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...
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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1:16:58
2006 - Brokeback Oscar!
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 fun of the show is trying to figure out ‘How?’ and ‘Why?’ Of course, there were lots of other dubious choices, interesting omissions and head-scratching decisions worthy of debate and discussions. I wish I knew how to quit you Oscars!
To learn more about the show go to: Oscars.wtf
Please feel free to leave comments on Spotify and/or reviews on Apple. We're always open to compliments (and criticism if it's constructive!)
MOVIES MENTIONED
Crash
Crash (David Cronenberg)
Capote
Goodnight & Good Luck
Munich
Brokeback Mountain
Grand Canyon
Silence of the Lambs
Barbie
Schindler’s List
Angels in America
Lincoln
Squid and the Whale
The Constant Gardener
City of God
History of Violence
A Violent Year
Walk the Line
Hustle & Flow
Cinderella Man
Infamous (other Capote movie)
10 Things I Hate About You
Knight’s Tale
North Country
Pride & Prejudice
Transamerica
Miss Henderson Presents
Election
Wild
Syriana
Michael Collins
Michael Clayton
Up in the Air
Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang
Junebug
The Mirror Has Two Faces
The English Patient
The Accidental Tourist
The Nice Guys
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
The Ten Commandments
Match Point
A Place in the Sun
Dial M for Murder
The Talented Mr. Ripley
Saltburn
Batman Begins
The New World
Memoirs of a Geisha
Rent
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59:28
2025 Oscars Nominations Special!
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???
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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.
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