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The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Atomic Entertainment
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
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- 3 days ago1h 15m
1984 Redux - Oscars of Endearment
Hey Oscar fans, join us for another look back at the 1984 Oscars for the amazing films of 1983. A time when all the big stars, big directors and top talent were putting out great films to satisfy every film urge and scratch every movie itch! With so many objectively great movies in every genre to choose from, it's hard for even the Academy to get it wrong. And yet, using the test of time, there are still some curious choices and omissions worth looking into. And please note, we'll be back with new episodes, fresh complaints and satisfying explanations in a few weeks. Hope everyone is beating the heat by staying in and watching great movies! For more info, go to www.Oscars.wtf email us at Info@Oscars.wtf Oscars: What Were They Thinking is edited by Kelley Marcano Movies Mentioned (*Recommended) *Terms of Endearment *The Right Stuff *Fanny & Alexander *The Dresser *Silkwood *Tender Mercies Yentl *Cross Creek *The Big Chill *Educating Rita *Reuben, Reuben *War Games *Star Wars: Return of the Jedi *Trading Places *The Outsiders Flashdance *Risky Business *Sudden Impact *The China Syndrome *The Insider *Norma Rae *Breaking Away *Bullitt Krull Mother, Jugs & Speed *The Friends of Eddie Coyle Face to Face *The Graduate *Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe *Working Girl *Raiders of the Lost Ark Henry & June *Unbearable Lightness of Being The Mirror Has Two Faces *The Prince of Tides Rhinestone *Dr. Zhivago *Tom Jones *Murder on the Orient Express *The Godfather *Apocalypse Now *The Great Santini *Ray *Crazy Heart *Testament Melvin and Howard *To Be or Not to Be (1984 & 1942) *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest *Easy Rider *Five Easy Pieces *Reds *The World According to Garp Precious *Network *To Kill a Mockingbird Betrayal Octopussy Striptease Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 2 weeks ago1h 15m
1940 - Gone With the Oscars!
Hey Oscars WWTT? fans -- we're going way, way back to perhaps the first truly epic year of movies! And while it all took place over 80 years ago -- when you have this many timeless classics that are still relevant, watched & enjoyed today -- it may as well be 8 years ago. Between Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Stagecoach, Of Mice and Men, and Ninotchka we're talking about some of the biggest and best movies, directed by luminaries and starring some of the all-time greats. So join us for a year like few others; add some films to your watch list; and enjoy some behind the scenes trivia & stories you won't hear anywhere else! FILMS DISCUSSED (*) Recommended *Gone With the Wind *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington *Wuthering Heights Goodbye Mr. Chips *Stagecoach Love Affair *The Wizard of Oz *Ninotchka *Of Mice and Men *Dark Victory *Babes in Arms *Beau Geste *The Hunchback of Notre Dame An Affair to Remember Sleepless in Seattle *A Stolen Life *Now Voyager *Jezebel *The Letter *Only Angels Have Wings Dodsworth *Mrs. Miniver *Best Years of Our lives *The Women *It Happened One Night *Mutiny on the Bounty *The Roaring Twenties *Juarez *(The Scarlett O’Hara Wars - Mini-series) *A Streetcar Named Desire *Notorious The Last Remake of Beau Geste Drums Along the Mohawk *Young Mr. Lincoln Bachelor Mother *The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex *The Rains Came *The Hurricane Union Station Topper Takes a Trip *Hattie McDaniel Acceptance Speech: https://youtu.be/gPJVFLv3_v8?t=852 EMAIL US: info@oscars.wtf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Jun 30, 20261h 18m
1998 - A Titanic Year for Movies & the Oscars!
Hey Oscars WWTT? Fans — come take a fateful trip with us as we break down the highest-rated Oscars telecast in history! And because Bruce was there, he can regale you with some behind-the-scenes fun! Of course, it was a big night for Titanic, which became the highest grossing film of all-tine, But while James Cameron might’ve been ‘The King of the Oscars’ that night — not everything broke his way. Find out all the interesting stories, as well as the snubs, flubs, oversights and WTF moments as Bruce and “Tex” walk & talk their way through this night to remember. Most of all, celebrate a year jam-packed with quality movies and hidden gems — some Oscar-worthy, others not so much — but all great films by solid filmmakers! FILMS DISCUSSED Titanic As Good as it Gets The Full Monty Good Will Hunting LA Confidential Amistad Kundun The Wings of the Dove Boogie Nights Donnie Brasco Jackie Brown Deconstructing Harry The Boxer The Ice Storm The Sweet Hereafter Mrs. Brown Wag the Dog The Game Career Girls Hard Eight Contact Rosewood Lost Highway Ulee’s Gold The Apostle In & Out Afterglow Anastasia Men in Black Starship Troopers Con Air Air Force One Liar, Liar Citizen Kane Gone with the Wind Bridge on the River Kwai Lawrence of Arabia Ben-Hur Schindler’s List The Poseidon Adventure Avatar Four Little Girls Happy Together Get Bruce! Contact us: info@oscars.wtf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Jun 22, 20261h 10m
Bonus - No Competitive Oscars for Sidney Lumet Makes us ‘Mad as Hell!’
It also makes us 2 Angry Men spending a Dog Day Afternoon grousing about an unfair Verdict. Yes, these are all ham-fisted references to Sidney Lumet films that were nominated for Best Picture and Best Director. And despite being beloved classics, all four films (12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon, Network & The Verdict) failed to win Oscars for esteemed director Sidney Lumet. But that’s just part of the story! On this bonus episode we dive into the films and filmmaking of a true cinematic master that will have you appreciating Lumet’s genius and leave you wanting to watch or re-watch most of his filmography! Enjoy and thanks for listening! FILMS MENTIONED 12 Angry Men Dog Day Afternoon Network The Verdict Stage Struck Long Day’s Journey Into Night Fail Safe The Offence The Hill The Iceman Cometh The Seagull Equus The Pawnbroker The Anderson Tapes Murder on the Orient Express Serpico Deathtrap Prince of the City The Morning After Q&A The Wiz Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Jun 8, 20261h 19m
1963 - Oscar of Arabia
Hello! We at Oscars WWTT? believe the beauty of this podcast comes from three things. 1. Looking back at the Oscars of the past to see which winners & nominees have stood the test of time, or not. 2. Trying to understand how or why the Academy voters chose that year’s winners and nominees, and 3) Putting hidden gems and/or movies you haven’t heard of on your radar. For this episode, the 1963 Oscars for the films of 1962 — we get plenty of all three. There are some legendary wins, some historically curious losses and lots of great movies you’ll want to add to your watch list. So join us on an epic adventure as Bruce and “Tex” sift through the sands of time to discover WTF the Oscars were thinking! As always, thanks for joining us! FILMS MENTIONED The Longest Day Lawrence of Arabia The Music Man That Touch of Mink Mutiny on the Bounty To Kill a Mockingbird Days of Wine and Roses The Miracle Worker Whatever Happened to Baby Jane The Birdman of Alcatraz The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm Divorce, Italian Style Gypsy Sweet Bird of Youth Billy Budd The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Long Day’s Journey into Night Lonely Are the Brave The Manchurian candidate Through a Glass Darkly The Bridge on the River Kwai David and Lisa Bonnie and Clyde Brief Encounter Dr. Zhivago Auntie Mame Elmer Gantry Some Like it Hot The Apartment The Gunfighter The Omen Dr. No Hatari! Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Superman 2 Lolita Freud: The Secret Passion Last Year at Marienbad Seesaw Taras Bulba Gigot Jumbo Tender is the Night Walk on the Wild Side Sundays and Cybele Jules and Jim Harikari Le Eclipse Autumn Afternoon Cleo From 5 to 7 Vivre Se Vie (My Life to Live) Childhood Sanjuro Yojimbo The Exterminating Angel Midnight in Paris Knife in the Water Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- May 27, 20261h 14m
2009 - The Curious Case of the Slumdog Oscar
Hey Oscar fans, Bruce and “Tex” are back with the 2009 Oscars for the films of 2008. This was an interesting year for many reasons: controversial winners; new formats, a singing & dancing Wolverine as host; and most notably, the reaction to The Dark Knight being snubbed causing the Academy to expand the number of Best Picture nominees from 5 to (up to) 10. As for the movies that were nominated, it’s a curious mix of decent films that really only need to be seen once — and some possibly better movies that have stood the test of time and are even more relevant now! Join us as we break it all down and get behind the scenes stories from Bruce Vilanch who got paid to spend an evening with Hugh Jackman. Thanks for listening!. Movies Mentioned *The Dark Knight **Wall-E *The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Slumdog Millionaire *Milk *Frost/Nixon *Changeling *Revolutionary Road *The Wrestler *Frozen River *Iron Man *The Reader **In Bruges *The Visitor *Happy-Go-Lucky *Hunger Shame Billy Elliott **Good Will Hunting *A Beautiful Mind **The Social Network *Doubt *Shallow Grave *Trainspotting *28 Days Later The Beach *Chicago *Mystic River **Vicky Cristina Barcelona *Gran Torino W Rachel Getting Married *The Fighter *Tropic Thunder Che *In the Bedroom *My Cousin Vinny Red Belt **Idiocracy *Forrest Gump *Bolt *Kung Fu Panda Departures **Bader Meinhof Complex Australia *The Nutty Professor Maverick: Top Gun Part 2 Contact us: info@oscars.wtf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- May 11, 20261h 16m
Encore 1999 - Love vs War
Hey Oscar fans. Bruce and "Tex" are on a slight hiatus, so we're doing an encore presentation of one of Oscar's most controversial years. A year that pit 'Love' VS 'War.' Of course we’re talking about the 1999 Oscars, for the films of 1998 in which Shakespeare in Love won the Oscar over Saving Private Ryan. 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.. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- May 4, 20261h 14m
1943 - Minvers, Ambersons & The Pride of the Yankees Doodle Dandy
Welcome Oscar fans. Bruce is back to help break down the 1943 Oscars for the films of 1942. It’s another stacked year with 10 Outstanding Picture nominees (most of which are very deserving) and yet, there are still several other great films left out in the cold. And while there are a few curious decisions and omissions, most of the winners in all the categories are surprisingly and refreshingly solid. Instead of controversy — this is definitely an episode you’ll want to take notes during, because there are a lot of hidden gems to go with the classics. Either way, you’re going to want to update your ‘Watch List!’ As always for joining us for another look back at the Oscars of the past, through the lens of today! Movies Mentioned *Mrs. Miniver *The Magnificent Ambersons *Yankee Doodle Dandy *The Pride of the Yankees *The Talk of the Town *The Invaders AKA The 49th Parallel *King’s Row The Pied Piper *Random Harvest Wake Island *Now Voyager *To Be or Not To Be *The Palm Beach Story *Johnny Eager Around the World in 80 Days *The Letter *The Little Foxes Wuthering Heights Doddsworth *Angels With Dirty Faces *My Sister Eileen Woman of the Year *I Married a Witch *This Gun for Hire *Tortilla Flat *The Affairs of Cellini *The Wizard of Oz *Shadow of a Doubt Holiday inn White Christmas *Road to Morocco One of Our Aircraft is Missing The Black Swan Jungle Book Bambi Arabian Nights The Shanghai Gesture The Corsican Brothers The Battle of Midway (first Documentary Winner) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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About 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
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