ALL OF IT with Alison Stewart: Oscars 2026 Recap with Louis Virtel

Podcast: All Of It (WNYC)
Date: March 16, 2026
Guest: Louis Virtel, Co-host of Keep It and Oscars aficionado

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the highlights, controversies, and memorable moments from the 2026 Academy Awards, featuring Oscar expert Louis Virtel. Host Alison Stewart and Virtel examine history-making wins, debated upsets, the evolving spirit of the ceremony, and trends reflecting where Hollywood is now—and where it’s headed.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Major Wins & Historic Firsts

• Paul Thomas Anderson’s Night

  • Won both Best Picture and Best Director for "One Battle After Another," marking his first Oscars after a storied career.
  • [05:06] Louis Virtel: "I don't think he's ever made a bad movie...his signature achievement is that almost any character in any of his movies could be their own movie."

• Ryan Coogler’s Sinners

  • Won Best Original Screenplay.
  • [00:35] Michael B. Jordan thanked Coogler: “You gave me the opportunity and space for me to be seen. And I love you too, bro. Love you to death.”
  • A film with layered, innovative narrative, often cited as under-awarded.

• Record-Breaking Wins

  • Autumn Duran Arkhipa: First woman (and first woman of color) to win Best Cinematography for "Sinners."
  • “Golden” from K Pop Demon Hunters: First K-pop song to win Best Original Song.
  • Jessie Buckley: First Irish actress to win Best Actress ("Hamnet").

• Significance of Firsts

  • [09:55] Virtel’s mixed feelings: “A part of me thinks, like, how can we still be having firsts?...like SNL announces they finally have their first Latina cast member...it’s been 50 years!”

2. New Categories and The Art of Casting

• Best Casting Introduced
  • Recognizes the impact of casting on ensemble films.
  • [06:00] Virtel: “It takes this amorphous thing...how did this come together? And puts an accolade to it.”
  • [06:49] Cassandra Kulakundis, winning for “One Battle After Another”: “When Paul Thomas Anderson calls you, you enter the PTA witness protection program, and you literally don’t talk to your friends and your family unless they have somebody that’s right for the movie…”

3. Hosting, Humor, and Broadcast Tone

• Conan O’Brien’s Return as Host

  • His second consecutive year.
  • [03:09] Memorable joke: “In Hamnet, William Shakespeare’s wife Agnes gives birth by herself in the woods. Or as we call that here in America, affordable health care.”
  • [03:46] Virtel on Conan: "I actually kind of thought he seemed more nervous this year, which surprised me...his thing isn't really damning someone—he's very affable."

• Pre-Recorded Bits & Political Edge

  • Noted more pre-taped segments, e.g., Jane Lynch’s cameo.
  • Discussion about Conan’s nervousness possibly stemming from political threats directed at the Academy [10:42].

• The Closing Scene

  • Conan’s comedic sendoff, mimicking a major film’s twist, shocked some viewers [16:29].
  • [17:04] Virtel: “They almost added nothing to it. It’s just the scene in general...I was actually pretty surprised how just literal it was.”

4. Snubs, Surprises, and Campaign Dynamics

• Notable Omissions and Upsets

  • “Secret Agent” praised for immersive casting, but only took Best Fans (per listener input) [08:49].
  • “Sentimental Value Act” surprisingly won Best International Film over “Secret Agent”.
  • “No Other Choice” missed out on any nominations—attributed to campaign finance disparities [18:41].

• Competitive Spirit

  • [02:14] Virtel: “I was really just excited to see, and this sounds vicious of me, but the bloodbath of it all. Somebody was going to leave disappointed...several different people were promised the wins at different points.”
  • [25:06] On campaigning: "It's brutal...what you think is going to win at the beginning of the season...opinion shifts sometimes."

5. On Representation and Future Trends

• [09:55] Historic wins show progress, but also frustration at the need for 'firsts.'
• K Pop Demon Hunters' win marked a cultural watershed, but their speech was abruptly cut off.
  • [15:58] Virtel: “I was with a room full of Oscars aficionados...we, like, clutched our hearts...It was such a historic moment, too. Just unthinkable.”

6. Favorite Segments & Ceremonial Moments

• In Memoriam

  • [11:54] Virtel called it “the triumph of this Oscars,” celebrating the careers and “idiosyncrasy” of those lost, from Diane Keaton to Robert Redford.
  • Barbra Streisand’s appearance was described as a true highlight.

• Bridesmaids 15th Anniversary Reunion

  • [22:21] Playful segment featuring jokes from Stellan Skarsgård, led to reflection on cast versatility:
  • [23:30] Virtel: “I am honestly shocked at the range they all have...Kristen Wiig...I think she is the best actor in the history of SNL.”

• Ties and Short Category Wins

  • [21:23] Virtel: “There’s only been, I believe, seven ties in Oscars history...a tie is so baffling, you’re trying to figure out how it’s possible.”

7. Listener Voices & Q&A

• Views on Old vs. New Oscar Traditions

  • Virtel prefers “old school” Oscar glamour and legacy [17:37]: “That’s the thrill of the Oscars...you’re seeing people whose names they win and they get added to a list that goes all the way back to Janet Gaynor...and that we’re continuing a heritage and making the heritage better, frankly.”

• Favorite Overlooked Films

  • [26:00] Virtel’s pick: “It’s Never Over: Jeff Buckley”—called it “fabulous...the rare music biopic that needed to explain a genius.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [02:14] Louis Virtel: “I was really just excited to see, and this sounds vicious of me, but the bloodbath of it all.”
• [05:06] Louis Virtel: “...almost any character in any of [PTA’s] movies could be their own movie.”
• [06:49] Cassandra Kulakundis: “When Paul Thomas Anderson calls you, you enter the PTA witness protection program...”
• [09:55] Louis Virtel: “A part of me thinks, like, how can we still be having firsts?”
• [15:58] Louis Virtel: “I think I have a pretty good memory...I don’t remember anybody played off that abruptly before.”
• [17:37] Louis Virtel: “That’s the thrill...you’re seeing people whose names...get added to a list that goes all the way back to Janet Gaynor…”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening recap & major wins: 00:09–02:44
• Host Conan O’Brien’s monologue: 03:09–03:42
• Debrief on Conan/Oscar hosting: 03:46–04:49
• Casting award & significance: 05:51–07:55
• Listener reactions & “Secret Agent” discussion: 08:02–09:27
• On firsts & representation: 09:27–10:36
• In Memoriam & Rob Reiner tribute: 11:54–12:48
• Listener criticisms on Best Picture: 13:16–14:41
• Sinners dance scene reflection: 14:51–15:13
• K Pop Demon Hunters’ acceptance played off: 15:40–15:58
• Ceremony’s Gen Z nod & closing bit: 16:29–17:29
• Why Oscars traditions matter: 17:37–18:17
• “No Other Choice” snub: 18:24–19:36
• Frankenstein’s craft awards: 19:47–20:25
• Sean Penn’s absence & Oscar ties: 20:35–21:44
• Award show reunions (Bridesmaids): 21:49–24:09
• Listener: Caught Stealing & Oscar campaigns: 24:15–25:55
• Virtel’s picks for overlooked films: 26:00–26:41

By weaving direct listener participation with rich, contextualized critique and behind-the-scenes insights, this episode is a must-listen for anyone wanting to unpack the drama, artistry, and ongoing evolution of the Academy Awards.