Best Matthew Sprosty Podcasts (2025)

The finale of "Lee Benches Gump": A three-part series where Spro & Lee go back thirty years to relitigate the merit of Forrest Gump, Robert Zemeckis, and Tom Hanks. In this episode, the Best Picture Oscar of 1995 is on the block. Kyle Bruehl from "I Know Movies and You Don't" guests.By Spro and Lee

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506 - The Streep Effect IV (w/ Claire) 1:23:30

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2M ago1:23:30

1:23:30

The Streep Effect rolls on. In this episode, Claire from Why the Flick? joins Spro and Lee to discuss something about some bridges, a rural county in Iowa, and a love that could not be.By Spro and Lee

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505 - Zagging on Zemeckis (Lee Benches Gump Series) 1:14:45

2M ago1:14:45

1:14:45

Part II of "Lee Benches Gump": A three-part series where Spro & Lee go back thirty years to relitigate the merit of Forrest Gump, Robert Zemeckis, and Tom Hanks. In this episode, Laurence joins the conversation about director Robert Zemeckis and his ill-gotten Oscar of 1995.By Spro and Lee

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504 - Best Director 2007 1:48:20

3M ago1:48:20

1:48:20

Spro's quest to eradicate "greatness" from Lee's filmic vocab comes to crisis when he demands a second vote for Best Director of 2007, the only year an Academy Award ever went home in the hands of the gre- ahem... the legendary American director Martin Scorsese. Andy B from the Chonky Boys guest hosts.…

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The 97th Academy Awards Reaction Episode 1:11:06

3M ago1:11:06

1:11:06

Spro and [Rudy] Take on the Academy for this Episode. They discuss the 2025 Oscars, their thoughts on the actual show itself, and their personal highlights (and lowlights) of the night.By Spro and Lee

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503 - No Thanks, T. Hanks (Lee Benches Gump Series) 2:13:23

3M ago2:13:23

2:13:23

Part I of "Lee Benches Gump": A three-part series where Spro & Lee go back thirty years to relitigate the merit of Forrest Gump, Robert Zemeckis, and Tom Hanks. In this episode, Lee sets his sights on Tom Hanks' Best Actor Oscar.By Spro and Lee

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502 - Were They Snubbed? 1:55:27

4M ago1:55:27

1:55:27

A lot of people were pretty pissed when Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie didn't receive nominations for Best Director and Best Actress, respectively, so Spro & Lee ask the question, "Were they snubbed?"By Spro and Lee

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2025 Oscar Nominations w/ Michael Wendt 1:49:53

4M ago1:49:53

1:49:53

In this episode, Spro and Mike discuss recent and upcoming films, focusing on Academy Award nominations and predictions across various categories. They share their thoughts on specific movies, performances, and technical aspects like visual effects and cinematography while reflecting on their experiences in the film industry. The conversation touch…

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501 - A Penny Marshall Honorary Oscar 1:29:31

4M ago1:29:31

1:29:31

To open their fifth season, Spro & Lee present their second honorary Oscar, this time to Miss Penny Marshall.By Spro and Lee

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Year In Review 2024 48:56

5M ago48:56

48:56

Ring out the old year, ring in the new...ring-a-ding-ding.By Spro and Lee

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A New Season for a New Year! 2:48

5M ago2:48

2:48

Five elements in Chinese philosophy. Five rings in the Olympic logo. Five Great Lakes. And now FIVE seasons of Spro and Lee Take on the Academy. Coincidence? Or the sinister mechanisms of a malevolent universe? You be the judge.By Spro and Lee

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96th Academy Awards Wrap-Up Party 1:29:04

1y ago1:29:04

1:29:04

Kimmel cracked wise. Emma Stone cried. No one was surprised. This was the 96th Academy Awards ceremony.By Spro and Lee

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Spro, Lee, and Bobby Take Shelter in Ohio 58:06

1+ y ago58:06

58:06

The boys welcome Robert Ruggeri, Spro's longtime friend and a producer on Jeff Nichols' Take Shelter. The three talk about the cocksure confidence of youth, making movies in the great state of Ohio, and minimum quotes.By Spro and Lee

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408 - Best Original Screenplay of 2012 1:15:10

1+ y ago1:15:10

1:15:10

Spro & Lee land the plane that is season five with their second discussion on scripts - reading, writing, and evaluating them - and in the process, a Hollywood institution is relieved of one of his four Oscars. It's season finale time.By Spro and Lee

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407 - The Comedy Show 2:30:51

1+ y ago2:30:51

2:30:51

The Oscars have always favored socially important dramas, bloated biopics, and history under glass, but Spro & Lee say "What about comedies?"By Spro and Lee

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406 - Best Supporting Actress of 2020 1:22:52

1+ y ago1:22:52

1:22:52

Spro & Lee step in to mediate the legal termination of Laura Dern's best supporting actress Oscar from 2020. They tried their best to get her some visitation rights, but no dice.By Spro and Lee

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405 - Best Picture of 1942 1:49:07

1+ y ago1:49:07

1:49:07

Spro & Lee travel eighty years into the past to pose one burning question to the Academy of yesteryear: exactly how green WAS your valley? Mercifully, they're joined by the Worthy Boys (Jon & Ben from The Worthy Podcast) and Kyle Bruehl (from I Know Movies and You Don't) who help measure the viridescence of said valley.…

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404 - Best Original Song: A Retrospective 1:05:38

1+ y ago1:05:38

1:05:38

Spro & Lee's old friend, MC (Second Chance Cinema & The Mount Rushmore Podcast), returns to join their discussion on the best and worst Oscar winning songs of all time.By Spro and Lee

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403 - The Streep Effect: Part III (1987-1991) 1:16:09

1+ y ago1:16:09

1:16:09

Spro & Lee bring you part III of "The Streep Effect", an examination and evaluation of each and every Oscar nomination Meryl Streep has ever received.By Spro and Lee

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402 - Best Picture of 1990 1:48:39

2y ago1:48:39

1:48:39

Claire (from Why the Flick?) joins Spro and Lee to help take the Best Picture Oscar away from yet another bonehead pick by The Academy. It's time to go to the Piggly Wiggly...and nowhere else.By Spro and Lee

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401 - Best Actor of 2022 1:38:51

2y ago1:38:51

1:38:51

Spro and Lee are back and wasting no time getting controversial. Will some of you see this episode as a cheap shot? An overreaction? Or a slap in the face? Maybe. Nevertheless, the boys are ready to put themselves between a Rock and a nut case.By Spro and Lee

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Season 4 Trailer 2:27

2y ago2:27

2:27

FORE!By Spro and Lee

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Indiana Jones and the End of an Era (1981-2023) 1:27:04

2y ago1:27:04

1:27:04

It's not the years, honey...........okay, it's the years.By Spro and Lee

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310 - An Interview w/ Aliya Kanani 1:05:37

2+ y ago1:05:37

1:05:37

The boys welcome Aliya Kanani: comedian, actor, writer, self-described vagabond, and a cast member from SALTOTA's Best Picture in the World (2021), Scarborough.By Spro and Lee

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309 - An Interview w/ Conor M. Casey 43:06

2+ y ago43:06

43:06

The boys welcome Conor M. Casey: actor, writer, artist, former OSU Buckeye, and a cast member from SALTOTA's Best Picture in the World (2021), Scarborough.By Spro and Lee

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308 - The Best Picture in the World 2021 1:14:56

2+ y ago1:14:56

1:14:56

To cap off Season Three of SALTOTA, Spro and Lee go 'round the world in twelve movies - all of which won their country's ostensible "Best Picture" award - and in the end, the boys choose what they believe to be...THE BEST PICTURE IN THE WORLD, two-thousand and twenty-two!By Spro and Lee

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307 - The Streep Effect: Part II (1983-1986) 58:35

2+ y ago58:35

58:35

Spro & Lee bring you part II of "The Streep Effect", an examination and evaluation of each and every Oscar nomination Meryl Streep has ever received. Also in this episode, the boys stumble upon an Oscar winner in serious need of dethroning.By Spro and Lee

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306 - Sloppy Seconds w/ Spacey 1:13:58

2+ y ago1:13:58

1:13:58

Spro & Lee finally welcome back their old chum and fan favorite, Emily. By SALTOTA reckoning, Kevin Spacey only has one Oscar left - his best supporting actor win of 1996 for playing Verbal Kint in The Usual Suspects - and it's time to wipe the slate clean...By Spro and Lee

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305 - The Horror Show 2:04:57

2+ y ago2:04:57

2:04:57

Spro & Lee welcome a pumpkin patch of guests, each one armed with a horror movie they believe was overlooked by sons of witches over at the academy. So grab a pillowcase and enjoy Spro & Lee's Horror Show.By Spro and Lee

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304 - ”Best Director” 2002 1:38:00

2+ y ago1:38:00

1:38:00

Spro & Lee welcome author, educator, world traveler, and old friend, Joe Lewis, who joins the boys on a trip twenty-one years into the past where they discuss college, the films of 2001 and Ron Howard's ill-gotten best director Oscar for A Beautiful Mind.By Spro and Lee

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303 - ”Best Original Screenplay” 1988 1:47:35

2+ y ago1:47:35

1:47:35

Spro & Lee turn back the clock thirty-five years to talk about the best original screenplays of 1987; Spro shares his strategies for writing a first-draft of a screenplay; and finally, the boys welcome back MC (2nd Chance Cinema; The Mount Rushmore Podcast) to sell everyone on his favorite script of the year, which wasn't even nominated.…

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302 - The Streep Effect: Part I (1979-1982) 1:00:38

2+ y ago1:00:38

1:00:38

Spro & Lee present part I of their ongoing series, "The Streep Effect", in which they look at each and every Oscar nomination Meryl Streep has ever received and decide if the Queen of Hollywood deserved them all.By Spro and Lee

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301 - ”Best Picture” 2006 1:37:14

3y ago1:37:14

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Season three begins with the boys strong-arming their old friend and the founder of Odd Dog Coffee, Mike Hancock, into discussing perhaps the most egregious best picture winner of all time - Crash. This one's been a long time coming...By Spro and Lee

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Season 3 Trailer 1:11

3y ago1:11

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It’s time to cut the carbs, find the dress, shine the diamonds, and get ready for Season Three of Spro and Lee Take on the Academy...beginning Monday, August 29th.By Spro and Lee

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212 - An Interview w/ Morgana O’Reilly 1:08:27

3y ago1:08:27

1:08:27

Spro & Lee welcome actor/writer Morgana O'Reilly. She tells the boys all about life in show business, being a mom, and her 2014 horror/comedy "Housebound".By Spro and Lee

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209 - Alan Rickman Tribute with Randall Miller and Jody Savin 1:28:18

3+ y ago1:28:18

1:28:18

Spro and Lee welcome director Randall Miller and writer Jody Savin, two independent filmmakers who made three films (Bottle Shock, CBGB, and Nobel Son) with Alan Rickman. They share their memories of the man with the voice thereby giving a glimpse of the remarkable human being Rickman was when the cameras weren't rolling. In their own words, "He wa…

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208 - An Honorary Oscar for Alan Rickman 2:26:46

3+ y ago2:26:46

2:26:46

Spro and Lee cordially invite you to the first half of their season two finale - a celebration of the late, great Alan Rickman. Friends of the show, Emily and Rudy, join the boys for a lengthy lovefest to cover the lore, the laughs, and the legacy of the man with the voice.By Spro and Lee

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207 - Poli-Academy Part III: ”Best Actor” 2002 1:43:14

3+ y ago1:43:14

1:43:14

The final link in the Poli-Academy chain is here!!! Last time, Denzel got the gold for Malcolm X. This time, he gets the gold snatched away for his comic-book antagonist, Alonzo Harris, in Training Day. Yeah...we're expecting to get some crap for this one...bring it on.By Spro and Lee

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206 - ”Best Director” 1982 1:59:49

3+ y ago1:59:49

1:59:49

Spro and Lee welcome Laurence back to the show. Together, the three de-Oscar Sir Richard Attenborough whose 1982 film, Gandhi, won a host of Academy Awards, the most unconscionable of which was the best director statuette.By Spro and Lee

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205 - Poli-Academy Part II: ”Best Actor” 1993 1:35:27

3+ y ago1:35:27

1:35:27

Just as way leads on to way, Oscar mistakes beget Oscar mistakes. Last time, Pacino was the recipient; this time, he's the target. Join Spro and Lee for Part II of the "Poly-Academy" series where the boys go back almost 30 years to the spring of 1993 to take away Big Al's Best Actor statue for Scent of a Woman. Hoo-Ahh indeed...…

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204 - Poli-Academy Part I: ”Best Actor” 1975 1:32:18

3+ y ago1:32:18

1:32:18

Part 1 of a 3 part series where Spro and Lee examine the political motivations which motivate Academy voters but baffle the rest of us. The first installment will take you almost 47 years back to the 47th Academy Awards where they're gonna take the little gold man for best actor away from Art Carney.…

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203 - ”Best Picture” 2009 1:57:25

3+ y ago1:57:25

1:57:25

The Academy loves a fairy tale, and the fantasy adventure Slumdog Millionaire played on those affections, seducing its way into a handful of Oscars. 13 years later, Spro and Lee still aren't feeling it - especially that Oscar it won for Best Picture.By Sprosty

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202 - ”Best Actress” 2010 1:42:22

3+ y ago1:42:22

1:42:22

Spro and Lee can't lie - they love Sandra Bullock. But they don't love her enough to let her keep the Oscar she won for The Blind Side. Sorry, Sandy. Love to the kids.By Sprosty

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201 - ”Best Director” 2008 1:44:40

3+ y ago1:44:40

1:44:40

Season 2 of SALTOTA is here and wasting no time getting controversial. Guest host Jeremy Cordy (director/writer of Troma's Porking Mandy) convinces the boys to take two Oscars away from two of the greatest American directors of all time - Joel and Ethan Coen. This week...No Oscars for Old Men.By Sprosty

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108 - ”Best Picture” 1979 1:11:00

4+ y ago1:11:00

1:11:00

Spro and Lee cordially invite you to the Season One Finale - Best Picture of 1979. Their friend, Laurence, stops in to help the right the wrong that was "Kramer vs. Kramer".By Sprosty

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107 - ”A Quickie w/ Polanski” 1:02:39

4+ y ago1:02:39

1:02:39

Emily (the new mommy!!) returns to round out "The Quickie Trilogy". This time, the old friends discuss the Best Director Oscar of 2002, an award shamelessly given to a man who couldn't attend the ceremony to accept as he is wanted for rape in the United States. That man's name is Roman Polanski.By Sprosty

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106 - ”Best Actress” 2017 1:14:00

4+ y ago1:14:00

1:14:00

Spro is finally granted a platform upon which to spout his anti-Stone rhetoric. This week, Emma and La La Land take some beatings and the Best Actress Oscar of 2017 gets passed on to a more deserving artist.By Sprosty

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105 - ”A Quickie w/ Spacey” 1:09:24

4+ y ago1:09:24

1:09:24

The boys welcome back their old friend, Emily, for the second of three Quickies. In this episode, the three will strip disgraced Hollywood darling, Kevin Spacey, of his 1999 Best Actor win for American Beauty, and give the award to someone who isn't persona non grata.By Sprosty

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104 - ”Best Picture” 1980 1:14:15

4+ y ago1:14:15

1:14:15

Spro and Lee go back forty years to look at the Best Picture race of 1980 when Ordinary People won over Lynch's The Elephant Man and Scorsese's Raging Bull, among others.By Sprosty