Rephonic
Artwork for The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!

The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!

Atomic Entertainment
Academy Awards
Oscar Awards
Citizen Kane
Rain Man
Oscars
Working Girl
Die Hard
Mississippi Burning
Decision-Making
2025 Oscars
How Green Was My Valley
Saving Private Ryan
Shakespeare In Love
Rob Lowe
Jodie Foster
Pablo Goldstein
Dustin Hoffman
12 Years a Slave
The Apartment
John Ford

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 o... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes57Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV & FilmComedy

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!

Latest Episodes

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 ... more

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 nomin... more

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 clas... more

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 rel... more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Prestige Junkie
Prestige JunkieTheAnkler.com
This Had Oscar Buzz
This Had Oscar BuzzJoe and Chris
Talking Pictures
Talking PicturesTCM and HBO Max
Unspooled
UnspooledPaul Scheer & Amy Nicholson | Realm

Recent Guests

Mark Edlitz
Author and fellow film nerd
The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!
Episode: 1994 - Oskar’s (Schindler) Oscar
Mark Edwits
Fellow film nerd and author.
Episode: 1984 - "I Deserve This Oscar"
Mark Eblitz
Fellow movie nerd who fact-checks and provides insights
Episode: 1973 - The God-Oscar
Matt Neglia
Host of the Next Best Picture podcast, focusing on Oscar predictions and film reviews
Next Best Picture
Episode: 1961 - A Boy's Best Friend is His Oscar

Hosts

Adam Tex Davis
Co-host with a background as a writer and film nerd, passionately discussing film history and Oscar nominations.
Bruce Vilanch
Legendary comedian and writer, known for his extensive work on Oscar telecasts and his charismatic storytelling ability.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 195 ratings
  • Fun podcast!

    I listen to a lot of film podcasts and this is one of the best. It’s a light-hearted look at the sense and nonsense of the Oscars. Highly recommended!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    thehipwolf
    United States2 months ago
  • I love the History but some of the takes…

    Bruce gives history and insight and can see sides of the argument even if it’s not his pick. Adam, however, has never seen a mid level man basic bish dude movie he didn’t think was high art. He built his life around the genius of Scorsese and whether he realizes it or not in his own episode about it he makes if clear the man is very hit and miss with his hits being great and his misses being terrible. He argues and condemns anything that isn’t his taste but his taste is usually McDonald’s. He sa... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    raspberryruthie
    United States3 months ago
  • So Great!! -1938!

    I think I’ve seen all of the best picture nominees and love each one. Loved the inside stories and I laughed out loud about Kay Francis’s lisp!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    robinohio
    United States4 months ago
  • Bogart episode

    You guys are fantastic, but you swore too much too much use of the F word in that episode

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ShelleyNovak
    United States4 months ago
  • Warning! This show may turn you into a cinephile!

    these hosts love movies and their passion for films of all types is incredibily infectious. It is fascinating to listen to their discussions about why films may or may not have been nominated for an Oscar in a particular year and why and how some of those films have stood the test of time. It is a good idea to have a handy way to write down names of movies they mention because they are going to mention some film title yo uare going to find yourself want to watch. (Personally, I only wish more of... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TimA11y
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the humorous banter and narratives shared by the hosts, making complex historical themes accessible.
The chemistry and dynamic between the hosts is frequently highlighted as a major strength of the podcast.
Bruce's comedic insights into Oscar history are both entertaining and enlightening.
Some express frustration over perceived biases in the discussions, particularly regarding gender and representation.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#155
South Africa/TV & Film

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

BONUS - 2026 Oscars: Conversations about the Nominations
Q: Who wins and why? And if there were only five nominations, which would they be?
Sinners is going to win, but One Battle After Another could be a real competition.
2005 - Million Dollar Oscar
Q: What do you think about the New York Times list that said Parasite was the best movie of the century?
Bruce didn't really look at it, thinking it might come up in the conversation, and when he found out that South Korea was number one, he initially felt conflicted as an American, but ultimately acknowledged the significance of the choice.
2003 - Welcome to an Oscars full of murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery & treachery.
Q: What was the behind-the-scenes feeling when Roman Polanski won?
The reaction was subdued as people were aware of being on camera.
2003 - Welcome to an Oscars full of murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery & treachery.
Q: What do you think about the nominees for Best Picture?
They were all good movies, with no standout that's out of place.
1977 - Yo, Oscars!
Q: What did you think about this year's Oscars, Bruce?
I thought the show was great... comfortable in his skin and he was having a good time.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!

What is The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?! about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Centered around the Academy Awards, this engaging podcast invites listeners to explore the intricacies and injustices of Oscar history. The hosts, one a legendary comedian and the other a passionate film nerd, dissect each year's ceremonies, highlighting the controversies, surprising omissions, and eyebrow-raising nominations that have left audiences scratching their heads. Through anecdotal storytelling and well-researched commentary, they unpack how certain films, performances, and filmmakers have unjustly been overlooked by the Academy, offering a comprehensive and often humorous look back at Hollywood's biggest night.

Listeners can expect in-depth discussions about iconic films and the historical context behind the awards, alongside be... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?! and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?! get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?! have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?! has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!:

1. Little Gold Men by Vanity Fair
2. Prestige Junkie
3. This Had Oscar Buzz
4. Talking Pictures
5. Unspooled

How many episodes of The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?! are there?

The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?! launched a year ago and published 57 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?! from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?!?

Recent guests on The OSCARS: What Were They Thinking?! include:

1. Mark Edlitz
2. Mark Edwits
3. Mark Eblitz
4. Matt Neglia

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days