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!
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1998 - A Titanic Year for Movies & the Oscars!
2026/06/30 | 1h 18 mins.
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!
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Bonus - No Competitive Oscars for Sidney Lumet Makes us ‘Mad as Hell!’
2026/06/22 | 1h 10 mins.
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
1963 - Oscar of Arabia
2026/06/08 | 1h 19 mins.
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
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2009 - The Curious Case of the Slumdog Oscar
2026/05/27 | 1h 14 mins.
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
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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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