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Louis Virtel is joined by Guy Branum and Nina Parker to discuss all things Oscars as they recap the 98th Academy Awards hosted by Conan O’Brien. They unpack why the Oscars can’t seem to find anyone but a straight man to host as well as the political and symbolic importance of Sinners. They also analyze each of the major categories in addition to the most memorable moments from this year’s broadcast including Barbara Streisand’s tribute to Robert Redford which of course became very Barbara-focused.

TRANSCRIPT

Louis Virtel [AD].

 

Louis Virtel And we are back with an all-new episode of Keep It. I’m Louis Virtel. The Oscars just happened. Do you know what I feel like when, I guess your high school teachers every year wear the mortarboard and whatever and like hang out with the graduates and then they just put it back in the closet. Now, here’s the thing. I have never been in the film industry at all. I’m not a graduate in any way, but it’s just like the sense of ceremony. It’s like there’s some mystique in the universe has been released. There’s no mystery anymore. I’m sad it’s over, even though it lasted all fucking years.

 

Nina Parker Oh, I’m so happy it’s done.

 

Louis Virtel Okay, Nina.

 

Nina Parker I’m over it.

 

Louis Virtel Yeah, you’re getting real cocky over here on Keep It. And you’re new, lady.

 

Guy Branum I think dismissing your role in the Oscars and what happens is self-negating and unnecessary. And I think if The Hollywood Reporter is going to do an actress’s round table and an actor’s roundtable, they do need to do like a gay guys or a more aggressive word possibly round table where you and me and all of the people who really care about the Oscurs can like chop it up for lack of a better term.

 

Louis Virtel Before we move on, let me introduce my esteemed panel here. First of all, we once again have Nina Parker.

 

Nina Parker Thank you for having me.

 

Louis Virtel Entertainment guru who was also at an Oscars party that we will hear all about in a second.

 

Nina Parker Yes, I was! Yes!

 

Louis Virtel Do you have a favorite historical Oscars moment, one that reverberates in your skull?

 

Nina Parker I mean, I do. Yeah. It’s not, I don’t know if it’s historical for the right reasons, but the slap.

 

Louis Virtel Oh, let’s hear it. Oh, you just, oh, okay.

 

Nina Parker Yeah, and it’s not it’s it’s listen, it’s just the as someone who has done every all these award shows. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to slap somebody.

 

Louis Virtel Yeah.

 

Nina Parker You know what I mean.

 

Louis Virtel Oh, you felt seen.

 

Nina Parker I mean, well, you know, it’s just it’s something that you’ve it’s just something you’ve never seen before.

 

Guy Branum Nothing says live television like an assault.

 

Nina Parker Yes, I just I was working Oscars that year. I was actually doing the after party for that year, so I think for me that moment was just so chaotic. You know, someone might as well have been shot if you’re dealing with like all of the people in the background at E. They were it was so serious. Meanwhile, every barbecue I’ve been to somebody been slapped. Welcome to my Tuesday. Well, my.

 

Louis Virtel Well, my thing about the slap was it was edited so weird. Like you couldn’t tell if he was like storming the stage or what, so that when it finally happened, and of course it’s Chris Rock, you assumed it was a sketch or something. So it was like six seconds later that I’m like, no, wait, this is all wrong.

 

Guy Branum I also just thought it was a beautiful tribute to the set design. They had like such an open set that made it so easy for the nominees to get up there that it just felt effortless. Thank you for supporting Immersive Theater. Thank you for supporting Immersive Theater.

 

Nina Parker But also let you know that Chris Rock has never been in a fight before, because maybe there was no defense. Because let me tell you something, one of y’all got up right now and started walking toward me. I’m dipping and I’m ducking. I don’t know what’s happening. I also have PTSD from hosting Love and Hip Hop, so maybe that’s why. But you ain’t just gonna walk up to me all aggressive. If somebody walks up to you and they looking you dead in your eyes and they not saying nothing, this is your cue to run. So, you know, for me, it’s not that the moment I was happy about it, but it was, like, something incredibly memorable. I was working. It was so much chaos. And I will say, like sometimes award shows, they go on for three, four hours. You’re just kind of like… I mean, it’s great, and you’re happy, but it’s all the same. It’s very, you know… And anticipated. Exactly. There’s nothing that shocks you, you know, that wakes you up, unless it’s like an upset, you know? So I think, like, the closest thing that would have been with what happened with Moonlight, right? Like, that probably would have been my number two, just… But for me, all the moments that are a controversy are sick out the most.

 

Louis Virtel Okay, chaos agent. And we also have here, Guy Branum, a Jeopardy champion as well as a comedian in general and a dear friend of mine. And you’ve seen the Oscars before, right? And have heard of them.

 

Guy Branum You know, I’ve heard of them. Apparently a billion people were watching and I figured I should get on board.

 

Louis Virtel And now is your chance. Yes. What’s your favorite historical Oscars moment, or one you think about? OK, first of all, Louis, you have to at least predict what year it is. OK. I’m going to go with Emma Thompson’s Henson’s accessibility year.

 

Guy Branum No, I mean, that’s my Golden Globes moment. No, no, no. Year of our Lord, 1986. Cher has been nominated for Silkwood in 1983. And then she wins like best actress at Cannes for Mask, an amazing film that I don’t think you can stream these days. One of those weird movies that’s not really around. And Peter Bogdanovich was good one time in the 80s. Yes, and like Cher didn’t get a nomination. They gave, I mean, pretty clearly the person who didn’t deserve to be there was my fave, Anne Bancroft.

 

Louis Virtel Agnes of God not a sterling performance

 

Guy Branum But she’s up against Whoopi, she’s up against Geraldine Page, and no spot for Cher. And so Cher responded to the situation in the most Cher way imaginable. She called up Bob Mackie, the guy who designed all of her costumes for her variety show, and said, make me something ridiculous. And then showed up in an outfit with an enormous headdress and a bare midriff. And because, I mean, essentially the Academy was saying, you’re not a real actress yet. You have to play our game. If you want to get taken seriously. And then she showed up and she said, I’m Cher, bitch. And then two years later, she was best actress.

 

Louis Virtel Right. No, it’s truly a hero’s tale. And by the way, a very underrated part of that story is Jane Fonda was one of the hosts that year, and she introduced her like this. She points to this end and goes, share. Like knowing what was coming.

 

Guy Branum Like that intro is really good. I watched it last night.

 

Louis Virtel Fabulous moment. Yes, so the Oscars have happened. I can’t say there were too many surprise winners, but that said, I thought it was a pretty invigorating ceremony. We’ll get into it starting right now with the host, Conan O’Brien, who hosted last year. What did we think of the jokes he chose, the joke areas, how he felt with the audience, et cetera.

 

Nina Parker I mean, I thought it was fine, you know, like I wasn’t blown away, but I was like, I’m not asleep.

 

Louis Virtel Yeah. You know what surprised me? He seemed more nervous this year than he did last year. I liked a lot of the jokes, but I felt like the room wasn’t really responding to him a lot. I think a huge problem with the Oscars in general is it’s really hard to connect with the actors one-on-one. When you call out an actor in the audience, they seem very reticent and nervous about that.

 

Guy Branum Like the dinner party energy of the Golden Globes is bad in its way. I like it. But it does make up for a more intimate sort of like rough and tumble interaction, I think. Because they’re clearly tipsy. Yes, and I thought that people, like people who were doing reaction bits in the audience did them very well. Benicio Del Toro, fabulous. Elle Fanning, like pulling off a cute little comedy moment, like delightful. Like Conan Went Weird, the Falcon delivering him an Oscar. Felt like something from Conan in 1994 or something like that, in a way that was sweet, but I did feel like there was a reticence with the comedy that was just reflective of this being a weird, hard time and an Oscars telecast that was trying very intentionally to not be too political. Yes.

 

Nina Parker You can always tell sometimes when you feel like there’s a note to not take things too far in a certain direction. And what I enjoy about Conan is that, especially when he was like the new kid on the block, that he was edgy, he was sarcastic, and he kind of gave us what we knew we weren’t going to get from a Jay Leno, right? And so this felt very safe. And you know, I love a sarcastic dry humor like pointing out what’s in the room. I definitely didn’t feel like the crowd was giving him anything. I didn’t like they loosened up until the center’s performance. And then I felt like it loosened everybody up. They were all standing up. They gave it a standing ovation. And then it felt like, almost felt like an icebreaker for the ceremony because I remember watching thinking like, is everybody okay? Like it felt like the last award season of the year and everyone was exhausted. I’m going to be honest, everybody, even the fashion. I was like, everything to me was kind of given earlier in award season. I wasn’t really impressed by a lot of the energy or outfit.

 

Louis Virtel No, I want to say quickly, my favorite all season, Wumi Masako. This was her worst dressed of the season, I thought. Now, by the way, different metric altogether, the woman is pregnant. It’s like a lot to put together, whatever, but I thought most people peeked before this moment.

 

Nina Parker I saw her actually say that she went for comfort, like, she probably, I mean, listen. She probably, I mean, listen.

 

Louis Virtel Well, in that case, okay, fabulous. Yeah, yeah.

 

Nina Parker Yes, like she was, I think she had said like in one of the interviews backstage, like, you know, I went, you know I have to weigh like what’s going to go on and what I’m going to wear. And, and I think, listen, it’s the last show. Yeah. At some point people are like, you see what you’re going to see. Let’s see what you’re gonna say.

 

Guy Branum Meryl Streep being pregnant for every Oscars in the 80s is what set the stage for her wearing essentially pajamas for most of the 90s. Yeah, that’s right. But I was a little bit tired after, like we’ve played all of this out. There wasn’t much magic left.

 

Nina Parker Yeah. I don’t know. Maybe it’s the, I don’t again, I think to your point, Louis, maybe it’s a sign of the times and everybody. There is a part of me when I watch this that I probably just, I feel a little guilt being like… I’m talking about awards and all this stuff is going on in the world. There is a part of me that’s like, is this like tone deaf? And you know, but then there was a part of me, that’s, like, do you take the moment to celebrate with your peers and just lift each other up during the hard time? I teeter with both of those. It’s why there was a lot of events I didn’t do this year because I was just like, this just feels weird to me. And I think that energy kind of permeated cause it’s kind of like, there’s an elephant in the room and then people are scared to speak out. So it’s, it’s very strange time.

 

Louis Virtel But of course, people never feel like there’s an elephant in the room at any sporting event. We just get to have sports. That’s such a good point! That’s a great point. No, it’s literally, men don’t feel guilty about doing the things they love, but once women are involved, then it becomes too self-indulgent.

 

Guy Branum Okay, which leads to the point that that we continue with this tradition of needing a straight white man to be the person who is in charge of this gayest and most feminine of moments is very frustrating. Like

 

Louis Virtel And the most curtest pop culture opinions you’re supposed to have like it requires the gayest sensibility

 

Guy Branum And the thing is, is like, Nikki did so great at the Golden Globes. Amy and Tina were so amazing. Whoopi did so good in the past. Wanda did so in the pass. And I just don’t understand why we have these people. Why are Matt and Bowen not on the curses on Oram to get there? Like why aren’t, you know, like Chelsea has been doing great at the Critics Choice Awards the last couple of years. Nicole Byer and Sushir Zemeda would hit that out of the park and love doing it. And I love these guys, but I feel like there is this notion that we need this like stentorian white guy energy or else it’s not really official. And I’m-

 

Louis Virtel And also they like someone tried and true, right? Like a lot of the people you’ve mentioned before, like they’re supposed to hit four other tiers before they get to the Oscars. You know, like Neil Patrick Harris was the rare case of we gave him like seven award shows and then we did the Oscar. And then it turned out we didn’t like Close Magic.

 

Guy Branum But the thing is, and I think there are people, because there really is this system of hosting the DGAs, hosting the untelevised ones, and then getting to the televised ones. And Kumail did the DGA’s this year, and I would like to see them maybe think about some of these people. I think Kumail, I mean, you don’t.

 

Louis Virtel I think Kumail, I mean, you just talked about straight people being the problem and of course I agree, but I felt like Kumail this year was gave a very good audition for the Oscars eventually because he’s sort of the right energy of You know feeling like an authority, but at the same time also actually appreciating the movies and wanting everyone to have a good time Yes, you know

 

Nina Parker It’s so interesting with the hosting and I do feel like networks are just still so archaic in the choices that they make for hosts. It’s interesting to see how everything will evolve, especially now that we know some award shows are going to digital, but I’m curious to see, now that this move is happening, what kind of hosts they will pick, because we see the shift with red carpet hosting, which hasn’t been great. You know, we’re seeing a ton of influencers on, I mean, they’ve been doing it for

 

Louis Virtel Oh, and man, did they have a shitty showing last night.

 

Nina Parker Listen, Sha, I, you know, I’m obviously biased, but this is my thing. There’s nothing I can do to stop this trend of influencers hitting the carpet, and fine, but y’all gotta watch the movies. Y’all like, it’s, these, like, you don’t even know who people are. It’s…

 

Guy Branum The thing is, I’m going to say it’s not their fault. There are people who are at these organizations and at these networks whose job it, who their job is to develop it. But it’s their fault too. Yes, like, and the thing is is like, some of those children know what they’re talking about. Some of those are funny and like- Not the ones they’re booking. Not the one’s they’re book. They’re just looking at followers and they’re just like, uh, an influencer. And it’s like, do your goddamn job and figure out which one’s our talent. But this is what I was saying though. I don’t want to-

 

Louis Virtel You don’t want to watch your fave influencer flail, do you? Like, it’s such a weird Catch-22.

 

Nina Parker And this is a lesson you’ll learn. And if you obviously have a career in television broadcasting, you know this. It does not matter what people behind the scenes are telling you because what people see is you. So people aren’t gonna say, well, someone should have done this. They’re gonna say you weren’t prepared. You didn’t know this name. You didn’t know this film. You’re gonna get the brunt. And this has happened to me too, as a young talent on TV, where there’s something I didn’t know or I mispronounce or whatever. And yeah, sure, I should have had a team that helps me, but nobody watching is going to go through those steps. You’re going to get the brunt of it. And that clip is going to live forever. And it’s going to be on you.

 

Louis Virtel Certainly, yes. Oh, right, no, precisely. I wanna say about the jokes in the monolog though. There was one I really loved, and this was indicative of the audience, I think, not being able to play along because it was so fucking funny. The joke about Hamnet where he goes, in the first minute we learned that Hamnet and Hamlet were used interchangeably. And then I realized I have to buckle up or whatever he said. It was just like just playing enough with the self-seriousness of a big tragedy movie and just the droll enough take because I think a problem I don’t want to say a problem Conan has, but just something he doesn’t prefer to do. He’s not one of those people who like wants to really tell a joke and like stick a knife in. He’s is not like a Tina Fey who like, you come out lacerated from some of those jokes. He is a movie fan and he’s very adult and sophisticated and silly. But it’s like, he’s not going to, I don’t know, he just is not in the hurt people’s feelings mode, you know?

 

Guy Branum I would say like in a 10 best picture nominee world, it is kind of the host job to a little bit, whether it’s the intro video or whatever, immerse us a little more in like, what are we gonna be talking about and what are the issues and energies that are here? I just feel like not everybody watches all of the film. Like it’s so easy to ignore this stuff. And it’s hard to write to that. And it hard to right to that and I feel like you really do have to set those things up. I feel one of the beauties of F1 as a Best Picture nominee was just having this ridiculous thing there that like you knew you got to make fun of and have joy with.

 

Nina Parker I will say I did like the Timothée Chalamet dig, you know, I was like, you know, give it to him and get whacking one more time for this, you know, so I was, I was here for that. So there were some things that I was pleased about, you know.

 

Louis Virtel I kind of wish the Timothée Chalamet dig had just been a monolog joke, though. It kept being referenced throughout the night and I’m like, I have to say, look, I’m not saying it wasn’t a snide comment. We talked about how like it was annoying and weird and also baffling. But as the night went on, I was like, man, what a shitty night for him.

 

Guy Branum No, I mean, and truly, I’m wondering, is this a moment when we pivot on him not just in the course of an Oscar’s campaign, but as a performer? Does he become the heel for seven years or something like that? But the thing is, is when the ballet and opera comment came out, I was staying in Hell’s Kitchen in the shadow of the artist’s subsidized apartment that he was raised in. And it’s like… Only there can you see Lincoln Center as, like, a looming barrage door of oppression. Yeah, true, true. Yes, right. Yeah, true. Yes.

 

Louis Virtel Wow. Thank you for that entrenched journalism. You did. Okay. So we’ll get into the actual winners. The meat of the show, if you will. In a second, we have a lot to talk about. It’s just the Oscars. We have no guests, too. I’ll say distract us. Just the core. What do you want to be? Experts? That’s what you are, right? Sure. I’m so sorry. Your entire lives have led to this moment. We’ll be right back with more Keep It.

 

Louis Virtel [AD]

 

Louis Virtel Okay, we’ve sorted through the riff-raff. Now it’s time for what every Keep It host looks forward to all year round. It’s the Super Bowl of award shows, the Oscars of giving out Oscars. Let’s start with the supporting categories and we’ll begin with the first award of the night, which was Best Supporting Actress. Honestly, in retrospect, I think this is one of the most fascinating awards of the entire night. I think it’s a five-way argument. All of them are interesting. I think Elle Fanny is extremely underrated. She plays this thankless role in Sentimental Value where she’s this actress trying to figure out how to play this guy’s daughter. And then she basically realizes it shouldn’t be me. It’s not like a glamorous role. Thought she was amazing. Long time coming. And of course, Inga Ibb’s daughter, Lelus, we’ve been saying her name wrong all season. Just a very intense emotional vibe of a performance. Then you had Teyana Taylor, who adrenalized a movie full of adrenaline, even though people aren’t obsessed with that role across the board. But Amy Madigan ultimately won four weapons. We rarely give Oscars to anybody that old. This is like kind of a weird moment for the category.

 

Guy Branum Well, I mean, it’s also, the Academy loves people who have been to the Academy Awards before. And she was nominated 40 years ago for.

 

Louis Virtel A movie called Twice in a Lifetime. A weird little movie. Yes, I love that movie. It’s a family drama with starring Gene Hackman and the great Ellen Burstyn.

 

Guy Branum Yes, but like it is actually an old school academy trend that you nominate women for best actress when they are younger and then.

 

Louis Virtel Cheers, Nominee, for supporting them.

 

Guy Branum No, no, no. But I’m saying that like, truly like from the 50s, you Audrey Hepburn somebody when they’re in their 20s and a leading actress. And then as they get older, they go into supporting where for men, it has kind of gone on average the reverse. You start out with smaller roles and that kind of thing. But like it’s exciting when something genre gets a moment like that. And it’s excited when a batshit performance. I mean, this is very Ruth Gordon in Rosemary’s Baby.

 

Louis Virtel I mean, it’s like a direct answer to Ruth Gordon, literally down to, I’m knocking on your door and I seem like a kindly neighbor and I’m…

 

Guy Branum I’m killing you. Right. But it was a start to a chilling first half of the Oscars that really was like in 1986, the Color Purple was nominated for 11 Academy Awards more than any other movie before it and then lost every goddamn award. And this was a moment when another big black movie had been broken a record for nominations and then the first half of the awards were really like.

 

Nina Parker Yeah, I was nervous. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I was in the room like, Okay, well, we’re going to do it. I will knock all this shit over if this happens. I just want everybody around me to be prepared. Yeah! But you know, I actually had a thought when they were announcing the nominees. I Was like, Oh, yeah, she’s Amy’s getting this. I Just had a feeling about her. And I wasn’t it wasn’t a win that I thought was highway robbery. I was like, okay, like, this is not something I can hate on. You know, she did a great job. It’s an inspired-

 

Louis Virtel It’s an inspired performance. Yes, I would say it saved the movie as well.

 

Nina Parker I mean, I think without that performance, I mean the movie was already, you know, having being panned by some people or being criticized, but she really I felt like saved it in a way. So you couldn’t really be mad at this and it seemed like everybody was incredibly happy for her. And she’s also just someone you’re happy for and you know what I mean? So I wasn’t I wasn’t t mad at This is a test.

 

Guy Branum The little boy was the only other like real spark of life in that movie, but also like it was one of those categories where Teyana Taylor and Amy Madigan had been going back and forth throughout the prelims. And it really was, it did feel like you didn’t know what was going to happen. You would have been happy for Teyana’s Taylor, but also the fact that Teyana Taylor then repositioned herself as prime celebrant of those Oscars was really, really fun.

 

Louis Virtel I mean, certain people were kind of annoyed with that. I’m like, guys, the Oscars are moving to YouTube soon. We could use all the enthusiasm we can get. Excuse me, she was having a blast.

 

Nina Parker You know, the criticism that she was receiving for just expressing emotion, because we’re so used to people being emotionless at these awards that she was getting up. I think there were a couple of really nasty comments about, you know. First of all, she had to do with security there. Oh, right. Who had touched her as she was…

 

Louis Virtel Push, as she was going on stage? She was going to on stage to-

 

Nina Parker She was going on stage to join the cast and the security guard pushed her. And then people were blaming her, you know? And even in the moment, like I saw her having to explain herself. And I really hate these moments where, you know, there were a lot of people making comparisons to Kelly Rowland when she was in Cannes and the Security was really rough with her too. And I think like, even in these moments, we have these amazing awards and these platforms. And then you still have people kind of treating some women like they’re not supposed to be there. In particular, I see this happening a lot with black women at these types of events. And as someone who has been shoved by security and treated like a non-factor when you are actually supposed to there, it’s infuriating. So I love that she stood in it, but you know what I love more that I did not expect was the Academy put out a statement supporting her because she was getting dragged. And fighting for her life, basically. And they were basically like, we’ve been working with her all war season and she has been lovely. This is on security and we have addressed it. And then they named the security company. So if you think I’m not gonna find this man, I will be looking for you.

 

Louis Virtel Now you’re the Amy Madigan weapon showing up at the door.

 

Nina Parker So that being said, I just, I loved her energy. I felt like it was incredibly refreshing. I loved that she was cheering everybody on. It was so sincere. It was incredibly sincere. And also how you’re supposed to act when you’ve worked your whole career to get to a place. I met Teyana Taylor on my sweet 16th, okay? Like she has really fought every single moment for the career that she has. Cause a lot of people didn’t know about her until a couple of years ago. I’ve been knowing her for the last 20 years in this industry. She is not brand new. She is a bet. Well, there’s

 

Guy Branum But there’s also that question with the Academy Awards of are you gonna get to go back? There are so many people, are you going to get to be part of this story? Is the Academy gonna know you? Because the Academy is so old and is so white and like I really thought that she came to have a good time and like be appreciative and like share herself. And like it made it more fun.

 

Louis Virtel Yeah. No, but like, as you said, Amy Madigan and Teyana Taylor were like battling all season. And by the way, when Teyana Taylor won the first time, Amy was just deliriously happy. And so it just like, it just felt like, oh, clearly these people are like hanging out all season, they’ve gotten to know each other as Amy acknowledged.

 

Guy Branum And I did feel like it was between those two, to be honest with you. And there was also something nice as like, let’s be fair, Ed Harris and Amy Madigan, like both Academy Award nominees, but not people who are like in the bosom of Abraham with the Oscars. And it was really nice that it was like a win for both of them. Yeah, that’s right. And I like them together, by the way.

 

Louis Virtel Oh, please. I believe they are the longest married couple among nominated actors ever. Like, because they’ve got married in like 83 or so. But by the way, I just learned that Ed Harris is 5’9″. I don’t know. I was just expecting something 6’2″. Yeah! I don’t know.

 

Nina Parker Yeah, he gives 6’2″. He gives over 6 feet.

 

Louis Virtel Yeah, in the Truman Show with that beret. Can you be short and wear a beret? Are we short? Emily in Paris over here. Okay, next up, best supporting actor. Now, let me say something. First of all, Kieran Culkin comes up, and I am… Look, you don’t have to be obsessed with the Academy Awards. I know even if you win one or whatever. But he always brings a layer of like, shrug like comic book kid when he walks You’re not s- It brings screwy little teeth. Rascal energy. Yes, Rascal, yeah. Ragamuffin, Scamp, we’ve been here, yes. But then, of course, he had the dubious honor of delivering the Oscar to Sean Penn, who was not there, and we knew he wasn’t going to be there. But can we just put this out there? Why isn’t he there?

 

Nina Parker I just, you know, I did not know where he was, so I posted.

 

Louis Virtel Which means he could mean he’s right behind you.

 

Nina Parker And as a black woman from this movie, I was a little scared that he would go pop up right behind me.

 

Guy Branum Also, it just is a woman in the world. I think having Sean Penn around you isn’t the best

 

Nina Parker Well, I, you know, I didn’t know he was in the Ukraine. I didn’t know where he was, but I didn’t know he was in Ukraine until people were yelling at me because I said, well, now where the hell is Sean Penn? And someone said, he’s out feeding people while you’re dressed up. And I was like, okay, now I can’t say anything. So I can’t criticize him for not being there if he is doing these real world things. And there is a part of me that does respect. Going in and doing your job, and then being like, hey, whatever happens, I’m not do, it does feel like he’s not doing it for an award, where there are some people who have these performances where you know from the moment they accepted that script, they’re planning on an Oscar run. And there is something that I do appreciate about him filming and then going to live his life and being unbothered by where he needs to be and putting on a suit and all of those things. However, I just kind of like, if you ain’t gonna come, then let’s get this to Delroy. Get us all over the do-

 

Louis Virtel By the way, this looks spectacular all season.

 

Nina Parker Who, by the way, is also overdoing. By the time he was doing media for Oscars, he was over it. He was giving short answers. I know a grumpy black man when I see one.

 

Louis Virtel By the way, the minute he got the nomination, I think they put him on, I don’t know about the Today Show or one of those. You could tell he was already like spun out by the questions he was getting. He’s like, oh my God, this is what I have to deal with for three months.

 

Nina Parker And he was, he didn’t want to talk about the Baptist. Like he, he was elicit. I said, I, somebody check his sugar level. Cause I think they’ll really need it. Somebody give him some orange juice. Cause he was like, you, I could just tell the, and I get him, it’s, it is an exhausting process, but I was like I think he was ready to wrap it up. But I did love seeing his response to, which we’ll, I know we’ll talk about Michael B. Jordan’s win, but he was more excited for everybody else. It felt like, than, than himself. And I’m not saying Sean didn’t deserve it, but the movie was a little controversial, especially within the black community there. Black women were not here for that film.

 

Louis Virtel I also feel like a lot of the Sinners Forever, I mean, people love that movie too, is also like, can we pick that and not this? Right. You know? Right.

 

Guy Branum Well, there’s also just a thing of, by and large, African-American performers do not get a second nomination. Right, yeah. Like a black woman didn’t have a second nomination, like, well, no, I guess, like Whoopi, but that was actress to supporting, but like, two… It took forever to get a second one, which was Viola. Yes, and like, when you look at it as, at the opportunity in that way, that like, you know, that Angela Bassett doesn’t get another chance until Wakanda Forever. Right. That this was the one chance. To say to Delroy Lindo, like, look at this career, it’s a little bit harder. And you can hope that the future changes, but all you have to look at is the past.

 

Louis Virtel Right. I do think both of our supporting winners speak to the fact that often we give the win to, not just like a memorably kind of broad performance, but a distinct iconic look. Yes. So both of like Amy Madigan, it’s like you’ll never forget the look of that character. And by the way, this is a criticism because that has nothing to do with acting. You know what I mean? Like maybe she sorted that out with whoever puts the costume together, but that’s not the same thing as acting. And Sean Penn too, looking like exactly the one old guy at CrossFit.

 

Nina Parker Ha ha ha.

 

Louis Virtel Who is playing soundtracks from old Sylvester Stallone movies you’ve totally forgotten about. You’re like, right, Cobra, right. Over the top. But I mean, honestly, I thought it’s a great performance. And actually, I would have voted for Stellan Skarsgård myself, but some might argue that’s even category fraud. Though Sean Penn, maybe that’s a little category fraud, too, you know? It is. Actually, before we get to the big categories, we gotta talk about the In Memoriam. I was proud of the Oscars. They basically reinvented the in memoriam in order to toast these people, specifically Rob Reiner, it could only be Billy Crystal. Yes. Yes. Then we had the Diane Keaton tribute, which didn’t have to be Rachel McAdams, glad it was. Yes. And then she also was like, by the way, I’m from Canada, just like Catherine O’Hara. We were like, good, fine. And then we got a tribute, of course, to Robert Redford from Barbra Streisand. Now… When people are a little salty that Barbra Streisand made the tribute all about her, guys, read a book. And by read a, book I mean, read her book, because that is what she does and we love it.

 

Nina Parker You know who you’re dealing with? I don’t know people know who they’re dealing with, like, you know, they knew when they asked.

 

Louis Virtel Right. You’re gonna get Barbara. She’s gonna look like a Donna Karen sponsored fortune teller. Yes. And that is the tribute you get.

 

Nina Parker Not a fortune teller, not a palm reader!

 

Guy Branum Also, the Academy has been saying for 30 years, we’re sorry we didn’t nominate you for best director. Yes. Over and over again, and I respect that. It allowed, that in memoriam allowed for more specific calculus of people’s Hollywood import than any before. When you went from like Rob Reiner tribute to like clips and photos to shared screen photos. Back to clips and photos, to Diane Ladd gets the last one in the first section and a light reference from Rachel McAdams. And the thing is, yes, it’s bad to say some of these people have different levels of importance, but it is like, Katherine O’Hara was a great film actor who also was never nominated for an Academy Award. And Robert Redford was a former best director. And Rob Reiner was a screenplay nominee and also died of violence. And being able to weigh all of these things and what they’re going to mean to the audience. There are ways that I can understand it feeling unfair. I enjoyed the complexity.

 

Louis Virtel No, you’re right. You could tell there was like complex and specific math going on at all times with it. And the only mistake they made was they should have had a moment for Robert Duvall. What was going on? And the issue there is like, you just mentioned that Rob Reiner’s demise was as horrific as it was. And Robert Duval was a 95 year old man who we have long respected as a legend or something. But it’s like, my God, you guys like six Oscar nominations that were great. And then another one for the judge. Like that we should have given him

 

Nina Parker I think it was the longest in memoriam they’ve had, correct? It was like, I think, it was incredibly long. I mean, obviously there were some people who were incredibly unhappy, people who were left out, but you know, I don’t know how- You can’t win. Yeah, I Don’t think there’s a way to win with this. In any way you do it, there’s going to be criticism. So I think whatever they’ve made the decision on the majority is just gonna have to rule with that.

 

Guy Branum Like, I think it took a long time. The collection of casts from Rob Reiner films was amazing.

 

Louis Virtel They did just get kind of half a second, but it was awesome. Like everybody from like Daphne Zuniga to Fred Savage to Meg Ryan, you know.

 

Nina Parker They were pulling up things. I’m like, I forgot about a few good men. Like, you know, there were things that, you know, that I think we were still able to be surprised about and it was sad. And I’m glad that it happened. And I do feel like, listen, they pay tribute to a lot of the legends that we wanted to see. I feel like the people that they covered, because we’re taking out who people felt were snubbed. The people who were covered, I felt like they did an incredible job of honoring them. I don’t think it could have been done better, to be honest with you. I thought it was pretty well done.

 

Louis Virtel But also it’s like, and not to put too fine a point on it, but it’s the in memoriam kind of is a living, breathing thing. Like you need to adjust it based on what has happened that year and they found the methodology and language to make it happen.

 

Guy Branum Well, I think I didn’t think about it until now with Rob Reiner is in addition to his own nominations, just he directed so many people to nominations and wins like he really was.

 

Louis Virtel Well, I think one win, yes, Kathy Bates, yes. But like, memorable performances in Stand By Me is the greatest coming-of-age movie ever in all of these. Anyway, back to awards. I do think the worst win of the night is production design for Frankenstein. As you know, I believe this movie was a Frankenstein escape room.

 

Nina Parker HAHAHAHA

 

Louis Virtel They just got all the props you need from a Frankenstein laboratory and put them together. And you got some good acting. You know, you got fucking Christoph Waltz doing his, I’ll say it again, Waluigi acting.

 

Nina Parker Yes.

 

Louis Virtel And you know, Jacob already, you know that really is a fabulous nomination. He Aileen Wernost too hard and we said stop. We already did that, yeah. But I thought all the other nominees were.

 

Guy Branum Guillermo del Toro is showing us how to mood on a budget. Yes. Like in our current economy, like I appreciate and respect that. I was, you know, disappointed that sinners didn’t get, like sinners built a world that we don’t get movies in. Right. And it was so realized that I was just like, I want to see like six different movies just in this world. And I was really sad that the world building didn’t get the wins, but I did like the two different ladies. Like, the costume design lady and production design lady from Guillermo’s film looked almost the same, but weren’t the same person. I really enjoyed it.

 

Louis Virtel So I was like, oh, she put on a disguise. That’s like witness protection or something.

 

Nina Parker I’m ready for, as we’re talking about the world of Sinners, I know Ryan said that he’s no longer, like this was a one and done. I still have not accepted that. The amount of money that I would pay to watch Native American Vampire Hunters during Jim Crow, the amount of, I would take out the trash. On that film to work on it. Like them building this world was something that I think people are not giving enough cadence to.

 

Guy Branum Even just when he went to his mom’s house to get the guitar, I’m like, what’s going on with them, you know?

 

Nina Parker Oh, shout out to guitars, by the way, Ryan Coogler’s cornrows were in the shape of guitars.

 

Louis Virtel Yes, I don’t think there was a

 

Nina Parker Articles about the the really like this is what the detail that Ryan Cougar has to have every step in breath he makes

 

Louis Virtel By the way, what did you think of the Sinner’s Live performance?

 

Nina Parker First of all, people should have seen it, but I don’t know if people saw it on the side of the stage when the white actors were trying to get on stage and they were trying to ask permission to come on. Did you see that?

 

Louis Virtel NO!

 

Nina Parker So, obviously, in the film, they’re trying to be let into the party. They did this on the end of the stage and they wouldn’t let them come on the stage. You know, it’s because they were vampires, and I really loved that. There were just so many details. The Misty Copeland of it all, dancing on Timothée Chalamet’s four-hair damn near at the edge of the stage, but I thought it was incredible. I couldn’t breathe during the film when that performance was going on in the dance hall. And again, I’ve said that I thought this woke up the audience and they, you know, it’s something that you see at the Grammys, you now that felt like a Grammy performance within the Oscars. Oscar musical performances for me are always very polite and just kind of, kind of like a recital. And this just felt like it was integrated in the audience. And I don’t know, the last time I saw like everyone give a performance of Standing Ovation like that at the Oscar. So it woke me up. I thought it was wonderful.

 

Louis Virtel The only question I had was, I almost wish the stage were bigger so that the camera had more places to go. Like it would kind of just like turn around and then you’re like, oh God, the Dolby stage is actually kinda small.

 

Guy Branum The thing is, is I am very proud of Los Angeles’ live event production capabilities. I love talking shit at the Tonys. I love saying New York is bad at this. And the direction did not kill it. And in that situation, it really was like, whoever is directing this is no Ryan Coogler, you know? And I really think it was such a profound cinematic moment in the film and trying to echo it that directly. Like, you didn’t kill it, you don’t have the rehearsals necessary. To be able to make that like flow. I mean, there were many other moments in the broadcast that made clear that this wasn’t the tightest of ships. And so like musically and like who they had booked to be there, like the performances that were happening were great. I just wish that the cameras and the director were able to give us that moment.

 

Nina Parker There’s a lot to follow in that type of performance, because it’s telling such a story. So if you miss, like, one person, it can kind of leave a little loop in the storytelling. So, but, you know, I think for me, I’m recalling the film’s performance. So they almost had a little, like bonus, because it was like, if you’ve seen the film, this is something where you’re like, oh, they missed this, but I know what they’re going for. Whereas if you’d never seen the films before, you would probably watch, if I was coming and watching that blind, I might have been a little confused.

 

Louis Virtel Yeah. Also, I wanna say, again, the number one thing that movie got right was that Irish dancers are the enemy. I don’t wanna see that, don’t do that at me.

 

Guy Branum Back to Frankenstein winning most of the technicals, it was just such a clear indication that this will not be a sweep, this will be a Cats game. Like there are some Oscars where it really is going in a lot of directions and this was somewhere between Cats game and a nice night for one battle after another. Like so frequently Best Picture is an award for most film. Like back in the day it really was an award for most filmed and like if you were going to be awarding most film this year it would have been Sinners. But that isn’t what happened. And I sort of like that things were going all over the place.

 

Nina Parker I mean, I didn’t expect centers to win everything. I didn’t want them to be snubbed completely. So I, would I have loved for them to have won more? Sure. But I was, I left satisfied if that makes, I was you know, my appetite was satiated. I wasn’t like, I wasn’t super full, but I was satiate. And I do feel like this was the first Oscars where I went in super nervous. Where I was like, and also nervous for what the internet reaction would have been had things gone one direction and not in another direction. So I think it almost felt like a sporting event in the sense of like, Oh, I don’t know. This feels like, you know, we’re in the fourth quarter. Like, I was, like, oh my gosh, like my heart was beating, which I love feeling like that because I hate going in feeling like, I know this is going to sweep. We’re just going. We’re watching. Yeah, right. I’m watching for the fashion because I know. This is going. Bye bye!

 

Louis Virtel But by the way, one win that we loved was Autumn Durold, archipelago winning for Cinematography, the first woman ever to win for cinematography for centers. And by the ways, what a win. I mean, imagine you can’t even think of that movie without thinking of her work, you know?

 

Nina Parker Yes, and it was so incredible and well-deserved and such a partnership with Ryan. Ryan does this thing where he really connects with people and really stays with them. I think that speaks to his personality, that he just is so genuine and he builds these real relationships with people, and he carries them. It just really speaks to the quality of the work that comes out of it. You can tell that the people are connected with him in every way.

 

Guy Branum I do want to say that Autumn, who won the cinematography award, also, she is Creole and Filipino and was only the third black person to be nominated for best cinematography and first winner. It was like such a historic moment and she met the moment so well. Like having every woman there stand up was like just so beautiful. And it felt like a tight speech, but also a speech that was really meeting the moment.

 

Louis Virtel Yes. No, also her energy was just right. Like I was zoned right into her. That wasn’t all that sinners won that night. We’ll get more into the rest of the awards when we get back on my favorite episode of the year of Keep It.

 

Louis Virtel [AD].

 

Louis Virtel And we’re back, and I’m cutting myself off because I want to talk about speeches getting cut off. When that mic went away on that one guy, I have never seen a chop cut like that in awards history. There was like, Jack the Ripper was running the show.

 

Nina Parker But also, what was the direction here, because who we cutting off and who we not cutting off? Yes. It just seemed like, oh, you just, okay, we’re just going to pull, oh right now? We doing this now? You know, it felt like whoever was in charge shifted and changed during some point in the awards. And there was somebody that was like, we can get this shit together. Honestly the music

 

Guy Branum like it wasn’t coming from the orchestra and I was like, is this some sort of fight between the booth and the conductor? Right, yes. But no, I mean, like what happens is famous people are able to generally push through the music and like keep their speech going. And it really is so frequently people in the trades and people who you haven’t heard of before who end up getting shut up, you know? And it being a really exciting and cool night for like, uh, K-pop and Koreans in American filmmaking and having somebody just be shut down like that feels like disrespect.

 

Nina Parker It’s not because it feels like it’s because it is, you know, I mean it is disrespectful and it’s just like, you now, y’all got the coin to push something else a little quicker and shorten something else. I don’t care if they took away one of Conan’s little monologs. Yeah, right. Okay, well first…

 

Guy Branum First of all, like, television is dead and live television events are the things that we’re all pushing for because people actually watch them, let it go as long as it needs to. And the show went short. Like they had clipped up the show, they had done a lot of good things to not have a dance tribute to sound effects editing and, you know, keep the show tight. And they cut these people off and then they had to run, like dumb, coning videos. Like a lot of Conan’s. Funny stuff was funny, but the thing at the end where he did the little one battle after another thing was dumb and like you could have just let people receive their award.

 

Nina Parker Well, that definitely just felt like you don’t, you know, we don’t know you. So just go ahead and wrap this up because we don’t know you like it. Listen, if you ever want to know what Hollywood really looks like, it’s that. Yeah, that is how it is.

 

Louis Virtel But I have to say, you know, when Ryan Coogler gave his screenplay speech, there was some urgency about him. He’s like, let me get everything right. Let me get it quick. I think everybody could have taken that note too. Like when like three people speak on like a short film. Are we sure? I mean, I’m not saying I would have cut them off necessarily, but just knowing like even the major players are like, Let me be concise about this because it letters.

 

Nina Parker But also they usually with, I usually can hear people a little through their music. Yeah, I don’t know what speakers they had this time. No, and Anvil Drops. Yeah, baby, listen, I was waiting for the hook to just grab people and sweep them off.

 

Guy Branum It’s the culmination of a career and like for documentarians and stuff like that you’ve been working your entire life You’re getting this moment I don’t so I really think like when Nate Barghazi hosted the Emmys and they were doing the whole Like children get less money if you go to run too long I think it really did shift the way people thought about complaining about people going too long. It is a little bit well that was just

 

Louis Virtel Well that was just so tacky and like they forgot to even land the joke. I mean it was just rude, you know

 

Nina Parker Yeah. Yeah. I just, listen, we know it’s going to be there’s, they’re going to cut some people off. It just happens, but it just felt like the choices felt incredibly intentional. And, you know, ultimately it’s just if they, they want to stay away from the tone deafness, but they keep hitting it right on the mark.

 

Louis Virtel Another historic moment, of course, when the win for K-pop Demon Hunters, that was the first Korean person to win in that category. The only person ever nominated was Karen Oh from the Yeah, Yeah, Yes, was nominated for that song from her. Like, remember that song? That movie had songs, by the way.

 

Guy Branum My friend Rohita had the very funny joke that before this the K-Poppiest song that had won a Best Original Song was I’ve Had the Time of My Life from Tridy Dance.

 

Louis Virtel Yes, wow, we give that an Oscar, didn’t we? I do love that song. Also, by the way, a year where it could have only been golden, I guess. It was like the only song this year. And also such a throwback to the eighties and that it was also a number one hit. That used to happen way more at the Oscars, now less so. Also, of course we had the best casting Oscar, went to one battle after another.

 

Guy Branum Mmm, are we sure?

 

Louis Virtel No, I’m not. They’re all really famous, I don’t know.

 

Guy Branum I did love that presentation though. I mean, having all five of them talk about what it meant and having Chase Infinity talk about like the process of bringing her into that did make you understand why one battle after another won, you know? And I guess that is kind of what the award is about.

 

Louis Virtel Like, oh, you found Chase Infinity. All right, can’t argue with that, you know? But elsewhere, it’s like the secret agent, all those like amazing little characters in that movie that really, I thought secret agent movie that came up empty-handed had more of a sense of time and place than any other movie this year. And I thought the casting was a huge part of that. I will say,

 

Nina Parker I will say for the casting part, I was like, where do I know Chase Infinity from? I saw her on Presumed Innocent. I forgot that I was watching her. She’s a pretty major character in the show, which was an incredible show by the way. So, you know, then her coming out and kind of everyone saying introducing and she was introduced to us in 2024, but this role obviously was really built for her and really obviously what has brought her into an almost A-list star now.

 

Louis Virtel Yeah, right. Also, that woman who won, her name is Cassandra Koulakundis. First of all, congrats to Gwyneth on saying that, like, just letting it roll off the tongue, real movie star shit. And then second of all that is a casting agent. She’s like, here’s who doesn’t like me in every department.

 

Guy Branum What I loved was we have a new category of people who are medium good at talking. Generally, you have categories with actors and then like director and screenwriter, they’re medium. And then you have people from the trades are like, what am I doing? And like, she felt so medium at talking

 

Louis Virtel Yeah, right. And you can tell she leads a meeting.

 

Nina Parker Yes, yes. That’s what it is. But can I say something though? I really do think the award should have gone to centers for that.

 

Louis Virtel I mean, also another fabulously cast movie.

 

Nina Parker Miles.

 

Louis Virtel He was amazing that he only kind of came up in the sags as a nominee. Yeah, I don’t be fucked that up.

 

Nina Parker His voice, you know, in the movie, obviously, his voice is so incredible that it wakes the undead. It’s that good. You know, I mean, I feel like I get chills every time I hear him. And to me that casting alone was just such an incredible display of talent that I feel Miles probably would have been ignored in a lot of other arenas. And so the fact that he was seen by them and seen for his talent, which I do feel like there are so many incredible Black actors that are ignored for their talent, and to be able to get him on this platform, I do feel like he should have gotten a lot more shine during this award season. So, you know, I still feel like, he was overlooked in a lot of ways.

 

Guy Branum It will be interesting to see how this category ages, because I think that there is a journey where this becomes about internal politics of the casting community and the same people getting the award every five or six years. But I also think that there’s a way that it turns into something like, the SAG Best Ensemble Award has so frequently gone in directions that we’re sort of saying like, hey, you guys managed to fill up a film with a bunch of great deaf actors, good for you. And like, I would like to see a casting award that really does recognize. The hard work because so frequently these casting directors are going to the same well over and over again. And when you present them with a challenge that is outside of the box, sometimes people don’t know what to do. And then you have amazing casting directors who find wonderful, talented people who haven’t been found before.

 

Nina Parker And there’s been a lot of conversation about casting and who’s gonna be the lead for this. I think they were also talking about, not obviously in the Oscars, but love story and finding their leads and having to not being able to find who’s going to play JFK. And they had to go back through the tapes. They were months. They were about to… They already had the Carolyn Bassett for months and they had really like go over and re-look because they were still like using… A tall, hot, straight white guy. They were still… Let me finish this though. They were still using the same like tapes. For months and months and it wasn’t until someone said, well, why don’t we go back and look this and review and start using that same formula. And also Twinkie Bird, who is a black casting agent who has been casting for 30 years, who has be talking on threads a lot about black casting agents being ignored. And she actually was famously brought Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan together. She bought Michael B Jordan and Ryan Coogle together for Fruitvale Station and started this like relationship that they have built. And so doesn’t get a lot of credit for that. And so she was talking on threads, actually during the Oscar season about how like, this is a miss and that more people need to bring black casting agents into their movies, not just for black actors, but they, you know, unfortunately it seems like if you’re a black casting agent, you’re only being used for black films, but how incredible it would be if people utilize these resources because just like an actor, a host, when you’re black, you have to know everything. You have to the white actors, the black actors. And everybody in between. But a lot of times with these white casting agents, they’re only familiar with white actors and they only tap into black casting agents when they’re looking for a black actor. But you should be well-versed in everyone. And that is something that is obviously slipped through a lot is like, well, I’m gonna go to this specific demographic when I need this instead of educating yourself and knowing about it yourself if it’s your job.

 

Louis Virtel Yeah.

 

Nina Parker Well, it’s a little bit of a baffling category.

 

Louis Virtel You know, it’s like, I’m not saying, I almost want to say, show me your work. You know what I mean? It gets like, was it three emails that put it together or did you actually go through a huge process to, I mean, again, like the secret agent, movies like Sinners, it’s, like, clearly lots of different versions of casting have to go into play to make this movie happen. Whereas, like we’ve also just heard that Regina Hall is literally Paul Thomas Anderson’s neighbor. Yeah. So I’m just like.

 

Nina Parker Who we didn’t see enough of this award season.

 

Louis Virtel Also, what’s been up with her? Like she sort of has been in the backdrop, not saying.

 

Nina Parker Yeah, you know, I don’t know people people have been saying like what’s going on and I didn’t feel like when the movie was out We saw her. Yeah, I felt like for award season. She was just a part of this film, but we didn’t really hear a lot from her

 

Guy Branum Like on stage for Best Picture, she was like in the back, her face half obscured, and I was like, and when he was going through the cast, it was like Sarah Juno Hall. Yeah, that’s right, yeah.

 

Nina Parker Yeah! I was like, what is going on with this? It felt like she was kind of being ignored and it was very strange.

 

Louis Virtel Yeah, it is strange and I also of course have theories about that part in general Like it must have been bigger and then like lots let ended up on the cutting room floor, right? Yeah, I just feels that way But also let’s talk about his three wins for the night Paul Thomas Anderson Obviously ended up eventually winning best picture for one battle after another best director and best Adapted screenplay this out of 14 nominations. He finally has Oscars We got to see Maya Rudolph on the audience. And of course part of the bridesmaids tribute. That was all great Here’s what I have to say about him I unfortunately am a sucker for people who clearly care about the Oscars too much because he went up there and referenced the entire Best Picture lineup nominee from 1975. Girl, we’re in this for the long haul together. Yes, he brought up that year, it was like Jaws, Nashville, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Dog Day Afternoon. And he referenced that like there’s no way to declare a winner in a way like that. That said, it also felt a little shady when he said that it’s like, well, that’s not this year. Are you saying there is a winner this year? But the thing about Paul Thomas Anderson is I feel like any one of his movies, you could make a movie about any character in it. He so cares about the development of each character and I have to celebrate that. In that way, he’s a lot like Robert Altman.

 

Guy Branum There is a luscious diversity to the films that he has made. Like a couple of like months ago, my mom called me up and she had like watched Licorice Pizza on television and really enjoyed it. It was basically like, what is that about? And when I explained to her that the man who directed it had also directed Phantom Thread, like her mind was blown a little bit because these were two such different films that she really loved and enjoyed. And I think it is just the little misfortune. To me, when I went into one battle after another, I wanted something that was just… Juicier and more delicious and like some people really enjoyed it and some people really thought it was like boldly political and

 

Louis Virtel I didn’t feel it was boldly political, I’m surprised people said that. I’m surprised people say that.

 

Guy Branum Like I, in the bathroom afterwards, was like, ah, it is directly dealing with Trump. Oh, he has black children. Yes, and just sort of like wrapping my head around that stuff made me think about it as what it meant. But like in the moment, I was just like, and they’re fleeing more. Yeah, yes. Like I think it was a set of career Oscars. People get career Oscurs so frequently. The departed, please. And by the way, it’s like the departed. This is a career that deserves Oscars, you know?

 

Louis Virtel Luckily, Ryan Coogler now an Oscar winner for Best Original Screenplay for Sinners. We’re now on a 15-year streak where the person who has written the Best Original Screenplay Oscar also directed the movie. How weird is that?

 

Guy Branum It’s turned into something of an award for like most interesting and innovative film Like even before it was a run of directors. It was people like Diablo Cody or you know

 

Louis Virtel Justin, that’s black, yeah. Yes.

 

Guy Branum Yes, like it really is like films that are like pushing the way that we see film so frequently. And for me, it was just realizing that this was not going to be 16 straight losses for centers. And there was the moment where I was like, when you have a multiple nominee like that, I’m like, are they blowing their load on this speech? And Ryan Coogler was very much like, I got to say everything I got to say in case I don’t get back up here. And it would have been interesting to see what if he would have gone more personal or what we would have gotten because. I thought it could be a split-picture director up until the very end and that it wasn’t.

 

Nina Parker No, yeah, I mean, I thought this was well-deserved, I think, in a time where we’ve kind of seen… I almost feel like, what original thing could we see now that we haven’t already seen, right? Like, it does feel like we are in this, like, time of remakes, and even if it’s… This is kind of like this other thing. It was something that when it was announced, I remember when it wasn’t announced that they were doing like a vampire movie, I thought superhero. I thought Marvel. Obviously, there’s that connection with Marvel with the two of them. But I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. As someone who loves vampire lore, I was a little skeptical to be honest with you. I was just so blown away by the themes of centers that I didn’t think it could be anything else other than like inside politics. If this didn’t win. I think for original screenplay, it was well-deserved. I felt like that was the clear winner for me.

 

Louis Virtel And also it had that, what I call the Grammy standard, which is it was very the old and the new, such a tribute to the classic genres of movies while also being like this completely new other thing with like actors you don’t normally see. People are on screen for like more than just one scene who would normally get two lines in another movie.

 

Guy Branum The walk across the street from the black grocery store to the white grocery store that is owned by the two Asian people in the community was just like, that’s a little bit of America that we never look at. That is being brought in a story that felt visceral and alive and not like school. And like, it was just, it original. Like, and it was the thing that was gonna win. It was still in question until that very last moment.

 

Nina Parker And there’s other, you know, usually when you have something talking about this era, it’s black and white, you and to have other cultures infused in this that were important because if you think about, I mean, if you’re talking about like the Asian presence with black people from all, from way back in the day. This is an incredibly big part of time from then into now. You know, we talk about like stores that are in black communities right now. A lot of them are owned by Asian people, right? They were the only people to still serve a lot of these communities and work together. And you don’t really see that kinship. In film anywhere, you know, that’s really, it’s something I know about, it is something I talk about and sometimes it’s a good thing and then sometimes it is a bad thing if we’re thinking about like the riots, right, from 92, but there’s such an interesting weave there that I’ve never seen anybody else, especially for an Oscar nominated film, really touch on that is a heart of a community and a presence in our hair stores. You know, things, most of the beauty supplies in black neighborhoods are owned by Asian people, right? So there’s just so many nuances that I don’t think anyone else could have touched on, but Ryan, that I think show in this film, even when he’s teaching the girl in front of the thing how to hustle and how to negotiate, like it’s just, and that’s how things are learned in communities, and I just, that’s why I say there’s nothing else that could have been, that would have won for me.

 

Louis Virtel But also we, and on that note, Michael B. Jordan gave the speech of the night. I thought that was, first of all, eventually it became clear he was going to win. Like it was not a surprise once it was read, but it’s still hearing it read and hearing it resonate with him. I didn’t expect the revelation I was gonna see because when he went up on stage and then not only toasted everybody in the film, but then said like, I’m so taking in the energy of the people in the room. Like that was so, like speaking of visceral, it was like I was watching someone go through something that I don’t think I had seen the entire night. I was really excited to see that. And then he also referenced all the black winners of the Oscar before. And again, it’s like, if you’re a fan of the Oscars, I mean, like, how can you not root for somebody who’s like done the homework too?

 

Guy Branum Name-checking Halle, the first time I watched it, I didn’t hear that he also included the only black woman to ever win best actress. And it really was like, it’s so hard that at this point in time, people have to acknowledge that what is happening is shifting a story. But like, he really did that. And there’s also a way that the role that he won for didn’t necessarily have the shape. That those previous black wins had, that it really was not a black person in service of a white story or a story about the relationship between whiteness and blackness, but like…

 

Louis Virtel Yeah, it wasn’t about his, like, underlying dignity, ultimately. Right, right. Much love to Sydney.

 

Guy Branum Yes, but like it was a beautiful moment.

 

Nina Parker No, I mean, I cried and I was like, is this a vodka? No, it’s not. I was at the Elton John Oscar party and I watched it from there and the room erupted. And to be honest with you, I didn’t know who was rooting for Michael. I was just like, maybe it’s just us, maybe it was Blackpaw rooting for him. I don’t know how everyone else, because for me it had such a, the time period of that had such an impactful. Um, meaning for me, but I don’t know if everybody else would feel, feel it in their bones the way I felt it, but that room felt it because everyone screamed for him and was, and just was loving on him in the room that you could tell everyone in the Oscars was just so happy for him. Delroy Lindo, they showed him, he was clearly emotional for Michael’s win, but he also is such a student and hearing about, you know, how he studied twins and how he wore different shoes. For the roles that he, you know, for to play twins and how he changed different cadences for that. He is a student of the work. He’s been doing this since he was, I think, like 10 years old. He has been in, you was in All My Children. Like he, this is a soap star, you what I mean? Like he has really worked at his career. And how many people do you know that are still doing soaps, which no shade to them, but that’s the world that they stayed in because they got pigeonholed. Michael B. Jordan refuses to be pigeonholed. He can do an Oscar-winning performance. He can also do Creed. Like, this is something where he can pull from different… I don’t think people give him a lot of credit for the range that he got in till centers.

 

Louis Virtel Yeah, he wanted he has a soap actor. He wanted Julianne Moore. Okay, he went to get out of that

 

Guy Branum There’s a good clip of him explaining what he learned from Susan Lucci, but do you guys think that Timothee Chalamet fumbled that inertia or do you think Marty Supreme fumbled that inertia? Because at the beginning of this award season, it really felt like Timmy was the front runner. Even longer than that. Yes. And he is somebody who, you know, at 32, has so many nominations, or however old happen. Um, but I kind of feel like it was more people actually seeing Marty Supreme and being like,

 

Louis Virtel Well, I will say personally, and I’ve said this several times, it’s not my favorite role he’s played. I just think it’s a familiar, like, Ferris Bueller, Nair Duhuel type of role where it’s like, he’s full of ambition, and he shouldn’t, but like, oh, look at this, scamp, you know, run amok. And not that he didn’t play it brilliantly, and not that actually, I mean, it was a great performance. I personally think he’s actually a way more interesting actor. In other movies. Yeah, so I’m not disheartened by him losing the Oscar and of course I mean if anybody’s gonna get 50 more chances and again, right the way that’s not the calculus at work here It should be about what the best performance is but like honestly, it’s a pretty compelling five-way battle And I said this about the supporting categories too, but it’s like, you know, if Wagner Mora had won it I wouldn’t have been surprised either, you

 

Nina Parker Yeah, and you know, I saw a really good take where someone was like, you know it does, it should be about the actual work, not in, you, because there’s this conversation about people getting the awards because of their full body of work and like, well, it’s just their time to get it. Yeah. But it’s may not be for that particular project. And we’ve seen that happen with a few, you now actors, like, I don’t think Denzel should have got it for, you when he got it, but it should have been for something else. It should have been for Malcolm X. You know what I mean? But they were like, okay, now is the time to do it. And instead of being it in the moment, and a lot of times I can take away from the person who actually should have won. So, you know, I think they got it right. Right. With that for, for, and by the way,

 

Louis Virtel But, and by the way, Denzel is his own universe when it comes to this shit because by the way, this man has still never been nominated for a single BAFTA Award. Really? Don’t pretend there’s an appropriate time for this man to win an award.

 

Guy Branum Did you watch the thing where people were retconning various scenarios so that he could win for Malcolm X? Oh, yes, I did see that. Also, I live in that brains.

 

Louis Virtel So I don’t have to visit that brain space.

 

Nina Parker It all comes down to 75. I want to go back to Michael B. Jordan’s win, by the way, that he went to.

 

Louis Virtel By the way, he looked smashing.

 

Nina Parker He looked incredible.

 

Louis Virtel The narrow jacket, yeah.

 

Nina Parker Before him, though, did you, his mother? The most beautiful woman in the world. Like his mama?

 

Louis Virtel Are we, you know, cousins?

 

Nina Parker Might be, might be, you know, I saw a take where someone was like, why wouldn’t, you know, he needs to, too bad he doesn’t have anyone to celebrate this. I’m like, girl, he is celebrating with the world. Yeah. He is celebrating with the bro. I mean, there’s no other joy than bringing your mom. And she was so, so incredibly happy. And he talked about her, you know, the way he talks about his mama makes me love him even more. But then he went to In-N-Out, which I mean are you after my own heart?

 

Louis Virtel I was wondering which internet it was. The sunset. Just right there on like orange. He went to the one on sunset, yes. He went the one one sunset. Cause that drive-thru is a mess. Yeah.

 

Nina Parker I mean, every in and out drive is a mess. I went by the way yesterday in honor of him.

 

Louis Virtel Oh yeah

 

Nina Parker That’s my way of honoring Michael B. Jordan, but you know, it is now tradition that everyone goes to this In-N-Out after winning.

 

Louis Virtel Oh my god, I mean, because I drive past that every day on the way to Kimmel and I’m like, Oh my God, you guys are in line for lunch. I’m just worried about his driver having to circle the block.

 

Guy Branum Like, there’s no way he’s parkin’.

 

Louis Virtel No, right. Absolutely not. No. Oh my God. And you know, wait. Sunday night, maybe you can park right on Sunset. Anyway, I’m thinking about it. The parking in LA and where you can parking and why is very fascinating. Jessie Buckley, of course, won. Man, she stomped to victory this year and I thought, like, Rose Byrne, of course, we’ve said this a million times, ran that movie with an iron fist. I thought she was just as much a director as the director was. Like, every stressful thing that happened, and boy, is that movie stressful. Like, five minutes in, you’re like, are we sure? Can I sit through this? It’s like the king of comedy. I can’t do this. It’s like, she is amazing.

 

Guy Branum She’s my friend, she’s my co-worker. I wanted the best for her. And it was just, it was Jessie Buckley’s award. She’s put together a nice little resume that lets you know she is a respected actress. I loved Hamnet so much. I thought it really was beautiful. Oh yes, we previously discussed Hamnet. It was the award that it was going to win. But you really, the question for me is what’s next step for Rose Byrne? Because she’s had such a complex and diverse career, so represented by the most important thing that we have not talked about from this Academy Awards. Is having the five actresses from Bridesmaids come up and get to do two separate bits. And like, give me any two of them and let them host this awards next year. But just the question of like, what is Rose gonna do with this Golden Globe and being in clear second place for this Best Actress run, is she gonna do more things that cater in that direction? Because like, if I had Legs I’d Kick You is not obviously an Oscar’s-y movie. No! Oh no, I’m sup-

 

Louis Virtel No, oh no, I’m surprised it survived this whole gambit, yeah. No, but I hope the answer is she continues to do everything and then adds more prestige drama into the mix because she’s amazing at it.

 

Guy Branum But I like I I have to hope that something like this means maybe she gets a Emmy nomination and she gets to lose to Gene Smart one year sure but like And she does have some Emmy nominations for damages and stuff I know but I want her to have Emmy nominations for the show that I’m on oh I see ah yes

 

Louis Virtel Oh, I see. Ah, yes, ah, ah. You’re like Barbara. You’re, like, back to me. By the way, did you hear Jane Fonda complaining that she wasn’t allowed to do the tribute to Robert Redford? Now, I don’t know if you know this about Jane Fondas. She is that bitch. And she said that Barbara’s only done one movie with her. I’ve done four. And then I saw somebody else complain, well, the way we were is better than all those movies put together. Bitch, no, it’s not. Wait a minute now. Don’t barefoot in the park. You haven’t seen Our Souls at Night from the 2010s. It was great. Jane is, I think, also a little salty, as you may have discovered on the episode of Love It or Leave It I did with her, We talked about how Barbra Streisand once sort of shaded her because three of Jane Fonda’s key roles that she won Oscar nominations for. Oh, wow. They shoot horses, don’t they? Clute and Julia were all initially turned down by Barbara Streisand who said this herself and said that Jane, maybe jokingly said that Jane owes her career to her. And Jane didn’t love that. And I think harbor’s a bit of a grudge. And look, I’m team Barbra and team Jane which seems impossible at this moment in time but they’re both right. Anyway, Jane should have been a part of that tribute. And now best picture. One battle after another, one, we were fooling ourselves all season. It felt like it was always going to be this in terms of just all the critical, not that Sanders wasn’t critically hailed.

 

Nina Parker It’s not what I wanted.

 

Louis Virtel Yeah, but it just felt like that was the like everyone agreed like this. It was a such a crowning moment for PTA That’s what put it over sitters. I think

 

Guy Branum Yes, and also it was capital I important. And like the Oscars love something that is capital I importance. And Sinners was too entertaining to be capital I import. Which is interesting.

 

Louis Virtel Which is interesting because I found that one battle after another was mostly entertaining as opposed to like input.

 

Guy Branum I disagree with that completely. I don’t mean that it is not important. What I am saying is that with the Oscars ossified idea of what political is and what having meaning is, something that is an entertaining film with vampires can’t fit into their conception of that.

 

Nina Parker Yeah, but it’s not really an entertaining film with vampires. I mean, vampires is the theme for white supremacy. So, you know, I didn’t look at it like that at all. That theme was never able to me. And I think like when people say, oh, it was a vampire film. I’m like, this is not about vampires at all, I mean. This is about sucking the life out of a culture for sure. But I have never looked at centers like, oh this is like a cool, like it’s, not blade. You know what I mean? Like this is, not this is. Not that this is All of those themes for Sinners, for me, was incredibly political. It had everything to do with the air, what we’re continuously going through right now. So for me I had a completely different optics for what Sinners stood for and was excited that Ryan did it in this way. I mean, really, this was a political film under the guise of vampires. The way he got it made was, this is how you pitch this to white people. This is how they’re going to like it and we can get it in the film. But this is not what this is about. But the academy.

 

Guy Branum Doesn’t look through guises. The Academy looks to films that congratulate themselves. Right, well I don’t think he-

 

Nina Parker Right, well I don’t think he made this to get nominated by the way, right?

 

Louis Virtel No, no, no. I don’t think at the time, even when everybody loved it, we were worried like it couldn’t possibly survive, you know, through award season, the way like everything everywhere all at once did.

 

Nina Parker We even see like Slate did an article yesterday that basically called centers like the biggest loser of the Oscars because it was the most nominated, but got the most losses. And it’s like, it’s always interesting to me when I see these headlines and how people surmise what this is, like even when centers was breaking the box office variety that the article that was like, they’ve got a lot to live up to, you know, and black people will never forgive variety, by the way.

 

Louis Virtel Well, by the way, what is going on with Variety? They’ll just be saying shit. They said that Kate Hudson was the runner up to win the best actress Oscar. I said, in what universe? I don’t know who’s the-

 

Nina Parker I don’t know who’s the copy-editors, I don’t know if they all break, I don’t know what’s going on. But you know, it’s just, it’s interesting, the views of like, you know how it’s supposed to win. I did feel like Sinners gained a lot of momentum because I think people were like in the room screaming like, hey, this is completely different than what you think. And also like, we’re used to these types of films being ignored. So I was really excited to see how it gained traction. And unfortunately, some of the controversies helped it gain traction, which is. You know, offset of being offended, but you know I’m glad that it landed where it did and I’m happy that it was seen in the vein that it’s seen.

 

Louis Virtel We also had forgotten, like, initially, Wumi Misaki, like, people like that in the movie, like Delroy Lindo, these people were people that were not considered in contention, and we, like counted them out early.

 

Nina Parker Yeah, well they did. Yeah.

 

Louis Virtel And then finally, when the awards were coming around, it’s like, oh no, right, everyone did the math and on all the elements in the film. And now it makes sense that it has 16 nominations.

 

Nina Parker Right.

 

Guy Branum Variety was saying that Kate Hudson was the runner up because Kate Hudson was playing the game harder than anyone else. She was using the old magic. She’s Goldie Hawn’s daughter and she understands that’s what you have to do to get yourself into the game. And the thing is, is like Rose wasn’t doing that. To some extent, like Jessie Buckley, like, you know, the question of like how much people are going to play hardball, you know and use all their connections possible to get into the conversation. Is real. I mean, I do like that people do that, but also that’s not a good performance.

 

Louis Virtel Yeah, no, and her Oscars clip was elbow. She’s like, oh if I lose another leg or whatever she says So funny, but best picture was ultimately down to two movies, you know one about another and sinners guys. I’m so sorry It should be five nominees. I bring this up every year. It’s just not exciting to see all these in one category No one thinks f1 is going to win. Bugonia is not going to wind train dreams is not going to win.

 

Guy Branum I PUT ALL OF MY MONEY ON TRAIN DREAMS.

 

Louis Virtel By the way, if you have train dreams, I don’t want to hear them. Don’t waste my time. And of course, Paul Thomas Anderson went for best director. Wait, one more thing. Best director nominee, Chloe Zhao, wearing that. I showed up to your dad’s funeral and all of the inheritance actually goes to me. Outfit. Loved it. You l-

 

Nina Parker You loved it!

 

Louis Virtel She’s coming off a tough weekend because she was involved in that Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot that was just canceled

 

Nina Parker Yes.

 

Louis Virtel So I was sort of psyched. I hoped it was a response to that, but she was dressed, I mean, the widow gear was pretty rad.

 

Nina Parker I mean, this is something you would have seen on Buffy.

 

Louis Virtel Yeah, you know

 

Nina Parker There’s an outfit we would have seen on that. I was here for it. You know, I’m always here for the dramatic.

 

Louis Virtel And also she has now directed two best actress winning performances. And also neither of those are even her best film, The Rider, which you should all watch.

 

Guy Branum Like, it’s interesting to be in her position. Like, we have not had a woman who has won best director, who was at the beginning of her career and was gonna keep throwing shit down for us like that. And it’s interest that she’s gonna keep showing up having already been, like, rewarded, and, you know, she’s gotta have these off years and just be there sitting with Steven Spielberg. Okay, I think.

 

Louis Virtel We talked about the whole Oscars. I can’t believe it, but we did it. When we’re back, it’s our favorite part of the episode. It’s Keep It.

 

Louis Virtel [AD]

 

Louis Virtel And we’re back with some snark, since it’s the final segment of the episode, it’s Keep It. Guy, anything to say?

 

Guy Branum Very respectful red carpets interviewing. You can keep it.

 

Nina Parker Ooop.

 

Guy Branum Like, it has been 20 years since we had Joan on the red carpet, and I feel like now it is boring and it is sycophantic. Like it is just telling people how great they were, complimenting their outfits, and I need just a little bit of a different tone and a little energy, a little of snark. Mary Beth Morrone at the Golden Globes. Was being cerebral and weird and a little bit spiky while also looking amazing. And I would like to see more of that. I would to see a little more commentary and a bit more calling out of fashion swings that miss. Joan was our representative on the red carpet. She was somebody who was talking back at these millionaires giving each other awards. And I’d like to to see a little but more of of that and. The blandly complimenting people. You guys can keep it.

 

Louis Virtel You know what’s interesting is that she really assigned herself the role of like fashion knower like just

 

Guy Branum Like, just out of nowhere, and we were like, correct. You know? Joan’s core energy was being mad at the women she thought were prettier and happier than she was. And I don’t think that that was productive for society or for Joan, but it like led her to an area of expertise that was amazing.

 

Nina Parker They’ll say the red carpet is on life support and I’ve talked about this a lot As someone who is incredibly opinionated and wants to listen. I think there’s there’s some Something that’s to be said for being able to criticize an outfit and not people feeling like you’re taking a jab at the person. And we’ve gotten to this place where if I say, I don’t like your shirt, people think that I’m saying, I don’t like you. And I’m also allowed to not like your hair or your outfit and still think you’re an incredible artist. And now we’ve got into a place where a lot of these networks give you notes as a host where they say, be nice. Be, you know, keep it, keep at G, not even PG, keep a G, don’t, because they don’t want to upset the actor. They don’t wanna upset the publicist, they don’t want to upset the network. And now it’s boring because nobody has an opinion anymore or it’s getting cut out or you’re being told not to do it. And when we talked about Conan earlier where I was like, I could tell he got a lot of notes to kind of keep it safe. These hosts are being told, like, do not bring this up. Don’t say this, ask them what they’re wearing and be complimentary, love everything. And I have to say, it’s not fun to always watch a love fest, even if you just want a little nuance.

 

Louis Virtel Yeah. Talk.

 

Guy Branum This is should not run.

 

Louis Virtel Or red carpet. No, also just in general, it’s like, we’re talking about art to a certain extent. It’s like the presentation we all go through, it’s real professionals are putting this together and it deserves actual respect, which is to say real critique.

 

Nina Parker And that’s why people watch, right? You can watch this live show anywhere, right, there’s now several places that show it. I could watch this on mute if I just wanted to see pretty colors. And watch people in pretty dresses. If I’m watching your particular programming, I want to hear what you have to say. And it’s why I’m an advocate of having a comedian who may not know anything about fashion come on, because you have remember, like, this audience, a lot of the audience that’s watching that tunes in for the Oscars isn’t well-versed in the history of the Oscars. These are people who are watching from Sacramento, who you may have only seen one of these films, but this is their favorite person that they like. They need to feel that I can relate to this. They are going to understand a lot of the fashion jargon that goes into it, but they do like the behind the scenes details. You can still talk about craftsmanship and also say, hey, I didn’t really love this outfit. But also, I will say this, and I know people have been dragging a lot of posts about their comments, and we know Juliana got into it years ago with Zendaya. That happened this year with Chase Infinity where a correspondent said that Chase’s hair was undone. And it’s like, if you are going to be speaking on someone who you are not familiar with their culture and how it works, you just don’t say anything at all.

 

Louis Virtel Also, yes, I mean, also, I just, was this somebody who worked for E? Yes. Oh my gosh. And I know this person. I’m sorry, how unusual.

 

Nina Parker I know this person, and this is no shade, but I do think there are things that can be out of our depth. And even if you mean it one way, you have to just keep in mind that the people who are part of these groups are watching, and it can be something that’s offensive even if you don’t mean it to be. And I know hosting live is incredibly hard. And I will say this, like, there is a lot of… People are hard on the host and it’s and it is a hard thing to do to do this live That being said and I understand why some people want to keep it safe But it’s like just make sure that you know going in like you’re just keeping it on track with With these groups when you’re saying what you say

 

Louis Virtel We do a bit at Kimmel where after the awards show, it was repitched this year, we didn’t do it, where we do a montage of everyone saying it’s giving something. And it’s like, often I think people reduce to nice cliches on a red carpet. And it just, if you do like even 10 minutes more of homework, like think of ways not to be cliched when you’re like praising somebody. Because I’m sorry, it’s that’s when people like not, I don’t wanna say flip the channel, but like put you on mute. You know, it was like, I felt like I was watching the pre-show for a lot of this stuff on mute cause I didn’t wanna hear the commentary.

 

Guy Branum Having an interesting question, having something to say that isn’t just, you were so amazing. And if I had legs, I’d do that.

 

Louis Virtel And also, what does so amazing mean? Like, it’s just like, none of these things have meaning. It doesn’t sound like you saw it.

 

Nina Parker And that’s where I kind of have to say with the host because it’s like there are so many things you want to bring up and they’re just like, no. But it’s also because there are a lot of these places are in pockets of these PR agencies, which I don’t even know why anymore. I don’t really know why, first of all, the shows are going away. We saw Access Hollywood is canceled, E! News is canceled. I’m not quite sure how long extra is going to be around like these Traditional talk shows the only I think main talk show left is the view the talk is gone The real is gone like the shows that we used to crave these commentaries for the day after Oscars They don’t exist anymore. So I don’t know who y’all are trying to play Kate. You don’t have a show to put them on

 

Guy Branum And also, so much clip and commentary that came out of these shows are not going to be, we don’t have the source for them anymore. And like truly, publicists in trying to control these things too much are killing off these like vehicles for them to get their clients out there. And it’s like, you know, the reason we watch Chicken Shop Date is because it has a different shape and you know that something unexpected could happen. And they’re gonna have to engage with more stuff like that or else, like, they’re going to collapse in our industry. I didn’t particularly.

 

Louis Virtel I didn’t particularly like seeing her on the red carpet though. I mean like I think she’s good

 

Guy Branum It was interesting watching them try to pull her into like they had her do like pre stuff with people Yeah, and it’s interesting because it does water it down and make it bland

 

Nina Parker Well, also, you know, just you’re not a live TV host. Being a host, there are hosts for certain types of things. There’s very few hosts that can do everything. You know what I mean? There are some hosts you’re going to throw into a certain atmosphere and they’re not going to thrive. And what she does is great, but I don’t necessarily know if that makes her a good, you know red carpet live host. A lot of that you have to be really technical for and there actually isn’t a lot of for the the commentary and the joking because you got to get in and get out and a lot of people don’t understand timing they don’t understand and or have the relationships with the publicist like that all matters

 

Louis Virtel We talked about this last week, though, but you also can’t fake the actual curiosity about what these people are doing in these jobs. Saying somebody did a good job and then asking a question about that is just not compelling to watch and like, you’re not filling my time well.

 

Nina Parker I just want people to listen to what you have been, what you said is like what everybody is saying online. You know what I mean? Everybody is kind of gravitating to what you’ve been saying and no one’s listening. And I’m just curious as to when people are actually going to listen to the people watching because nobody listens until you turn it off, right?

 

Louis Virtel Nina, what is your key bit this week?

 

Nina Parker Ugh, my keep it is for the Grim Reaper again. Oh, what did he do? You know, you know I’m convinced the Grimm Reaper is MAGA because we keep losing all these black people.

 

Louis Virtel Yes, right.

 

Nina Parker So, Kiki Shepard has passed away, and if you are not familiar with Kiki Shephard, first of all, shame on you. She has passed away at the age of 74. We know Kiki Shepard from Showtime at the Apollo. So, she is the black model that would come out in Famously, for black people, we called her Vanna Black. We would name her Vana Black. 74 years old, still looked young as the day she was born. But for me, as a kid watching Showtime at the Apollo when I should have been in bed, Kiki Shepard was the epitome of black beauty. She was classy, black beauty, and just really was a model where we didn’t really see a lot of that represented in television. Like, you know, I can look in Jet Magazine, or I could have looked at Ebony in the hair shop. And seeing that representation, but to turn on the TV and see it, especially like in the 80s, wasn’t really something that we could do. So she was beloved in the community. And I’m so sad to hear that she passed away. And so I just wanted to just say, you know, the Grim Reaper what stop. I told you he’s been killing people that he ain’t ever killed before. And I’m tired of it.

 

Louis Virtel Also Showtime at the Apollo, nothing like it. I mean, there’s several performances that stick out in my mind. The one that’s coming to mind right now. Have you seen Lisa Stansfield do all around the world at Showtime with the Apollo? I’m telling you, she sets that place ablaze.

 

Nina Parker Yeah, and you know, it’s such an iconic thing, you know with the, I talked about the hook taking people away.

 

Guy Branum Showtime at the Apollo, tonight!

 

Nina Parker As times, that’s all we had, you now, especially in a time for like late night where late night was not black, like Showtime At The Apollo gave you a comedian, it gave you performances, like you got to, I get to boo people, please.

 

Louis Virtel Yeah, right

 

Guy Branum The glorious like monoculture had shortcomings, but it also was a place where like after the thing, after the Tonight Show was over, Showtime at the Apollo was there for everyone, you know? Like after American Bandstand, Soul Train was there everyone. And it sort of like brought me into another culture that I wouldn’t have been exposed to. And also just like… A dynamism of audience that you did not see anywhere else. An audience that was a participant and there, and the lovely Miss Kiki Shepherd coming out and providing glamor.

 

Nina Parker And I don’t know how much love she’s gonna get about her passing, so I just wanted to make sure that we talked about it because, you know, sometimes I always say, like, it’s not always what you speak about. Sometimes it’s just your representation being in the room, right? And so it wasn’t that Kiki was in the streets and saying all kinds of things. It was her mere presence shifted a lot of lives for a lot young women. And so… You know, I really want to make sure that she gets her flowers because she definitely deserves them. And she was also in a lot of like, she made like iconic cameos, like in a different world, like you’d see her pop up and everybody would scream and you don’t remember in the 80s, like if you wore a cameo, everybody would cheer for you. Yeah. Like you’d come out to just get coffee and be like, ah, you know, and scream. We need to bring that back. When I make a came, I want people to cheer for me.

 

Louis Virtel Oh, I love, no, I talk about all the time how family matters when someone would be hot and the entire audience would go, woo! Yeah, or when you kiss. Yes, oh my God. If your parents weren’t in the room, that was the worst.

 

Nina Parker Oh my god, I still actually can’t be in the room when there’s like a sex scene and I’m in the room with my parents. Oh, it’s horrible. It’s the most uncomfortable shit ever.

 

Louis Virtel By the way, you’ve also brought up Jet Magazine. You know I have one-frame Jet Magazine in my house, featuring what Chicago-born singer?

 

Nina Parker I’m scared, because I went to something really dark. Jodie Watley. Pay attention. I had a way different person in mind. Oh, no. I’m glad I didn’t say it. I was in one…

 

Louis Virtel I have no idea who you’re thinking of. I’m not even gonna mention it.

 

Nina Parker Because a couple of the Chicago artists that I think of are very taboo.

 

Louis Virtel Okay

 

Nina Parker Got it. So I’ll tell you later. Okay, moving on, moving. But I was in one, not episode, one edition of Jet Magazine. Oh. And I was still framed at my mom’s house. Oh, fuck yeah. Of course, where else would it be? And it wasn’t Jet Beauty of the Week.

 

Louis Virtel Um, okay, we’re at my keep it and typically for this episode, I like to do a historical keep it I think this is kind of controversial Keep it to francis mcdorman winning for fargo. I’m sorry The movie is too short and she comes in too late and that year She’s up against brenda blevin in secrets and lies. She’s against emily watson and breaking the waves Those are two performances that are better and more historic and i’m sorry a performance being iconic is not the same thing as it being the best?

 

Guy Branum Oh. Louis Virtel, with all due respect, you can go fuck yourself.

 

Louis Virtel Oh my gosh. She has a wonderful line readings. I think it’s also the boy movie with the one woman in it, so they pick it for that reason. Just like Kim Basinger in LA Confidential. Your move.

 

Guy Branum Sometimes women win best actress for being in 60% of a film, and it is reflective of gender inequity in Hollywood, but also she’s really good. No, she is fabulous. Brenda Bleden is amazing. Brenda Blethen is fucking amazing, but also like that performance is incandescent. That performance could heal the sick. Like it really is, fuck Nomadland, fuck fucking Free Billboard.

 

Louis Virtel Really? No, no, no. Okay. Well, first of all, fuck three billboards. I love Nomadland. You don’t like it? I do love Nomatland. Yeah, see you’ve been wrong three times. Go ahead. Fucking Fargo

 

Guy Branum Fucking Fargo is like the warmth and the generosity.

 

Louis Virtel Yeah, no wonder men like.

 

Guy Branum Like, no, because it’s a film with a radiating heart. Like, it’s cold film with the radiating hearts, and…

 

Louis Virtel I think she’s amazing and I just wouldn’t have voted it for the win. Let’s talk about a radiating heart, Brenda Blathin in Secrets and Lies.

 

Nina Parker What a take to have at the end, wow!

 

Louis Virtel No, no, I want to ruin some lives. Louis Fortale. And she has, of course, 17 Oscars, so it doesn’t matter.

 

Guy Branum Louis Virtel, you need the three cents stamps. You need the 3 cents. Like the speech about the 3 cent stamps about how it’s the thing that makes things, I forget how she puts it, but it’s basically like, this is the thing that holds things together when it doesn’t all work. And it’s like such a beautiful metaphor for who she is as a character, Marge, son of a Gunderson.

 

Louis Virtel Also that meeting she has with the guy where it’s like she’s like, Oh, he’s so creepy or whatever. And she’s handling it in the kind of folksy way that is very amusing.

 

Guy Branum It’s magnificent.

 

Louis Virtel You gave it a little at the end. Oh, I’m not saying she’s untalented. I’m just saying I wouldn’t have given it the win. I respect your wrong perspective. She showed up 45 minutes into the movie, and the movie is like 86 minutes.

 

Nina Parker Watch it tonight actually. Thank you for reminding me a rewatch

 

Louis Virtel And then you’ll watch Secrets and Lies and you’ll be like, whoo, Brenda killed it. Thank you both for being here. Now let’s just say I’m online and I’m like, where can I hear what they have to say? If anything, Guy, where would that be?

 

Guy Branum I am at Guy Branum across all social media, except for TikTok, where I am AtGuyBranumComedy.

 

Louis Virtel And my god, are you doing some good work on that? Thank you. Letting the people know about, pop culture actually started well before 2017. People don’t understand that. Ugh, Nina?

 

Nina Parker I’m the same on all platforms, The Nina Parker.

 

Louis Virtel Yeah, and you do such good work there. The Queen of Threads.

 

Nina Parker We don’t give ourselves titles on threads. That’s the way to get people to unfollow you. So I’ll just say I’m in there for a good time. I just like to yap.

 

Louis Virtel I’m going to say I knew it wasn’t for me. There’s no titles. I won’t be there.

 

Nina Parker Well, you know, it’s like as soon as you give yourself a title people want to take it away from you

 

Louis Virtel That’s true, that’s true. And I remain Louis Virtel. I’m sometimes on Twitter, but I’m also mainly here. We will see you next week on Keep It. And don’t forget to follow Crooked Media on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. You can also subscribe to Keep It on YouTube for access to full episodes and other exclusive content. And if you’re as opinionated as we are, consider dropping us a review. Keep It is a Crooked Media production. Our producer is Bill McGrath and our executive producers are Louis Virtel, Ira Madison III, and Kendra James. Our digital team is Delon Villanueva, Claudia Sheng, Rachel Gaewski, and Jay Banks. This episode was recorded and mixed by Jerik Centeno. Thank you to David Toles, Kyle Seglin, and Charlotte Landes. For production support every week. Our head of production is Matt DeGroot. Our production staff is proudly unionized with the Writers Guild of America East.