And the Runner-Up Is

And the Runner-Up Is is the Oscar history podcast that highlights past races at the Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress. Host Kevin Jacobsen and special guests break down why the winners won, why the losers lost, and which films and contenders were likely runners-ups, falling just short of taking home the gold.

Prominent guests who have lent their voices to And the Runner-Up Is include Mark Harris, Alicia Malone, Steven Canals, Dave Karger, Tomris Laffly, Nathaniel Rogers, Joe Reid, Chris Feil, and Joyce Eng, among many more.

Kevin Jacobsen is a content update editor at Entertainment Weekly. He is stuck in an unhealthy relationship with the Oscars, the Emmys, and most other award shows. They often get things wrong, but every once in a while, like when the Oscars selected “Moonlight” as Best Picture, he forgives all their past sins and embraces them once more. However, he will never forgive them for giving Best Picture to “Crash” over “Brokeback Mountain.” He resides in Newington, Connecticut.

September 8, 2021And the Runner-Up Is

1928-29 Best Actress (feat. Nicole Ackman)

This week on And the Runner-Up Is, Kevin welcomes Nicole Ackman of Next Best Picture and Petticoats and Poppies to discuss the 1928-29 Oscar race for Best Actress, where Mary […]
September 1, 2021And the Runner-Up Is

1927-28 Best Actress (feat. Andrew Carden)

In the season premiere of And the Runner-Up Is, Kevin welcomes The Awards Connection and AwardsWatch writer Andrew Carden to discuss the 1927-28 Oscar race for Best Actress, where Janet […]
July 21, 2021And the Runner-Up Is

Best Actress – Introduction

It’s time for a new era of And the Runner-Up Is! On this episode, Kevin is joined by Sebastian Gronback in breaking down what you can expect for the upcoming […]
July 14, 2021And the Runner-Up Is

The Father (feat. Josh Parham)

Kevin welcomes back Next Best Picture writer and podcaster Josh Parham to talk about Florian Zeller’s ‘The Father,’ the presumed runner-up in the 2020-21 Oscar race that lost to ‘Nomadland.’ […]
April 28, 2021And the Runner-Up Is

93rd Academy Awards Reactions

The 93rd Academy Awards have come and gone and it’s time to break down what happened, the winners, the losers, and Nomadland’s victory. Kevin is joined by Sebastian Gronback to […]
March 17, 2021And the Runner-Up Is

2020 Oscar Nominations Breakdown

The nominations for the 93rd Academy Awards were announced this week and it’s time to break down what happened, who got snubbed, and who we think will win. Kevin is […]
March 3, 2021And the Runner-Up Is

Q&A Wrap-Up

It’s the Q&A episode of And the Runner-Up Is! Kevin welcomes back Sebastian Gronback to help break down your general questions about the podcast, Oscar history and so much more. […]
February 17, 2021And the Runner-Up Is

7th Heaven (feat. Erik Anderson)

In this final episode of the Best Picture era of And the Runner-Up Is, Kevin welcomes back AwardsWatch founder Erik Anderson to talk about Frank Borzage’s ‘7th Heaven,’ the presumed […]
February 3, 2021And the Runner-Up Is

1917 (feat. Nicole Ackman)

Kevin welcomes Next Best Picture writer and podcaster Nicole Ackman to talk about Sam Mendes’s ‘1917,’ the presumed runner-up in the 2019 Oscar race that lost to ‘Parasite.’ 0:00 – […]
January 20, 2021And the Runner-Up Is

In Old Arizona (feat. Tom O’Brien)

Kevin welcomes back Next Best Picture and Gold Derby writer Tom O’Brien to talk about Irving Cummings’s ‘In Old Arizona,’ the presumed runner-up in the 1928-29 Oscar race that lost […]