ Top 100 Films of the ...
Jul 14, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 21
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 ...
Jun 30, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Hello, Oscars: WWTT? fans. Welcome our look at the 1973 Oscars, honoring the films of 1972. It was an outstanding year for movies with some great contenders in every category battling it out. Ironically, the most cheerful best picture nominee was about the inner-workings of the Mafia and all the killing and revenge that comes along with it. But while The Godfather may have been the big winner...did it win enough? And what snubs, flubs and oversights will have you reaching for a gun and a canoli....
Jun 16, 2025•1 hr 22 min•Season 1Ep. 19
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 ob...
Jun 02, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 18
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 ...
May 19, 2025•1 hr 6 min
Hey Oscars fans, welcome to the 2013 Oscars for the films of 2012 — a year when Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln was poised to sweep based on a(mother) legendary performance by Daniel Day Lewis. But instead…it was the second worst night in Lincoln’s life. All in all, it was a pretty strange year for the Academy Awards — from the winners, non-winners, snubs and even the host! So join Bruce Vilanch and Adam “Tex” Davis as they share their insider’s perspective on who won and why (and who should have won...
May 05, 2025•1 hr 8 min
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, ove...
Apr 21, 2025•1 hr 3 min
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 A...
Apr 07, 2025•1 hr 8 min
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 w...
Mar 24, 2025•1 hr 11 min
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 maneuverin...
Mar 10, 2025•37 min
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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...
Mar 03, 2025•45 min
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 lo...
Feb 17, 2025•1 hr 17 min
On this episode of ‘The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?’ Bruce and Tex crash headfirst into one of the most debated years in Oscar history. We’re talking about the 2006 Oscars, for the films of 2005. This was the year that saw some incredible firsts, but also left a wonderful movie out in the cold in the best picture category. And the test of time doesn’t make this poor decision look any better. In a rare show of unity, both Bruce and “Tex” agree that a major disservice was performed — and the ...
Feb 03, 2025•59 min
On this bonus episode, Bruce and “Tex” react, breakdown & discuss the 2025 Oscar nominations for the films of 2024. Who and what made the cut? Who or what was snubbed? Were there any big surprises? Who are the front-runners and why? And which of these films, if any, will we still care about in 10 years??? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 23, 2025•1 hr 9 min
On this episode of ‘The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?’ Bruce and Tex look back at the 1942 Oscars for the films of 1941 -- easily one of the greatest years in movie history. And, among those great films is the film often cited as 'the greatest film of all-time' -- the Stairway to Heaven of movies... Citizen Kane. But, did this Orson Welles masterpiece win the Oscar the year it came out? Find out -- as well as hear about all the other great movies that should be on your must-see list! To learn...
Jan 20, 2025•44 min
On this episode of ‘The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?’ Bruce and Tex step into the ring to duke it out over the 1977 Oscars for the films of 1976. As many of you already know, or will come to see, the 1970’s are absolutely stacked with worthy contenders, many of which have stood the test of time. The same goes for directing, performing and technical achievements. So the real question becomes, why does the Academy choose one great film over another? Why would a movie win for best picture and d...
Jan 06, 2025•1 hr 3 min
In this special holiday edition of 'The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?', co-hosts Adam "Tex" Davis and Bruce Vilanch dive into their favorite holiday movies and examine how many of them garnered the attention of the Oscars. The discussion kicks off with Adam’s own Christmas cult classic 'Just Friends' and highlights various holiday-themed films like 'It Nearly Wasn't Christmas,' - including a clip of Bruce's performance as a giant Elf named PhilPot. Discussion includes 'White Christmas,' 'A Ch...
Dec 23, 2024•54 min
On this episode of ‘The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?’ Bruce and Tex look at the 1961 Oscars for the films of 1960. Yep we're going back a ways to a year that really helps exemplify what this show is about. You see, in 1960 three films came out that are currently on the American Film Institute's Top 100 American Films of ALL TIME. However, only one of those three films was nominated for an Academy Award! Using the test of time and our love of movies, we examine whether those other two films (...
Dec 09, 2024•1 hr
On this episode of ‘The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?’ Bruce and Tex look at the 1986 Oscars for the films of 1985. This year was a battle of two Oscar-bait juggernauts -- the sweeping romance of Out of Africa and the struggle to survive during slavery of The Color Purple. With 22 nominations between them (11 each) this was gearing up to be a battle for the ages. However, while one movie collected award after award, the other was completely shut out. Not only that, its esteemed director was p...
Nov 25, 2024•1 hr 11 min
On this episode of ‘The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?’ Bruce and Tex look at the 2010 Oscars for the films of 2009. Imagine, you’ve just made one of the most groundbreaking movies of all time, a timeless, epic, 3D adventure that not only captivated audiences by creating a never-before-seen world and characters, but also went on to become the highest grossing movie ever. But instead of winning the Oscar… you lose… to your ex-wife. Yep, we’re talking about James Cameron’s Avatar losing the best...
Nov 11, 2024•1 hr 29 min
Welcome to the inaugural episode of ‘The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?’ In this episode we’re looking at the 1989 Oscars for the films of 1988. This is also the first year Bruce Vilanch was hired to write the telecast. After learning how Bruce got the gig and how his first awards show was almost his last — we get into the awards. The big question is — Does best picture winner Rain Man stand the test of time? Were there any better movies that were nominated that year? Or perhaps, the best movi...
Nov 11, 2024•1 hr 23 min
Have you watched the Academy Awards and thought… ‘What were they thinking?’ Have you ever wondered, how is it that so many of the awards for Best Picture go to one movie when there’s a much better movie staring them in the face? Or, why have so many actors not won Oscars for their best roles? Or, why is it that so many movies that everyone loves and made a ton of money at the box office get no Oscar love while little-seen movies rake in the nominations and awards? If so, then this is the podcast...
Oct 28, 2024•3 min
