The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!

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1961 - A Boy's Best Friend is His Oscar
On this episode of ‘The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?’ Bruce and Tex look at the 1961 Oscars for the films of 1960. Yep we're going back a ways to a year that really helps exemplify what this show is about. You see, in 1960 three films came out that are currently on the American Film Institute's Top 100 American Films of ALL TIME. However, only one of those three films was nominated for an Academy Award! Using the test of time and our love of movies, we examine whether those other two films (as well as the iconic performances and directorial efforts within them) deserve to replace the nominated films --- and Bruces gives the cultural and historical context as to why those films might have been left off the list at the time. Adam of course thinks they were egregious omissions and you'd have to be a total psycho not to include at least one of them! 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 Trumbo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1986 - Back to the Oscars
On this episode of ‘The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?’ Bruce and Tex look at the 1986 Oscars for the films of 1985. This year was a battle of two Oscar-bait juggernauts -- the sweeping romance of Out of Africa and the struggle to survive during slavery of The Color Purple. With 22 nominations between them (11 each) this was gearing up to be a battle for the ages. However, while one movie collected award after award, the other was completely shut out. Not only that, its esteemed director was possibly snubbed and wasn't even nominated despite garnering nominations in nearly every other category. But that's not the most interesting part. Another film released that year not only dominated the box office -- it spawned two sequels and has stood the test of time and is still beloved, quoted and talked about by most film fans today -- (unlike either Out of Africa or The Color Purple). So come 'back' to the 1986 Oscars with us to see which movies, performances & achievements won -- and which had the 'Power of Love'... just not from the Academy. EPISODE 3 (1986 Oscars) - Movies Mentioned 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 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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1:11:21
2010 - “This One Hurts!”
On this episode of ‘The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?’ Bruce and Tex look at the 2010 Oscars for the films of 2009. Imagine, you’ve just made one of the most groundbreaking movies of all time, a timeless, epic, 3D adventure that not only captivated audiences by creating a never-before-seen world and characters, but also went on to become the highest grossing movie ever. But instead of winning the Oscar… you lose… to your ex-wife. Yep, we’re talking about James Cameron’s Avatar losing the best picture award to The Hurt Locker directed by Kathryn Bigelow who divorced him nearly 20 years earlier. So, did Hurt Locker deserve to win over Avatar? Was either of them the best film of the year? Or, was there a third film that has not only stood the test of time, but whose opening 7 minutes are considered some of the best filmmaking / storytelling of all time. We leave it UP to you to decide — but either way, Bruce’s insight and stories will not have you feeling blue. EPISODE 2 (2010 Oscars) - Movies Mentioned Avatar The Hurt Locker Crazy Heart Inglorious Basterds The Blind Side District 9 An Education Precious A Serious Man Up Up in the Air The Dark Knight A New Leaf Invictus A Single Man Star Man Thunderbolt and Lightfoot The Last Picture Show The Messenger The Last Station The Lovely Bones The Hangover Julie and Julia Cactus Flower Erin Brockovich Nine Glitter Star Wars Coraline Fantastic Mr. Fox Secret of Kells Oppenheimer Asteroid City Isle of Dogs Moonrise Kingdom Grand Budapest Hotel Bowling For Columbine My Cousin Vinnie Sudden Fear (1952 starring Joan Crawford & Jack Palance) City Slickers Basic Instinct In the Loop Titanic Dances With Wolves American Beauty Boys Don’t Cry Being Julia Million Dollar Baby The Wife Nomadland Bagdad Cafe Buster Against All Odds - (See Out of the Past (1947) instead) The Princess & The Frog Paris 36 Star Trek Dreamgirls Sherlock Holmes HONORABLE MENTION: To Leslie (Andrea Riseborough campaign controversy) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1:28:48
1989 - “Time For Oscars!”
Welcome to the inaugural episode of ‘The Oscars: What Were They Thinking?’ In this episode we’re looking at the 1989 Oscars for the films of 1988. This is also the first year Bruce Vilanch was hired to write the telecast. After learning how Bruce got the gig and how his first awards show was almost his last — we get into the awards. The big question is — Does best picture winner Rain Man stand the test of time? Were there any better movies that were nominated that year? Or perhaps, the best movie of that year happened to be a non-nominated film that contained a fusion of live action, animation and a neurotic rabbit. And don’t even get us started about Die Hard — one of the best and most beloved action movies of all time. Join us for an in-depth look at the awards and behind-the-scenes stories about the show — which included an 11-minute, opening musical number that is considered one of the biggest disasters in Oscar history. Oh well, at least Bruce is an excellent driver! EPISODE 1 (1989 Oscars) - Movies Mentioned C.C. and Company Grease Grease 2 Where the Boys Are ’84 Can’t Stop the Music (Bruce co-wrote) Great Balls of Fire Dangerous Liaisons Rain Man The Accidental Tourist Mississippi Burning Working Girl A Fish Called Wanda Cruel Intentions Last Temptation of Christ A League of Their Own Bird Unforgiven Million Dollar Baby Tucker: A Man and his Dreams Who Framed Roger Rabbit Die Hard The Dark Knight Pelle the Conqueror The Favourite The Greatest Show on Earth A Cry in the Dark The Accused Network Gorillas in the Midst My Left Foot Little Dorrit Unbearable Lightness of Being Bull Durham Beetlejuice HONORABLE MENTION: Triumph of the Spirit (unnamed Auschwitz boxing movie) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1:22:36
Trailer: OSCARS.... What Were They Thinking?!
Have you watched the Academy Awards and thought… ‘What were they thinking?’ Have you ever wondered, how is it that so many of the awards for Best Picture go to one movie when there’s a much better movie staring them in the face? Or, why have so many actors not won Oscars for their best roles? Or, why is it that so many movies that everyone loves and made a ton of money at the box office get no Oscar love while little-seen movies rake in the nominations and awards? If so, then this is the podcast for you. Co-hosted by legendary comedian, pop-culture icon and writer of over 25 Oscar telecasts, Mr. Bruce Vilanch, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the nominating process, how and why some winners may have been chosen as well as tons of incredible, never-before-told, backstage stories about the world’s biggest stars on Hollywood’s biggest night. Joining Bruce is screenwriter, producer podcaster, and film nerd, Adam “Tex” Davis, writer of the very non-Oscar nominated movie Just Friends (starring Ryan Reynolds). Together, Bruce and “Tex” break down every Oscar ceremony, year-by-year, award-by-award, to reveal what the Academy got right, what it got wrong, the flubs, snubs and oversights. In the end, they’ll answer the question every movie-loving, Academy Awards watcher always asks – The Oscars: What Were They Thinking? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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About The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!

Have you watched the Academy Awards and thought… ‘What were they thinking?’ Have you ever wondered, how is it that so many of the awards for Best Picture go to one movie when there’s a much better movie staring them in the face? Or, why have so many actors not won Oscars for their best roles? Or, why is it that so many movies that everyone loves and made a ton of money at the box office get no Oscar love while little-seen movies rake in the nominations and awards? If so, then this is the podcast for you. Co-hosted by legendary comedian, pop-culture icon and writer of over 25 Oscar telecasts, Mr. Bruce Vilanch, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the nominating process, how and why some winners may have been chosen as well as tons of incredible, never-before-told, backstage stories about the world’s biggest stars on Hollywood’s biggest night. Joining Bruce is screenwriter, producer podcaster, and film nerd, Adam “Tex” Davis, writer of the very non-Oscar nominated movie Just Friends (starring Ryan Reynolds). Together, Bruce and “Tex” break down every Oscar ceremony, year-by-year, award-by-award, to reveal what the Academy got right, what it got wrong, the flubs, snubs and oversights. In the end, they’ll answer the question every movie-loving, Academy Awards watcher always asks – 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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