2026 Oscars Guide and What's Making Us Happy

March 13, 2026·52 min·4 clips

Glenn declares this year's Oscars a genre fest, calling it progress over historical dramas and biopics.

Vampires, car chases, show tunes, ping pong, Shakespeare. That odd little pileup is how the panel gets into the 2026 Oscars, with Linda Holmes sorting the season into locks, toss-ups, and upsets worth rooting for. Glenn opens with an Oscar Gold joke, a sideways awards-season bit that clears the air before the criticism starts. Linda, Stephen Thompson, Glenn Weldon, and Aisha Harris talk through the race like hosts who can call a likely winner and still admit which surprise would make them happier. Some categories feel close to done. Others leave enough room for argument, second thoughts, and taste, which keeps the guide from turning into a spreadsheet. The actor discussion centers on Jordan. The panel's case is sharper than a simple compliment: he creates two distinct characters, each hiding vulnerability in a different way. That pays off once the film gets chaotic. Even before costumes or visual cues fully register, the viewer knows who is onscreen. Aisha then moves through leading actress. Emma Stone plays a CEO kidnapped by conspiracy theorists. Kate Hudson forms a Neil Diamond tribute band with Hugh Jackman. Rose Byrne has the heavier-sounding role, a therapist carrying responsibility for an ill daughter while her emotionally absent husband is away for work. Renata Reinsve brings estranged-family drama. Jessie Buckley comes across as the likely winner for Hamnet, playing Agnes as a witchy free spirit who falls in love with William Shakespeare. Stephen's read is tidy without feeling canned: Buckley has the career story, the campaign moment, and the kind of big, committed style that can push hard without flying apart. The episode closes with recommendations, including one happy-making pick measured against Trap with a dry jab, plus a newsletter mention and an Oscars wrap-up tease for next week.

As heard by us

A sharp, funny Oscars guide for listeners who want awards predictions with real performance talk behind them.

Pop Culture Happy Hour treats the 2026 Oscars as a lively pre-show argument, with Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Glenn Weldon, and Aisha Harris working through the season's mix of apparent locks, toss-ups, and hoped-for upsets.

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Why you'd press play

You want an Oscars cheat sheet that still sounds like a smart hangout.

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