Few things are as sad as when you are prepping your elaborate Academy Awards viewing party and you discover that several of your friends are hosting their own Academy Awards viewing parties and that you have all used the same witty, film-inspired names for your appetizers and cocktails. The best way to avoid this social death is to plan early and lay claim to the event before your deadbeat, barely-see-any-movies-anymore friends try to pick it off.

This year will mark the 16th annual Academy Awards viewing party that I will throw with my lovely wife. Last year, I put up this post to help share some ideas. My wife wrote up some great suggestions for anyone who is throwing their own party for the big show which can be found on her site here.

We hope that you have a fun, glamorous, and safe Academy Awards night!