The ReelChange Oscar Drinking Game is the gold standard in Academy Award telecast-based alchohol delivery systems. Having been field tested for years on subjects of varied imbibing prowess, a big thanks goes to our boys in R&D for perfecting this, the finest in all your awards show inebriation needs.
Instead of just a list of common occurrences as social triggers (although it has those too), the heart of The ReelChange Oscar Drinking Game beats with a simple betting structure that rewards risk, shrewd speculation and luck.
Currency:
The currency we are dealing in are drinks, and will be referred to as such throughout these rules. What a drink consists of in your group is subjective and should simply be determined amongst players during the red carpet coverage. A general assumption of a pull of beer on the honor system is sufficient, but measured shots or equivalent amounts of mixed and straight liquors can be substituted depending on tastes and abilities.
Note: The maximum bet that can be made by a player is equal to the number of active players minus one.
Betting:
The core of the game is played thusly: During the telecast when nominees are announced, bets on winners are made. A bet consists of declaring a winner and the number of drinks wagered.
For example, there are five people in the game and a player is confident that Heath Ledger will take Best Actor in a Supporting Role. As the nominees are announced, that player might call out “Four drinks on Ledger.”
If anyone but Ledger wins that player must consume the number of drinks he or she wagered, in this case four. If however Ledger does take the statue that player can distribute the drinks around to the other players in any fashion he or she sees fit. That is to say that winning drink wagers may be assigned in total to an individual or broken up and distributed into any denominations.
Owed drinks must be consumed before that player can bet in the next category.
Players need not wager in every category, but cannot drop in and out of the game without unanimous consent of the group, and therefore are still eligible to be assigned drinks whether they wagered in that category or not.
Also winning a wager does not make one immune to drink assignments. So if there are two winners or more in a category said winners may still end up drinking.
Side Betting:
Side bets on any and all aspects of the telecast are encouraged, but side bets must be met with an acceptance of another player and drinks can only be distributed between those side betters, whereas award wagers are considered automatically accepted by all those who are playing.
Examples of possible side bets:
Who will open or close the In Memoriam montage.
Whether or not the next commercial will feature a celebrity.
Over/under on President Obama references
With side bets the more creative and esoteric the better.
Social Triggers:
These are events that trigger the group to all take a drink. Your group may decide to add more to this list. As long as all are agreed then the trigger is in play.
If you or your group has a good additional trigger let us know in the comments.
Take One Drink:
If a person is indicated with reference to a personal or familial connection.
(e.g “My good friend, Bob Rafelson . . . “)
If the camera cuts to the subject of punchline to make sure they are laughing.
(Two drinks if they are not laughing or if they look around confused.)If the orchestra cuts off an overlong acceptance speech.
For each member of a group that takes the stage to accept an award who gets no mic time.
For any reference to the “magic of” anything cinematic.
Whenever Host Hugh Jackman’s Australian background is referenced.
Take Two Drinks:
If an award is accepted by someone other than the recipient.
If the camera cuts to someone in the audience to show that the subject matter of a joke is in acceptable taste.
This is also called the Don Rickles-tribute “See if the black guy is laughing” trigger.
(Three drinks if they are not laughing or if they look around confused.)During any dance or musical number.
Anytime a reference is made to this year’s ceremony being on a tight budget.
If a presentation duo is a reunion of a previous cinematic pairing.
Any time Host Hugh Jackman’s role as Wolverine is referenced.
Take Three Drinks:
For any reference made to Sacheen Littlefeather, Robert Opel (The infamous Oscar Streaker), or Letterman’s Oprah/Uma bit.
If a presentation duo is a pairing from an upcoming film.
If Vin Diesel’s name is spoken.
(If he appears on screen finish your cup)Any time Host Hugh Jackman’s Broadway experience is referenced.
Those are the rules. Enjoy. Play responsibly, and if you win the party’s Oscar pool kick a little something down the host of your party. Chips ain’t free, ya know?