The Nightly — 2026 Oscars Reactions

Podcast: The Nightly
Host: Hatch Podcasts
Episode: 2026 Oscars Reactions
Date: March 18, 2026

Episode Overview

In this cozy, late-night “pillow fort” episode, hosts Kate (“KP”), Jacques, and Kristen gather to unpack the highs, surprises, and sweet moments of the 2026 Oscars. Their discussion is both lively and insightful, blending industry analysis with warmth and humor. From historic wins to casting critiques and memorable musical performances, the hosts debrief the show's biggest moments, snubs, and the overall tone of the night.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Opening Highlights & Atmosphere (00:34–01:15)

• Jacques joins remotely from SXSW in Austin, setting a relaxed, fun mood.
• The hosts dive straight into Oscars highlights: "This is a real movie lovers episode." (Kate, 01:12)

Major Wins and Standouts (01:15–05:15)

• Best Picture: "One Battle After Another" takes home the top honor and most awards.
• Sinners: The hosts’ personal favorite, celebrated for its four wins including Best Actor (Michael B. Jordan), Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score:
  • “I love me some Michael B. Jordan...nobody did what Michael B. Jordan did in the movie.” (Jacques, 01:48)
  • Ryan Coogler gets much praise for his creative range and upcoming potential.
• Historic Cinematography Win: Autumn Durald Arkapaw becomes the first woman in over 100 years to win Best Cinematography.
  • “She asked all of the women who could stand up to stand up in the auditorium...It was just so moving and beautiful.” (Kristen, 04:22)

Elevated Recognition for Horror (03:17–03:53)

• Both Michael B. Jordan and Amy Madigan win acting awards for horror performances, a landmark for the genre.
  • “Shout out—two horror wins! That's so dope and so good for the horror industry.” (Jacques, 03:42)
• Hosts note a “blossoming golden age” for fun, artful, and blockbuster-style horror.

Landmark Firsts (05:14–06:36)

• First-Ever Casting Oscar: The debut of the casting category.
  • “A good or bad cast can make or break a movie. It really can.” (Kristen, 06:12)
  • The award goes to "One Battle After Another", though Jacques raises a nuanced critique on how the category could evolve to champion lesser-known talent:
    • “I hope...the casting person or team that wins...isn't just a list actors...I want to see...beautiful casting.” (Jacques, 06:44)

Thoughtful Casting Talk (06:44–09:52)

• The hosts stress how standout performances and introducing new stars should be central to the casting Oscar.
• Ensemble appreciation for "Sinners":
  • “We had a breakout star with Miles Caton. We had Wunmi Mosaku...I didn’t know her before Sinners.” (Kate, 08:05)
• Recognition of “One Battle After Another” for blending established and new talent (e.g., Teyana Taylor in a leading role).

Animation and Music Milestones (09:53–11:54)

• K Pop Demon Hunters: Wins for Best Original Song and Animated Feature, a breakthrough for K-Pop in Hollywood.
  • “This was a huge deal for people who love K Pop and who feel like the genre...was just treated like bubblegum up until now.” (Kristen, 09:53)
• The hosts recall other Oscar song classics—Whitney Houston’s "I Will Always Love You," Diane Warren’s many hits—discussing how rare it is for Oscar songs to become mainstream radio staples.

Moving Tributes & Celebrity Moments (12:00–14:21)

• The in memoriam was extended, poignant, and broke with Oscars tradition by honoring clusters of stars:
  • “Dozens of stars of [Rob Reiner’s] movies came out on stage to honor him.” (Kristen, 12:19)
  • Barbra Streisand’s tribute to Robert Redford “[was] maybe honoring herself, which was a little cringy, but also very Barbra.” (Kristen, 12:59)
  • “We lost a lot of significant entertainment, especially in the acting space...this is still going. Because it was very long.” (Jacques, 13:43)

Conan as Host (14:21–16:25)

• The hosts universally praise Conan’s hosting and generous spirit:
  • “He knows how to very, very gently make a nudge at Hollywood, but mostly just be like, yeah, Hollywood.” (Kristen, 14:45)
• Unique detail: Conan placed a heartfelt letter and snack box under every seat.
  • “[It was] basically just saying, like...Here are some snacks for you...laughter is good for the soul. And my ego.” (Jacques, 15:48)

Snubs and Surprises (16:25–19:05)

• Strong consensus among hosts that Sinners deserved Best Picture:
  • “I think Sinner should have won best Picture.” (Jacques and Kristen, 16:34)
• “Marnie Supreme” gets zero wins, which Kate calls “a bit of a snub.” (16:43)
  • She would have liked the Best Editing Oscar to go to “Marnie Supreme” for “beautiful pacing.” (Kate, 16:59)
• Kristen thought “Frankenstein” won too many awards:
  • “I thought Frankenstein was one of the longest, most boring movies of the year...why is it like...every award going to Frankenstein?” (Kristen, 17:33)
• Jesse Plemons in “Begonia” singled out as deserving of a supporting actor win:
  • “He was incredible. I would have put him in the category at least.” (Kate, 18:40)

Final Reflections (20:00–21:11)

• The consensus: This year’s Oscars were enjoyable, well-hosted, and historic for some firsts—but short on viral or headline-buzz moments.
  • “No, like, speeches that we're talking about the next day. It was like...that was crazy whack or nothing.” (Jacques, 20:00)
  • “We do have some really sweet moments of like first female cinematographer and such.” (Kristen, 21:11)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Michael B. Jordan’s Win:
  “Nobody did what Michael B. Jordan did in the movie. To me last year, which was two very distinct, different characters, lived, breathed them both differently...it was like, just dope.” (Jacques, 01:48)
• On Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s Historic Win:
  “She asked all of the women who could stand up to stand up in the auditorium and then she said, I wouldn't have gotten here without all of you.” (Kristen, 04:22)
• On First Ever Casting Award:
  “A good or bad cast...can make or break a movie. It really can.” (Kristen, 06:12)
• Conan’s Letter Under Each Seat:
  “Remember, laughter is good for the soul. And my ego, just like, just, just easing you in. I was like, what a good dude. I love it.” (Jacques, 15:48)
• Sinners Sentiment:
  “I think Sinner should have won best Picture.” (Jacques and Kristen, 16:34, overlapping/jinx moment)

Important Timestamps

• 00:34–01:15: Show kicks off; Oscar excitement and Jacques dialing in from SXSW.
• 01:15–05:15: Main awards breakdown; Sinners wins, Michael B. Jordan’s performance, Ryan Coogler praise, historic achievements.
• 05:14–06:36: First-ever Casting Oscar.
• 06:44–09:52: Debate about what makes outstanding casting.
• 09:53–11:54: Animation and song categories; K Pop Demon Hunters breakthrough.
• 12:00–14:21: Tributes and in memoriams.
• 14:21–16:25: Conan's hosting and gift under the seats.
• 16:25–19:05: Snubs, surprises, and standout/unexpected wins.
• 20:00–21:11: Overall show reflections; no wild moments but high marks for history made.

Sweet Listener Moment (21:26–22:15)

• A “good night” message from listener Lindsay, sharing how she met a new friend, Jose, during a failed movie screening, underscoring the show’s theme of pop culture connecting people.

Closing Thoughts

The episode is a fun, pillow-talk debrief of the 2026 Oscars: warm, conversational, and inclusive for both Oscars superfans and casual movie lovers. Expect meaningful commentary on industry milestones, a few witty hot takes, and a reminder that, sometimes, the best moments come from simply sharing love of movies with new and old friends alike.