Here's the Scoop – Oscars Special: Behind the Curtain
Podcast: Here's the Scoop (NBC News)
Host: Yasmin Vossoughian
Guests: Rebecca Keegan (Senior Reporter, NBC), Chloe Melas (Entertainment Correspondent, NBC)
Date: March 15, 2026
Theme: Pulling back the curtain on the 98th Academy Awards, this episode dissects the frontrunners, upsets, evolving industry trends, and politics shaping Hollywood’s biggest night—plus the future of the Oscars in a rapidly changing entertainment landscape.
Episode Overview
The special Oscars episode dives into predictions, industry changes, and the broader context shaping this year’s Academy Awards. Host Yasmin Vossoughian is joined by entertainment reporters Rebecca Keegan and Chloe Melas for candid insights on frontrunners, dark horses, looming industry consolidation, new ground rules, AI in film, representation, and the show’s move to YouTube. The conversation also explores how politics appear on Oscar night, and what it’s really like behind the scenes at Hollywood’s grandest event.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Personal Picks vs. Predicted Winners
(00:58 – 03:39)
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Chloe’s Picks:
- Best Picture: Hamnet (“I loved it. I cried. I love a good cry. So it was so emotional. ... Some of the best acting I feel like I’ve ever seen.” – Chloe, 01:26)
- Best Actress: Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
- Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
- Best Director: Ryan Coogler (Sinners)
-
Rebecca’s Picks:
- Best Picture: Sinners – “It’s an original story. It’s not based on a book or preexisting piece of intellectual property. ... It’s really well executed.” (Rebecca, 02:03)
- Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan (Sinners) – Noteworthy for playing twins, “You can tell who he’s playing when he walks into a scene.” (Rebecca, 02:38)
- Best Actress: Renata Rencive (Sentimental Value) – “I think she gives this really layered performance that is quite special.” (Rebecca, 03:20)
Memorable exchange:
- “Want is different than should.” – Chloe (01:21).
- Lighthearted banter about Michael B. Jordan’s dual role: “Sadly, there is one Michael B. Jordan in the world, and he is playing two different characters, which is really kind of a feat.” – Rebecca (02:53)
2. Front Runners, Upsets, and Campaign Intrigue
(03:39 – 06:51)
- Jessie Buckley is the overwhelming frontrunner for Best Actress.
- Best Actor race shifted, with Timotheé Chalamet (Marty Supreme) losing favor due to offhand comments and “the ick factor” (Chloe, 04:22), while Michael B. Jordan builds momentum.
- Best Director: Paul Thomas Anderson could finally win, given his revered status among industry insiders; Ryan Coogler seen as a serious challenger but believed to have future chances (Rebecca, 04:57).
- Best Picture seems a contest between Sinners (most nominations) and One Battle After Another (most momentum).
- Historical implications if Sinners wins, notably if Coogler becomes the first Black winner for Best Director (Chloe, 05:57).
“The first category is usually a supporting actor or actress category. If you see Sinners or One Battle After Another dominating those, it could be a big sweep for the night.” – Chloe (06:02)
3. The Timothée Chalamet ‘Opera and Ballet’ Controversy
(06:51 – 08:30)
- Chalamet’s comments about film not becoming as niche as opera or ballet drew social media backlash but likely had no impact on the Oscar race, as voting had closed.
- “It does show kind of his over enthusiasm, perhaps his thirst and exuberance this awards season, which maybe didn’t land the way that he intended it to land.” – Rebecca (08:25)
4. Supporting Races and the Who-Needs-It-More Factor
(08:30 – 10:20)
- Supporting Actress: Buzz for Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another) and Amy Madigan (Weapons).
- Leonardo DiCaprio’s muted campaign style noted, with the consensus that “he doesn’t feel he needs to do that. And I think he's right.” – Rebecca (09:47)
- Voter mentality on “who needs” an Oscar often influences outcomes.
5. New Oscar Ground Rules: Voters Must Watch the Films
(10:20 – 12:03)
- Academy introduced a rule making voters affirm they watched all films in a given category.
- If viewed via the Academy streaming site, the watch is tracked; otherwise, voters must self-report.
- Some voters will abstain where they haven’t seen all nominees, especially with challenging films like Hamnet.
“Hamnet, Chloe’s favorite movie… a lot of people found the subject matter very difficult. ... They were afraid to watch it.” – Rebecca (11:19)
6. Politics on the Oscar Stage
(12:59 – 16:21)
- Host Conan O’Brien expected to keep things light, reflecting “silliness and whimsy,” contrasting with previous hosts who engaged more directly with political discourse.
- Industry reticence: Stars avoiding political grandstanding, viewing it as “adding to the noise.” (Rebecca, 14:32)
- Exception: Jafar Panahi, Iranian director of It Was Just an Accident, likely to address global events if he wins, reflecting the real-world struggles he and his family face.
“If he were to win… I would expect that his speech would get into politics and to world events.” – Rebecca (16:19)
7. Inclusion & Representation: Progress Backslide
(16:21 – 19:11)
- USC Annenberg study: Female representation in film at a seven-year low in 2025.
- Industry consolidation (notably Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Brothers) seen as a threat to diversity, since both have poor records promoting women in lead roles.
- Positive note: Autumn Durald Arkhipal could become the first woman to win Best Cinematography (Sinners) (Chloe, 17:57).
- Studios scaling back explicit diversity programs, industry-wide.
8. Industry Consolidation Worries
(19:11 – 21:00)
- Paramount’s move to acquire Warner Brothers outpaces Netflix’s bid.
- General anxiety about lost jobs, reduced production, and skepticism about promised output.
“The fear was of consolidation in general. If you have one less film studio, presumably people lose jobs. Fewer movies get made.” – Rebecca (19:41)
- Historical context: Paramount hasn’t won Best Picture since No Country for Old Men (2008), before that Titanic (Chloe, 20:37).
9. New Oscar Category: Achievement in Casting
(21:00 – 22:07)
- For the first time, a casting director will step on stage to accept an Oscar for casting—long overdue recognition for a “secret weapon of directors.”
“Casting directors are the secret weapon of directors, that actors worship the good casting directors.” – Rebecca (21:33)
10. AI and Film: Rules, Risks, and the Tilly Norwood Phenomenon
(23:38 – 27:12)
- Academy declares AI use “will neither help nor harm” a film’s chances but clarifies Oscars will only be awarded to human beings (Rebecca, 25:03).
- Synthetic performer Tilly Norwood, an AI actress, generated heated industry debate.
- Industry’s union (SAG) is negotiating to protect human actors from digital “synthetic” competition (Rebecca, 26:39).
“An Oscar will always be given to a human being.” – Rebecca (25:03)
11. The Future: Oscars Moving from ABC to YouTube
(27:12 – 30:42)
- Historic shift: From 2029, the Oscars will air globally on YouTube—signaling a new approach to reach younger and international audiences.
- “My kids will now know what the Oscars are, because all they watch is YouTube television.” – Chloe (27:49)
- Focus on interactivity and “second screen” participation.
- Financial incentives for the Academy as a nonprofit factor into the decision.
“What matters to us as people who grew up watching it on ABC… is different from what matters to people all over the world.” – Rebecca (28:46)
12. Behind the Scenes: Reporters Share Their Oscars Experiences
(30:42 – 34:25)
- Rebecca recounts red carpet chaos, extreme security, and her infamous “escalator grease” gown mishap.
“I went through the Oscars and the after parties covered in escalator grease… a good conversation starter, if you’re sort of chit chatting with the stars.” – Rebecca (32:56)
- Light-hearted discussion of wardrobe and after-parties, with Chloe covering the Elton John party, Rebecca at the ceremony for the 15th time.
Notable Quotes
- On the cultural meaning of the Oscars:
“If you are a movie fan, this is your Super Bowl.” – Yasmin (00:13) - On Michael B. Jordan’s dual role:
“There is one Michael B. Jordan in the world, and he is playing two different characters, which is really kind of a feat.” – Rebecca (02:53) - On studio consolidation:
“If you have one less film studio, presumably people lose jobs. Fewer movies get made. It’s bad for the industry broadly.” – Rebecca (19:41) - On AI and awards:
“An Oscar will always be given to a human being.” – Rebecca (25:03) - On the Oscars shifting to YouTube:
“What matters to us as people who grew up watching it on ABC… is different from what matters to people all over the world.” – Rebecca (28:46)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:58 Personal Oscars wish list
- 03:39 Frontrunners & category breakdowns
- 06:51 Timothée Chalamet controversy explained
- 08:30 Who gets “Oscar love” and why
- 10:20 New voter ground rules
- 12:59 Oscar host, politics, & the Jafar Panahi factor
- 16:21 Inclusion, representation, and industry trends
- 19:11 Studio consolidation impact
- 21:10 New Oscar: Achievement in casting
- 23:38 Future of Oscars and the AI debate
- 27:12 Move to YouTube & shifting viewership
- 30:42 Reporters share backstage Oscar stories
Episode Tone
- Newsroom conversational: Candid analysis, rapid-fire banter, and a blend of industry expertise and insider anecdotes.
- Engaging and enthusiastic, balancing serious industry analysis with lighthearted personal stories.
Summary for New Listeners
This Oscars special unpacks not just who’s likely to take home gold, but the changing rules, politics, and technology transforming Hollywood’s biggest night. The hosts offer a nuanced look at inclusion setbacks, industry consolidation, and the Oscars’ bold leap to a digital future. Lively anecdotes bring the glamour—and chaos—of the red carpet to life, while new categories and digital performers promise an awards show unlike any before. Whether you care about best picture, red carpet fashion, or the power dynamics shaking up the industry, this episode is your all-access pass behind the curtain.