How to Host Your Own Oscar Party

by Helen Back, Hollywood Correspondent

Themes are the key to any worthwhile party, and the Academy Awards makes that easy for you. Nominated movies dictate everything. So roll out the red carpet, and get ready for a fabulous evening!

Of course, you must dress up. Mimic the stars and don fancy gowns (the perfect opportunity to dust off those old bridesmaid dresses) or dress like a movie character: 1920s flapper, Hawaiian-shirted dad, Margaret Thatcher, overpaid ballplayer or even Walter the Muppet.

You Martha Stewart types can extend the movie theme to décor. Transform your living room into a romantic Parisian boulevard or a grungy basement office in the Oakland A’s Coliseum.  Make it a progressive party—host the awards portion at one house and the afterparty at another place, preferably Elton John’s.

Hire the neighborhood kids to take photos and video and to conduct red carpet interviews. One of them probably resembles Ryan Seacrest anyway. Your friends will ham it up for the paparazzi, and you’ll have something to blackmail them with later.

For the menu, you have loads of options. A few ideas: hotdogs and beer for Moneyball, pineapple and mango chunks for The Descendants, croissants and quiche for Midnight in Paris, chocolate pie for The Help. (If you’re a method actor, you might try bad Mexican as inspired by Bridesmaids.)

Helen Back asks: Are you an Oscar fan? What do you think will win Best Picture? Who are the sexiest nominated actor and actress? What are your Oscar party ideas? Please post your comments below.

Of course everyone really comes for the awards, so do not disappoint. You can hand out mini plastic Oscars or design your own unique statuette. And be clever. Anyone can win Best Dressed. Go for memorable categories such as Best Spanx, Underemployed Worker in a Supporting Role, Original Facelift or Most Likely to Sleep with Someone Else’s Husband.

Those neighborhood kids can earn their pay by keeping acceptance speeches brief. You’ll be amazed at how fifteen seconds in the spotlight—even if it’s a fake spotlight—can cause any Joe Schmo to babble endlessly. (Although I would advise against inviting Joe Schmo to your party. He has a history of streaking.)

Obviously you’ll include a game over who makes the most correct award predictions. Do consider an Oscar drinking game as well. Choose your Oscar drink and imbibe as follows: a sip for every “It’s an honor just to be nominated” uttered; a gulp for every joke made about last year’s hosts, Anne Hathaway and James Franco; a cocktail for every song-and-dance montage performed by Billy Crystal; a drink for every time the camera pans to George Clooney; two drinks for every liberal rant about politics; and an entire bottle of vodka if Woody Allen shows up.

Finally, you can surprise everyone by snagging a celebrity date. I hear Charlize Theron is available.