The Academy Awards have their faults, but one of them is not matchmaking.  My wife and I have bonded over watching and discussing movies and the Oscars since day one.  In fact, her parents are voting members of the Academy (her mom a two time nominee even!) and receive screener copies of all the movies vying for Oscar gold to watch at home.  It was a screener of Starship Troopers that became the first movie we ever watched together.  The Oscar telecast is an important date in our household and one which we celebrate every year.  Let me share some tips with you to having a fun night of star gazing that we’ve cultivated over the years.

Tip #1  Rally the troops! Here is where people make a real mistake in their Oscar festivities.  I love watching the Oscars and everyone sitting next to me should too.  One of the best decisions you can make is to not invite someone.  That friend who doesn’t own a TV and recites Yeats from memory, probably not going to enjoy Steve Martin joking about Avatar.  Your sister who hasn’t been to a movie theater since the Bush administration and called you last week to let you in on this new movie called Iron Man will not miss taking part in you Academy Awards bingo.  Keep it simple and exclusive; cinema fanatics only.

Tip #2  Supplement the fun! If you’re like us and you allow the red carpet and pre-show to take up your entire Oscar Sunday, you will need to take some sanity breaks and pace yourself with some in home diversions.  Pick up a movie oriented board game like Scene It?

Deluxe Movie Edition, a DVD based game you could throw up in you TV’s picture in picture or maybe even drag your bedroom set out into the living room and go side by side TV and trivia!  Other great options include Trivial Pursuit or the Academy Awards official crossword puzzle.  If you’ve got enough guests who like to make things interesting, a good old Oscar pool is a great way to keep score during the show.

Tip #3  Fuel you Stomach! In our home there is one major requirement for an Oscar telecast; Lit’l Smokies.  I’ve heard rumors of bacon wrapped recipes, but we just like them drowned in tangy BBQ sauce.  Appetizer selections like the Smokies are the best way to go!  Have lots of chips and dips and finger foods so you can graze through the day.  Big meals get to be too much especially for an event where you’re basically sitting on the couch.  And don’t forget to hydrate!  Have plenty of liquid refreshment from soda to more adult inspired libations to keep your guests happy through the final acceptance speech.

Tip #4  Be sure to stretch! Warm up the muscles with a little Independent Spirit Awards Friday night!  While the health of the independent movie industry is debatable, their annual celebration of the quirky and unique that Hollywood has to offer is a great way to discover a new favorite movie not privy to the distribution and marketing money of a James Cameron.  Hosted this year by hilarious funnyman Eddie Izzard, you can catch the 25th anniversary Spirit Awards March 5th on IFC.

Tip #5  Know the Schedule! Last year we were in the middle of moving and missed basically the entire show.  Don’t let you normal obligations keep you from watching by checking out when your timezone will be airing the day’s events.  Some highlights include:

• Barbara Walters 7 pm: in her final Oscar special, Babs will interview Sandra Bullock amongst others
• TV Guide 6 pm et or 3 pm pt: TV Guide Channel provides live red carpet fashion analysis
• E! 6 pm et or 3 pm pt:  The industry standard for red carpet coverage, E! will have related shows all day
• The Academy Awards 8pm et or 5 pm pt: The main event, live on both coasts!

However you decide to enjoy the Oscars, remember to have fun and keep it silly.  Ultimately film and TV is about what you like and if your favorite doesn’t win or isn’t even nominated, it doesn’t really matter.  Just sit back, relax, and have a good time.