Hook, Line, & Oscar: Join Our Tyee Twitterfest

From the start of the pre-show to the awarding of the last naked golden man, a flock of Tyee contributors -- including the duelling wits of Shannon Rupp and Steve Burgess -- will be Tweeting about the 83rd Academy Awards. We want you to join us.

When it comes to the Oscars, people usually fall into one of two camps. One group is completely uninterested in who wins, who loses, and what everyone is wearing when they do. These people have probably seen a couple of this year's nominated films, but they certainly aren't going to spend their Sunday evening (and it's this Sunday, Feb. 27) watching the hours of coverage.

And then there's the other camp: the people who are completely obsessed with these details. They've watched all the nominated films, critiqued the performances, and have listed (perhaps even laminated) their favourites -- from Best Picture to Best Makeup.

These Oscar-lovers started planning this year's party as soon as last year's guests filtered out. They've organized a gourmet, Oscar-themed menu for Sunday night. They've created a signature cocktail. They've even tested watching the television from various angles to ensure that James Franco's cheekbones will be viewed in all their glory.

These people, these "Oscar savants," are who we're looking for. And you don't have to invite us to your fancy party -- you can come to ours.

DISCLAIMER: There is no physical location for The Tyee's Oscar Party. If you arrive at our office, there will be no one -- and no snacks -- to greet you. This party is virtual!

Go ahead, diss the dress

This Sunday will be The Tyee's first Twitter party. We've decided to branch out a bit, to let loose with a few of those signature cocktails, and to have a little fun with this year's Academy Awards Show. Love to "diss the dress" as the Best Actress nominees make their way down the red carpet? You're on. Or maybe you'd rather give a play-by-play of the best and worst moments in acceptance speeches? We want you, too.

So far, we've recruited a balance of catty fashion critics, film buffs and a few regular, rental-store types (their silly questions will keep the conversation flowing) to contribute to our Oscar Twitterfest this Sunday night. If you want to take part -- and we hope you do! -- all you need to do is add #HookLineOscar to your Tweets. Like this:

"Wow, do James Franco's cheekbones ever look fantastic tonight! #HookLineOscar"

If you want to make sure your message shows up to The Tyee, you can also add @thetyee to your Tweet.

So this Sunday night, while you're hanging out with your Oscar-loving friends, sipping your "Best Picture Martini" and snacking on a gilded pig-in-a-blanket, get in on the conversation. And of course, if you're part of the camp that has little interest in the Academy Awards, why not check in to #HookLineOscar on Twitter and see if something piques your interest? If not, we'll be back to regular coverage first thing Monday morning.