

And the Runner-Up Is
Kevin Jacobsen
"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 winners won, why losers lost, and which films and contenders were the likely runners-up, falling just short of taking home the gold.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 21, 2022 • 2h 31min
1955 Best Actress (feat. Dan Bayer)
This week on And the Runner-Up Is, Kevin welcomes Next Best Picture's Dan Bayer to discuss the 1955 Oscar race for Best Actress, where Anna Magnani won for her performance in "The Rose Tattoo," beating Susan Hayward in "I'll Cry Tomorrow," Katharine Hepburn in "Summertime," Jennifer Jones in "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing," and Eleanor Parker in "Interrupted Melody." We discuss all of these nominated performances and determine who we think was the runner-up to Magnani. 0:00 - 8:55 - Introduction 8:56 - 31:52 - Susan Hayward 31:53 - 55:19 - Katharine Hepburn 55:20 - 1:13:42 - Jennifer Jones 1:13:43 - 1:36:47 - Eleanor Parker 1:36:48 - 1:55:53 - Anna Magnani 1:55:54 - 2:23:43 - Why Anna Magnani won / Twitter questions 2:23:44 - 2:30:33 - Who was the runner-up? Support And the Runner-Up Is on Patreon at patreon.com/andtherunnerupis! Follow Kevin Jacobsen on Twitter Follow Dan Bayer on Twitter Follow And the Runner-Up Is on Twitter and Instagram Theme/End Music: "Diamonds" by Iouri Sazonov Additional Music: "Storming Cinema Ident" by Edward Blakeley Artwork: Brian O'Meara

Sep 14, 2022 • 2h 28min
1954 Best Actress (feat. Tomris Laffly)
This week on And the Runner-Up Is, Kevin welcomes film critic Tomris Laffly to discuss the 1954 Oscar race for Best Actress, where Grace Kelly won for her performance in "The Country Girl," beating Dorothy Dandridge in "Carmen Jones," Judy Garland in "A Star Is Born," Audrey Hepburn in "Sabrina," and Jane Wyman in "Magnificent Obsession." We discuss all of these nominated performances and determine who we think was the runner-up to Kelly. 0:00 - 10:04 - Introduction 10:05 - 32:01 - Dorothy Dandridge 32:02 - 1:05:54 - Judy Garland 1:05:55 - 1:26:37 - Audrey Hepburn 1:26:38 - 1:45:52 - Jane Wyman 1:45:53 - 2:00:48 - Grace Kelly 2:00:49 - 2:24:07 - Why Grace Kelly won / Twitter questions 2:24:08 - 2:28:01 - Who was the runner-up? Support And the Runner-Up Is on Patreon at patreon.com/andtherunnerupis! Follow Kevin Jacobsen on Twitter Follow Tomris Laffly on Twitter Follow And the Runner-Up Is on Twitter and Instagram Theme/End Music: "Diamonds" by Iouri Sazonov Additional Music: "Storming Cinema Ident" by Edward Blakeley Artwork: Brian O'Meara

Sep 7, 2022 • 2h 35min
1953 Best Actress (feat. Eoin Daly)
This week on And the Runner-Up Is, Kevin welcomes Eoin Daly to discuss the 1953 Oscar race for Best Actress, where Audrey Hepburn won for her performance in "Roman Holiday," beating Leslie Caron in "Lili," Ava Gardner in "Mogambo," Deborah Kerr in "From Here to Eternity," and Maggie McNamara in "The Moon Is Blue." We discuss all of these nominated performances and determine who we think was the runner-up to Hepburn. 0:00 - 12:29 - Introduction 12:30 - 34:14 - Leslie Caron 34:15 - 57:50 - Ava Gardner 57:51 - 1:18:58 - Deborah Kerr 1:18:59 - 1:39:39 - Maggie McNamara 1:39:40 - 1:58:38 - Audrey Hepburn 1:58:39 - 2:29:27 - Why Audrey Hepburn won / Twitter questions 2:29:28 - 2:34:30 - Who was the runner-up? Support And the Runner-Up Is on Patreon at patreon.com/andtherunnerupis! Follow Kevin Jacobsen on Twitter Follow Eoin Daly on Twitter Follow And the Runner-Up Is on Twitter and Instagram Theme/End Music: "Diamonds" by Iouri Sazonov Additional Music: "Storming Cinema Ident" by Edward Blakeley Artwork: Brian O'Meara

Aug 31, 2022 • 27min
How Did They Win: Michael Caine ('The Cider House Rules')
Listen to a PREVIEW of the 10th episode of How Did They Win, a special bonus series you can hear on the And the Runner-Up Is Patreon exclusive feed! How Did They Win is a series in which Kevin is joined by special guests in breaking down a notable Oscar category outside of Best Picture. In this episode, Kevin speaks with Tom O'Brien and Amy Thomasson about Michael Caine winning Best Supporting Actor for "The Cider House Rules" at the 1999 Oscars. This episode includes a breakdown of each nominee, a discussion of why they were nominated, why four of them lost, why Caine won, and all the notable snubs. You can listen to the full episode of How Did They Win by going to patreon.com/andtherunnerupis and contributing at the $3 per month tier. Follow Kevin Jacobsen on Twitter: @Kevin_Jacobsen Follow Tom O'Brien on Twitter: @thomaseobrien Follow Amy Thomasson on Twitter: @athomasson11 Follow And the Runner-Up Is on Twitter: @OscarRunnerUp Music included in this episode: "Main Titles" by Rachel Portman Clips included in this episode from: "The Sixth Sense" (Buena Vista) "The Green Mile" (Universal Pictures)

Aug 24, 2022 • 26min
For My Consideration: Gone Girl (2014)
Listen to a PREVIEW of the eighth episode of For My Consideration, a special bonus series you can hear on the And the Runner-Up Is Patreon exclusive feed! For My Consideration is a series in which Kevin is joined by a special guest in reviewing any film nominated for an Oscar in Academy history, as requested by patrons. In this episode, Kevin speaks with Kenzie Vanunu about 2014's "Gone Girl," which was only nominated in Best Actress for Rosamund Pike. This episode includes a review of the film, a discussion of its award season, and which categories Kevin and Kenzie would nominate the film for at that year's Oscars. You can listen to the full episode of For My Consideration by going to patreon.com/andtherunnerupis and contributing at the $3 per month tier. Follow Kevin Jacobsen on Twitter: @Kevin_Jacobsen Follow Kenzie Vanunu on Twitter: @kenzvanunu Follow And the Runner-Up Is on Twitter: @OscarRunnerUp Clip included on this episode: "Gone Girl" - 20th Century Fox

Aug 17, 2022 • 2h 27min
1952 Best Actress (feat. Murtada Elfadl)
This week on And the Runner-Up Is, Kevin welcomes culture critic and film programmer Murtada Elfadl to discuss the 1952 Oscar race for Best Actress, where Shirley Booth won for her performance in "Come Back, Little Sheba," beating Joan Crawford in "Sudden Fear," Bette Davis in "The Star," Julie Harris in "The Member of the Wedding," and Susan Hayward in "With a Song in My Heart." We discuss all of these nominated performances and determine who we think was the runner-up to Booth. 0:00 - 13:33 - Introduction 13:34 - 37:06 - Joan Crawford 37:07 - 1:06:04 - Bette Davis 1:06:05 - 1:26:14 - Julie Harris 1:26:15 - 1:41:18 - Susan Hayward 1:41:19 - 2:03:27 - Shirley Booth 2:03:28 - 2:21:08 - Why Shirley Booth won / Twitter questions 2:21:09 - 2:27:09 - Who was the runner-up? Support And the Runner-Up Is on Patreon at patreon.com/andtherunnerupis! Follow Kevin Jacobsen on Twitter Follow Murtada Elfadl on Twitter Follow And the Runner-Up Is on Twitter and Instagram Theme/End Music: "Diamonds" by Iouri Sazonov Additional Music: "Storming Cinema Ident" by Edward Blakeley Artwork: Brian O'Meara

Aug 10, 2022 • 2h 31min
1951 Best Actress (feat. Lauren LaMagna)
This week on And the Runner-Up Is, Kevin welcomes writer/editor Lauren LaMagna to discuss the 1951 Oscar race for Best Actress, where Vivien Leigh won for her performance in "A Streetcar Named Desire," beating Katharine Hepburn in "The African Queen," Eleanor Parker in "Detective Story," Shelley Winters in "A Place in the Sun," and Jane Wyman in "The Blue Veil." We discuss all of these nominated performances and determine who we think was the runner-up to Leigh. 0:00 - 11:45 - Introduction 11:46 - 35:04 - Katharine Hepburn 35:05 - 1:00:41 - Eleanor Parker 1:00:42 - 1:25:31 - Shelley Winters 1:25:32 - 1:45:35 - Jane Wyman 1:45:36 - 2:10:08 - Vivien Leigh 2:10:09 - 2:26:03 - Why Vivien Leigh won / Twitter questions 2:26:04 - 2:31:11 - Who was the runner-up? Support And the Runner-Up Is on Patreon at patreon.com/andtherunnerupis! Follow Kevin Jacobsen on Twitter Follow Lauren LaMagna on Twitter Follow And the Runner-Up Is on Twitter and Instagram Theme/End Music: "Diamonds" by Iouri Sazonov Additional Music: "Storming Cinema Ident" by Edward Blakeley Artwork: Brian O'Meara

Aug 3, 2022 • 2h 54min
1950 Best Actress (feat. Erik Anderson)
This week on And the Runner-Up Is, Kevin welcomes AwardsWatch founder Erik Anderson to discuss the 1950 Oscar race for Best Actress, where Judy Holliday won for her performance in "Born Yesterday," beating Anne Baxter in "All About Eve," Bette Davis in "All About Eve," Eleanor Parker in "Caged," and Gloria Swanson in "Sunset Boulevard." We discuss all of these nominated performances and determine who we think was the runner-up to Holliday. 0:00 - 9:48 - Introduction 9:49 - 51:31 - Anne Baxter and Bette Davis 51:32 - 1:15:06 - Eleanor Parker 1:15:07 - 1:43:17 - Gloria Swanson 1:43:18 - 2:05:21 - Judy Holliday 2:05:22 - 2:46:43 - Why Judy Holliday won / Twitter questions 2:46:44 - 2:53:55 - Who was the runner-up? Support And the Runner-Up Is on Patreon at patreon.com/andtherunnerupis! Follow Kevin Jacobsen on Twitter Follow Erik Anderson on Twitter Follow And the Runner-Up Is on Twitter and Instagram Theme/End Music: "Diamonds" by Iouri Sazonov Additional Music: "Storming Cinema Ident" by Edward Blakeley Artwork: Brian O'Meara

Jul 27, 2022 • 25min
On Second Thought: Sons and Lovers (1960)
Listen to this PREVIEW of the 58th episode of On Second Thought, a special bonus series you can hear on the And the Runner-Up Is Patreon exclusive feed! On Second Thought is a series in which Kevin is joined by a special guest in breaking down another Best Picture nominee not reviewed on the regular show that could have still been the runner-up. In this episode, Kevin speaks with Andrew Carden about Jack Cardiff's "Sons and Lovers," the possible runner-up that lost Best Picture to "The Apartment" in 1960. This episode includes a review of the film itself and a discussion of its awards run! You can listen to the full episode of On Second Thought by going to patreon.com/andtherunnerupis and contributing at the $3 per month tier. Follow Kevin Jacobsen on Twitter: @Kevin_Jacobsen Follow Andrew Carden on Twitter: @AwardsConnect Follow And the Runner-Up Is on Twitter: @OscarRunnerUp Music featured in this episode: "Main Titles" - Mario Nascimbene

Jul 20, 2022 • 24min
On Second Thought: The Hustler (1961)
Listen to this PREVIEW of the 57th episode of On Second Thought, a special bonus series you can hear on the And the Runner-Up Is Patreon exclusive feed! On Second Thought is a series in which Kevin is joined by a special guest in breaking down another Best Picture nominee not reviewed on the regular show that could have still been the runner-up. In this episode, Kevin speaks with Amy Thomasson about Robert Rossen's "The Hustler," the possible runner-up that lost Best Picture to "West Side Story" in 1961. This episode includes a review of the film itself and a discussion of its awards run! You can listen to the full episode of On Second Thought by going to patreon.com/andtherunnerupis and contributing at the $3 per month tier. Follow Kevin Jacobsen on Twitter: @Kevin_Jacobsen Follow Amy Thomasson on Twitter: @athomasson11 Follow And the Runner-Up Is on Twitter: @OscarRunnerUp Music featured in this episode: "Main Titles" - Kenyon Hopkins


