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.

May 8, 2019And the Runner-Up Is

The Graduate (feat. Mark Harris)

Kevin is thrilled to welcome journalist and author Mark Harris, writer of “Pictures at a Revolution” about the Best Picture nominees of 1967, to talk about Mike Nichols’ comedy-drama ‘The […]
April 24, 2019And the Runner-Up Is

The Lion in Winter (feat. Amy Thomasson)

Kevin brings back former OscarWatch Podcast host Amy Thomasson to talk about Anthony Harvey’s historical drama ‘The Lion in Winter,’ the likely runner-up in the 1968 Oscar race that lost […]
April 10, 2019And the Runner-Up Is

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (feat. Erik Anderson)

Kevin rings in the ’60s by bringing back AwardsWatch founder Erik Anderson to talk about George Roy Hill’s crowd-pleasing western ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,’ the likely runner-up in […]
April 3, 2019And the Runner-Up Is

Breaking News!

Listen as Kevin Jacobsen reveals a major development in And the Runner-Up Is! First off, regular episodes will be released on a biweekly schedule starting next week with 1969. Second, […]
March 27, 2019And the Runner-Up Is

M*A*S*H (feat. Tom O’Brien)

Kevin brings in Gold Derby colleague and Next Best Picture writer/podcaster Tom O’Brien to talk about Robert Altman’s anti-war comedy ‘M*A*S*H,’ the likely runner-up in the 1970 Oscar race that […]
March 20, 2019And the Runner-Up Is

The Last Picture Show (feat. Zach Laws)

Kevin welcomes back Gold Derby colleague Zach Laws to talk about Peter Bogdanovich’s coming-of-age drama ‘The Last Picture Show,’ the likely runner-up in the 1971 Oscar race that lost to […]
March 13, 2019And the Runner-Up Is

Cabaret (feat. Kristen Lopez)

Kevin welcomes film critic and Citizen Dame podcaster Kristen Lopez to talk about Bob Fosse’s fabulous musical ‘Cabaret,’ the likely runner-up in the 1972 Oscar race that lost to ‘The […]
March 6, 2019And the Runner-Up Is

The Exorcist (feat. Cody Dericks)

Kevin brings in Cody Dericks from Next Best Picture and the Halloweeners podcast to talk about William Friedkin’s horror drama ‘The Exorcist,’ the likely runner-up in the 1973 Oscar race […]
February 27, 2019And the Runner-Up Is

91st Academy Awards Breakdown

Kevin recaps the 91st Academy Awards alongside returning guests Amanda Spears, Tom O’Brien, and Joyce Eng, including ‘Green Book’ winning Best Picture, Olivia Colman pulling off an upset over Glenn Close, […]
February 20, 2019And the Runner-Up Is

Chinatown (feat. Kieran Scarlett)

Kevin welcomes writer and filmmaker Kieran Scarlett to talk about Roman Polanski’s neo-noir mystery ‘Chinatown,’ the likely runner-up in the 1974 Oscar race that lost to ‘The Godfather Part II.’ […]