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The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!

The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!

By: Atomic Entertainment
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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.© 2025 All Rights Reserved Atomic Entertainment Group LLC Art
Episodes
  • ENCORE 1986 - Back to the Oscars (Again)

    ENCORE 1986 - Back to the Oscars (Again)
    Feb 9 2026
    Due to a scheduling snafu - we don't have a new episode ready for you today! So, we're replaying one of our favorites (and an early one many of you may have missed!) While Out of Africa and The Color Purple were battling it out (22 nominations between them) for Oscar glory -- another film was all but ignored in all the major categories -- despite dominating the box office that year. But if we could jump into a Delorean and go back in time -- would we perhaps bestow this beloved action/comedy with some Oscar love? We'll be back with the 1997 Oscars later this week! Thanks! Movies Mentioned Recommended *Out of Africa *The Color Purple *Kiss of the Spider Woman *Prizzi’s Honor *Witness **Back to the Future Rambo: First Blood Pt. 2 Ladyhawke The English Patient Evita Butterfly Trip to Bountiful *Agnes of God Sweet Dreams **Tootsie *Cocoon Twice in a Lifetime Ice Pirates Murphy’s Romance *Runaway Train Jagged Edge Things Change *Trading Places The Story of Alexander Graham Bell Cocoon 2 The Way We Were *Absence of Malice *Three Days of the Condor **They Shoot Horses Don’t They? *Ran C.H.U.D. C.H.U.D. 2: Bud the C.H.U.D. The Official Story *Parasite *Mask The Phantom of the Opera *The Mask *Remo Williams: the Adventure Begins A Chorus Line *White Nights *Silverado *Young Sherlock Holmes Return to Oz The Black Hole **The Sting **Quiz Show *Ordinary People *Save the Tiger Last Tango in Paris *The Last Detail **Serpico **The Natural *Barefoot in the Park *Butch Cassidy & Sundance Kid *The Candidate *Purple Rose of Cairo *Brazil Rifkin’s Festival *Midnight in Paris *Radio Days *Crimes and Misdemeanors *Bananas *Take the Money and Run *Manhattan *Stardust Memories 12 Years a Slave *Do the Right Thing **Boyz in the Hood *Malcolm X *Glory *Training Day *A Beautiful Mind Scent of a Woman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • BONUS - 2026 Oscars: Conversations about the Nominations

    BONUS - 2026 Oscars: Conversations about the Nominations
    Feb 2 2026
    Hey Oscar fans — with the recent Oscar nominations we felt it was only fitting for our Oscars podcast to talk about them... Even though it goes against the theme of our show which uses the ‘test of time’ to see what really deserved to win or be nominated. Despite that, we still have thoughts and hot takes! Join “Tex” and Mark as we discuss the nominees, make predictions, point out snubs and use everything we’ve learned making this show to try and understand what the Academy was thinking! As always thanks for listening! Contact us: info@oscars.wtf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • BONUS - The Fabulous Films Noir of 1946!

    BONUS - The Fabulous Films Noir of 1946!
    Jan 26 2026
    1946 was an extraordinary year for film noir—so much so, even the Academy had to take notice. As Hollywood plunged into the shadows, moral ambiguity, and hard-boiled despair, the Oscars recognized standouts like Notorious, The Killers, and The Stranger. But with so much darkness flooding the screen, plenty of essential classics were left behind. Films like Gilda, The Postman Always Rings Twice, and The Big Sleep—now pillars of the noir canon—went largely unnoticed at the time. In this bonus episode, we celebrate a truly great year for film noir, revisiting fourteen unforgettable films and exploring what the Academy saw, what it missed, and why 1946 remains a defining moment for one of cinema’s most enduring styles. Films Mentioned *Recommended **It’s a Matter of Life and Death (not noir) **The Killers **Notorious **The Stranger *The Spiral Staircase *The Blue Dahlia *The 7th Veil (not considered noir) **Gilda **The Postman Always Rings Twice *The Big Sleep *The Dark Mirror *The Strange Love of Martha Ivers **The Locket *Shock! *The Strange Woman *The Glass Key **This Gun For Hire Saigon **Double Indemnity **Too Late for Tears **To Have and Have Not Confidential Agent *The Lady From Shanghai **The Magnificent Ambersons (not noir) **Citizen Kane (not noir) Contact us: info@oscars.wtf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 6 mins
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