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2001 - Oscars to the Maximus!
02/11/2026 | 1h 15 mins.Hey Oscar fans, today Bruce and “Tex” are checking out the 2001 Oscars for films of 2000 and we must say, this century got off to a great start! All five Best Picture candidates are not only worthy, but still stand the test of time as do many of the other contenders or would-be contenders. And while this year isn’t perfect, it’s a lot better than most in terms of what was nominated and what actually won. But alas, just because they came close, doesn’t mean there aren’t some curious things worth debating and talking about. So, join as we do just that for this incredible year of movies. If nothing else, ‘you will be entertained!’ (Especially by Bruce’s backstage stories as he worked on this year!) As always, thanks for listening and being part of the fun!
2000 Movies Discussed
*Gladiator
(Gladiator II)
*Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
*Chocolat
*Erin Brockovich
*Traffic
*Almost Famous
*Billy Elliot
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
*The Patriot
*Quills
*Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
*Wonder Boys
*Cast Away
*The Contender
*Malena
*O Brother, Where Art Thou?
*The Perfect Storm
*Pollock
*Shadow of the Vampire
*U-571
*You Can Count on Me
*Before Night Falls
*Memento
*Requiem for a Dream
*The Virgin Suicides
The Emperor's New Groove
*Dancer in the Dark
*Meet the Parents
*In the Mood for Love
*Werckmeister Harmonies
Battlefield Earth
The Next Best Thing
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBonus Episode - The Oscars vs Sci-Fi Movies
19/10/2026 | 1h 5 mins.Hey Oscar fans! One thing we’ve noticed in making this show is how few Science Fiction Films win Oscars. In fact, only ONE indisputable Sci-Fi film has ever won Best Picture! And it took over 42 years for the Academy to even nominate a Sci-Fi film! In this bonus episode, “Tex” and Mark run down the science fiction films that were nominated (for BP and Best Director) and lost; and more importantly which great Sci-Fi films were overlooked completely. Along the way, we make the case whether or not there is genre bias against Sci-Fi and if the Oscars have finally come around on recognizing science fiction for more than just technical awards. Either way, we discuss a ton of movies (listed below) for you to check out or revisit. Enjoy and thanks for listening!
Sci-Fi Films Mentioned
Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
The Shape of Water
Star Wars
Frankenstein
Ex-Machina
Annihilation
Them!
Godzilla
Mad Max: Fury Road
Dune Pt. One
Dune Pt. Two
Terminator
Terminator 2
Alien
Aliens
The Matrix
Blade Runner
Blade Runner 2049
A Clockwork Orange
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
ET
Jurassic Park
Avatar
District 9
Inception
Gravity
Her
The Martian
Interstellar
Arrival
Black Panther
Avatar: The Way of Water
Don’t Look Up
Poor Things
Metropolis
The Day the Earth Stood Still
2001 A Space Odyssey
Planet of the Apes
The Empire Strikes Back
Back to the Future
Brazil
12 Monkeys
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Children of Men
Tenet
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Charley
Starman
Cocoon
The Fly
Moon
Edge of Tomorrow
Melancholia
Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Kahn
Galaxy Quest
Primer
Coherence
Time Crimes
The Man From Earth
Safety Not Guaranteed
The One I Love
Gattaca
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices1937 - The Great Oscar (and Plenty of Follies!)
05/10/2026 | 1h 10 mins.Hey Oscar fans, welcome to just the 9th Academy Awards, AKA the 1937 Oscars for the films of 1936. Believe it or not, despite being nearly a decade ago, many of the movies from this year are still well known and have stood the test of time. And some of them even won Academy Awards. This is another one of those great early years for movies filled with hidden gems, some ‘must-see’ classics, and a host of smart, meaningful films that deserve to be seen and talked about today. There’s also some great historical context as this was the first year they gave out ‘Supporting Acting’ award. So of course, they made some crazy and curious choices right off the bat! Join Bruce Vilanch and “Tex” Davis as we have fun breaking down this surprisingly interesting year of movies. As always, thanks for joining us at the Oscars!
1936 Films Mentioned
The Great Ziegfeld
Anthony Adverse
Dodsworth
Libeled Lady
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
Romeo and Juliet
San Francisco
The Story of Louis Pasteur
A Tale of Two Cities
Three Smart Girls
My Man Godfrey
Modern Times
Fury
The Secret Agent
Come and Get It
Pigskin Parade
The General Died at Dawn
Theodora Goes Wild
Valiant is the Word for Carrie
The Gorgeous Hussy
These Three
Swing Time
After the Thin Man
The Crime of Monsieur Lange
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices1975 - I Knew it was You, Oscar. You broke my heart!
21/09/2026 | 1h 7 mins.1975 Films Mentioned
The Towering Inferno
Blazing Saddles
Young Frankenstein
Earthquake
Airport 1975
Chinatown
The Godfather Part II
Lenny
Murder on the Orient Express
Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
The Conversation
Day for Night
Woman Under the Influence
Harry and Tonto
Claudine
The Great Gatsby
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
Amarcord
Shanks
The Longest Yard
Hearts and Minds (doc.)
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBONUS - Disorder in the Court!
07/09/2026 | 58 mins.Hey Oscar fans! Based on the past few episodes which featured some outstanding films set in courtrooms, we decided to take a closer look at The Oscars long-standing relationship with courtroom movies! From the curious collection of courtroom movies that won Best Picture, to the outstanding nominees that didn’t win, to our favorite court (or court adjacent) films that received no love from The Academy. Join us as we litigate our case and determine whether The Academy delivered a just verdict or whether the whole Oscars is ‘out of order!’
Court Movies Mentioned
To Kill a Mockingbird
And Justice for All
The Verdict
Inherit the Wind
12 Angry Men
Witness for the Prosecution
A Few Good Men
Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
The Life of Emile Zola
A Man For All Seasons
Kramer Vs. Kramer
Gandhi
Chicago
Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)
The Caine Mutiny
Anatomy of a Murder
A Soldier’s Story
JFK
In the Name of the Father
Erin Brockovich
Michael Clayton
The Trial of the Chicago 7
The Social Network
Anatomy of a Fall
The Accused
Philadelphia
A Time to Kill
The People vs. Larry Flynt
The Rainmaker
Amistad
The Hurricane
The Wrong Man
Paths of Glory
Breaker Morant
Young Mr. Lincoln
Roman J. Israel, Esq.
A Matter of Life and Death
The Ox-Bow Incident
Fury
Phil Spector
Malice
The Devil’s Advocate
Presumed Innocent
The Firm
Defending Your Life
My Cousin Vinny
Legally Blond
Primal Fear
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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 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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