[This post was originally published on The Living Room Tumblr.]
It was a boring Oscars and a subsued Snarknado (with Vicki Lopez unable to make it, and Becky going to bed early because of an early hospital rotation tomorrow), but the 12th annual Oscar Pool had an unprecendented* ending: I won!
ETERNAL GLORY, BABY!!! 🙂
*I totally forgot that I tied for the win in 2014. Still, it’s “unprecedented” that I was the sole winner…
It all started with an upset for Best Supporting Actor.
Mark Rylance upset over Sylvester Stallone gives #LRTOscars #OscarPool lead to … me!! pic.twitter.com/22UrhYE0rB
— Mile High Brendan (@MileHighBrendan) February 29, 2016
As I explained in the Snarknado live-chat: “My thinking on the Rylance pick was, I had to pick an upset in one of the supporting acting categories, and I figured most people who wanted to do that would do it in the supporting actress category, rather than supporting actor, out of sentimental loyalty to [supporting actor favorite Sylvester] Stallone.”
Once Ryland won, vaulting me into first place and a substantial edge of 4 points (which became 5 with another mild upset, “Stutterer” for Best Live Action Short), it quickly became apparent that I had a good shot at winning the pool. I had picked the favorites for all the major awards after Rylance’s win, so it was going to take an upset to dislodge me from first place.
I will win my #OscarPool (for the first time in 12 years) unless there’s an upset in one of the big four categories.
— Mile High Brendan (@MileHighBrendan) February 29, 2016
brb working on my acceptance speech. #OscarPool #OscarsSoLoy pic.twitter.com/XWCQtr2K59
— Mile High Brendan (@MileHighBrendan) February 29, 2016
WOOOOOOO THREE AWARDS LEFT (and really 2 because Leo ain’t losing) #OscarPool #OscarsSoLoy
— Mile High Brendan (@MileHighBrendan) February 29, 2016
I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING EITHER, ALEJANDRO! #OscarPool #OscarsSoLoy
— Mile High Brendan (@MileHighBrendan) February 29, 2016
If “Big Short” pulls the Best Picture upset, @wolfmanbc wins #LRTOscars #OscarPool. Otherwise, I win. #OscarsSoLoy pic.twitter.com/1zGmKJHcCj
— Mile High Brendan (@MileHighBrendan) February 29, 2016
Leo. Sharpie.
— Mile High Brendan (@MileHighBrendan) February 29, 2016
HERE WE GO. @wolfmanbc (The Big Short) vs. me (The Revenant … or anything else). #OscarPool #LRTOscars #OscarsSoLoy
— Mile High Brendan (@MileHighBrendan) February 29, 2016
As it turned out, there was an upset – for Best Picture – but because the surprise winner was “Spotlight,” rather than “The Big Short,” I won anyway.
What?!?
BUT I STILL WIN!!!
— Mile High Brendan (@MileHighBrendan) February 29, 2016
First, I would like to thank the Academy. #OscarPool #EternalGlory
— Mile High Brendan (@MileHighBrendan) February 29, 2016
I also want to thank @FiveThirtyEight and that random odds website I googled. #OscarPool #EternalGlory
— Mile High Brendan (@MileHighBrendan) February 29, 2016
I want to thank Mark Rylance for rewarding my faith in him, which was based on ~5 seconds of deep consideration. #OscarPool #EternalGlory
— Mile High Brendan (@MileHighBrendan) February 29, 2016
I’d like to thank the other contestants in my pool for not picking “Spotlight,” so I still won despite the upset. #OscarPool #EternalGlory
— Mile High Brendan (@MileHighBrendan) February 29, 2016
[music starts playing] I want to thank my beautiful wife @MileHighBecky & my 3 amazing daughters. Go to bed, girls! #OscarPool #EternalGlory
— Mile High Brendan (@MileHighBrendan) February 29, 2016
Finally, I just want to say:
NEVER TRUMP
NOT EVER
NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER#NEVERTRUMP
Thank you and God bless.
#OscarPool #EternalGlory— Mile High Brendan (@MileHighBrendan) February 29, 2016
@MileHighBrendan Dude. How dare you get political with your acceptance speech.
— AC Wheeler (@WheelerIII) February 29, 2016
Full, final standings of #LRTOscars #OscarPool. For the first time in 12 years, I won!!!! #EternalGlory #OscarsSoLoy pic.twitter.com/0hmmLJSGve
— Mile High Brendan (@MileHighBrendan) February 29, 2016
Woohoo!
As for the Best Picture upset? A few contestants picked it, but they were too far behind the pack to affect the outcome – finishing 20th, 22nd, 24th and 31st.
Only 4 out of 39 contestants got Best Picture right: @maisie70, @vtktorg, @amandarykoff & @LynnInOhio. #LRTOscars #OscarPool
— Mile High Brendan (@MileHighBrendan) February 29, 2016
UPDATE/CORRECTION:
Oops. Totally forgot that I also won my #OscarPool (well, tied for the win) 2 years ago. Heh. #ForgottenEternalGlory https://t.co/LUiWcWarPt
— Mile High Brendan (@MileHighBrendan) February 29, 2016