1996 - They May Take Our Lives…But They'll Never Take Our Oscars!
2026/04/14 | 1h 14 mins.
Hey Oscar fans — for this episode, Bruce Vilanch and “Tex” Davis dive into the 1996 Oscars—the year Braveheart took the crown, beating out an oddly charming mix that includes Apollo 13 and Babe. But here’s the real question: how did a year packed with some all-time classics end up with this lineup? From snubbed fan favorites to the Academy’s love of big, bold spectacle, we’re breaking down what got nominated, what got ignored, and what the Oscars might have been thinking… if anything.
Films Mentioned
**Babe
**Braveheart
**Apollo 13
**Sense and Sensibility
*Il Postino: The Postman
*Dead Man Walking
**Leaving Las Vegas
Nixon
**Toy Story
*Crimson Tide
*Batman Forever
Waterworld
Showgirls
**The Usual Suspects
*Mr. Holland’s Opus
*Casino
**The American President
*Rob Roy
Bridges of Madison County
**12 Monkeys
Hacksaw Ridge
**Apocalypto
Man Without a Face
**Heat
**Devil in a Blue Dress
**The Goodbye Girl
**Adaptation
*Dances with Wolves
*The Crossing Guard
*Get Shorty
**Thelma and Louise
**Lorenzo’s Oil
**Atlantic City
**Howard’s End
**Remains of the Day
*Safe
**Se7en
Georgia
Mighty Aphrodite
*Butterflies are Free
Shakespeare in Love
*My Cousin Vinny
**La Jette’
Sabrina
Pocahontas
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ENCORE 1961 - A Boy's Best Friend is his Oscar!
2026/04/07 | 56 mins.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we don't have a new episode for you this week -- so we decided to rerun an older one you may not have hear. This is a classic one that started the whole premise of the show. That's because in 1960, three films came out that are all sitting on the AFI's Top 100 American Films of All-Time List. Yet, only ONE of them was actually nominated for an Oscar the year it came out! Join us as we debate whether or not this is a travesty or if it made sense at the time. As always, thanks for listening and we'll be back with a new episode next week!
Movies Mentioned
Just Friends
The Apartment
Elmer Gantry
The Alamo
Sons and Lovers
Lady Chatterley’s Lover
The Sundowners
From Here to Eternity
Oklahoma
Never on Sunday
Rarfifi
Night in the City
Psycho
Psycho (Gus Van Sant remake)
Sweet Smell of Success
The Killers
Kiss the Blood Off my Hands
The Entertainer
Inherit the Wind
Sands of Iwo Jima
Friendly Persuasion
Mr. Roberts
Teen Sympathy
The Life and Times of Colonel Blimp
Elenor Roosevelt
Butterfield Eight
Cleopatra
Double Indemnity
Pushover
Exodus
Murder, Inc.
Spartacus
All About Eve
Yankee Doodle Dandy
The Dark at the Top of the Stairs
Miranda
Fear Strikes Out
Jaws
Homicidal
The Angry Silence
The Facts of Life
Hiroshima, My Love / Hiroshima, Mon Amour
Tunes of Glory
Oceans 11
Little Shop of Horrors
The Magnificent Seven
Swiss Family Robinson
La Dolce Vita
Sergeant York
High Noon
The Naked Edge
Killer’s Kiss
The Killing
Lolita
Paths of Glory
The Ten Commandments
Ben Hur
Solomon & Sheba
Land of the Pharaohs
The Life of Brian
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BONUS 1952 - The Fantastic Films Noir of 1952!
2026/03/30 | 1h 7 mins.
Hey Oscar fans - “Tex” and Mark are back with another standout year of films noir. We kind of teased this episode during our 1953 Oscars episode — when four noirs (The Bad and the Beautiful, Sudden Fear, The Narrow Margin, and The Sniper) were nominated for various Oscars. But as we soon discovered, that was just the tip of the iceberg! 1952 was an absolute banger of a year for films noir and we are all too happy to walk you through at least a dozen more of our favorites, as well as introduce you to some hidden gem talent both in front of and behind the camera! So sit back and take note of some films that expose both the bad and beautiful sides of life as seen through the dark lens of film noir. Thanks for listening!
Films Mentioned
The Bad and the Beautiful
Sudden Fear
The Narrow Margin
Narrow Margin (1990)
The Sniper
M (1931 & 1951)
Kansas City Confidential
Angel Face
Laura
Fallen Angel
The Man with the Golden Arm
Don’t Bother to Knock
Inferno
Clash by Night
Affair in Trinidad
Gilda
The Turning Point
Strange Fascination
Pickup
The Girl on the Bridge
Bait
Hit and Run
One Girl’s Confession
This Woman is Dangerous
The Thief
Man Bait
Tread Softly Stranger
Yield to the Night
Passport to Shame
Scandal Sheet
The Phenix City Story
Hell’s Island
99 River Street
All the King’s Men
Deadline USA
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1953 - The Not-So-Greatest Oscar on Earth!
2026/03/23 | 1h 14 mins.
Hey Oscar fans — Bruce and “Tex” find themselves under the big top for an Oscar year that’s… well… not exactly the greatest show on Earth. While The Greatest Show on Earth somehow walks away with Best Picture, a lineup of stronger, more enduring classics is left juggling in the background (including an all-time classic that wasn’t even nominated!) So, who were the clowns that let this spectacle steal the spotlight — and which films actually deserved center ring? Step right up for a lively debate, a few raised eyebrows, and one of the biggest Oscar head-scratchers of the decade! As always, thanks for listening!
Films Mentioned
*Recommended
The Greatest Show on Earth
**High Noon
*Ivanhoe
*Moulin Rouge
The Quiet Man
**Singin’ in the Rain
**The Bad and the Beautiful
*Come Back Little Sheeba
*The Star
*Five Fingers
*Viva Zapata
Melania
*The Lavender Hill Mob
**Sudden Fear
The Member of the Wedding
With a Song in My Heart
*My Cousin Rachel
The Big Sky
**Angel Face
*The Narrow Margin
*The Man in the White Suit
*Ruby Gentry
*The Sound Barrier
The Pride of St. Louis
*The Sniper
*The Atomic City
Pat and Mike
Navajo
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Bonus - 2026 Oscars Reaction!
2026/03/17 | 51 mins.
Hello Oscars Fans! Join "Tex" and Mark for an "entirely too soon to be having this conversation" conversation about the 2026 Oscars. As you probably know, it goes entirely against the premise of our show to discuss the recent Oscars -- since we rely on the 'test of time' to judge and score the winners & non-winners. At the same time, good luck keeping these certified film nerds from giving their takes on the proceedings. Some you might agree with, others not so much -- but isn't that the joy of movies? Either way, thanks for listening and being part of the fun! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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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