How to Throw a (Virtual) Watch Party for the Queer Holiday Romcom I Hate New Year’s

By starrymag | December 4, 2020

By: Kat Trammell

 

What a year it’s been.  I don’t know about y’all, but I’ve been hanging in there like a hair in a biscuit.  It’s true, 2020 has left little room for finding happiness.  I know a lot of us have made the difficult decision to stay home and alone for the holidays — I’m one of them — but it’s my hope that whether you’re alone or lucky enough to have family and friends safely by your side, you’ll find a little happiness in hosting or joining an I Hate New Year’s watch party.

 

Virtual Viewing Options

I Hate New Year’s is going to be available for purchase or rent on Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Charter, Comcast, DirectTV, Dish, and Tello’s own website, which means your options for throwing a virtual movie night with friends and family are vast.  But if quarantine hasn’t made you savvy at navigating apps like Zoom and Google Hangouts just yet, I recommend giving this article a read: https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-host-a-virtual-watch-party/.

If, however, you prefer a low-tech approach to your virtual movie night, then count down to 1 like it’s the turn of the New Year, and press play at the same time as your friends.  Just be sure to text each other any time Cassie and Layne (Dia Frampton) make your heart swoon or Marley (Candis Cayne) makes you giggle.

 

Decor and Ambience

If picking out the best New Year’s themed Zoom background doesn’t spark joy, then grab yourself a pair of 2020 glasses and decorate your space like it’s New Year’s Eve.  Blow up balloons, toss some confetti in the air like you just don’t care, and put on your best party hats.  Then pay homage to queer country music artists like Chely Wright and Brandi Carlile by adding them to your watch party playlist.

 

Beverages

There are a plethora of holiday cocktail recipes out there, and any of them would be perfect for an I Hate New Year’s watch party, but seeing as how I Hate New Year’s is set Tennessee, I’d be remiss to not include whiskey on this list.  So if whiskey is something that dills yer pickle, then by all means try a . . .

 

Pickle Back

I promise it’s good — so good I put it in the movie.  They’re also simple to make.  All you need is pickle brine, whiskey, and a couple of shots glasses.  Fill one glass with whiskey and one with brine, then shoot them in that order, chasing your whiskey with brine.  And don’t forget to tap your shot glasses for good luck.

 

Champagne and Poinsettia

If pickle brine and whiskey isn’t your thing, then go with something tried, true, and traditional.  Pop some champagne (or sparkling grape juice), pour yourself a glass worthy of 2020, then sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.  And if you’re feeling a little extra festive, make a Poinsettia by adding a splash of cranberry juice and a half an ounce of orange liquor to your champagne. (Poinsettia recipe: https://www.thespruceeats.com/poinsettia-cocktail-recipe-759772)

 

Eggnog

Love it or hate it, eggnog deserves a place on this list, especially when it’s homemade.  Just ask actress and singer Dia Frampton, who has made homemade eggnog a tradition during the holidays: “I absolutely must have eggnog as much as possible come November, and I often make it from scratch at home . . . I usually add a bit of brandy or bourbon and a little extra nutmeg in my cup, and I’m good to go.  I feel like eggnog is definitely a love it or hate kind of thing, and for me, I’m in love.”  Well, Dia, I couldn’t agree more.  If you want to make your own homemade eggnog, Dia recommends trying this recipe: https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/homemade-eggnog/.

 

Beaujolais Nouveau

Meant to be enjoyed in its first year of vintage, Beaujolais Nouveau is released every third Thursday in November, which makes this wine a perfect way to end an old year and ring in a New Year.  No vintage is ever the same, and most offer a surprise of flavors given their youth.  But they are always sexy and fun, just like a romcom.

 

Festive Eats

If all that decorating and drink making has made you hungrier than a tick on a teddy bear, then keep your hangry belly at bay by whipping up some fun and festive watch party treats.

 

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Honestly, what’s more romantic than a chocolate-covered strawberry? Though these take a little patience and prep, they are worth it in the end, especially when paired with a glass of bubbly, a beautiful date, and a good movie.  Just follow this video tutorial by Laura Vitale for hassle-free, homemade chocolate-covered strawberries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5vwz1OFPKM

 

Lucky Black-Eyed Peas

Do you still have leftover Thanksgiving ham in the fridge?  Don’t throw away that bone!  Use it to make a delicious batch of black-eyed peas that’ll warm your heart, lift your soul, and ensure your New Year is filled with good luck.  https://www.thespruceeats.com/basic-crock-pot-black-eyed-peas-4054222

 

Holiday Lasagna

Lasagna for the holidays?  Absolutely!  Especially if you plan on inviting Ashley Argota (as Cassie Holmes) to your watch party. “I’ve been folded into my fiancé’s family tradition of making their Christmas lasagna . . . I’ve loved being a part of that tradition for the last couple years.”   While Ashley can’t share the recipe to her father-in-law’s lasagna, I found one that’s perfect for an I Hate New Year’s watch party. https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/christmas-night-lasagna/

 

Charcuterie Board

If chocolate strawberries, black-eyed peas, and lasagna seem like too much of a commitment, then make like country star, Cassie Holmes, and serve a festive charcuterie spread you can nibble on throughout the movie.

 

Fun and Games

Are you ready to have as much fun as a pig in mud? Give these interactive watch party activities a try.

 

Two Resolutions and a Lie

A fun game to play before you hit “play,” Two Resolutions and a Lie is the perfect icebreaker for your I Hate New Year’s watch party.  It’s a spin on the classic Two Truths and a Lie, except with this game your friends will have to figure out which two resolutions you’ve made for 2021, and which one you made up.

 

Highlights of the Year

Not one for making resolutions?  Not a problem.  Make a list of your Highlights of the Year and share them with your friends, then ask them to do the same.  It’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate each others accomplishments and to think fondly on the silver linings that made 2020 bearable.  And who knows?  Maybe I Hate New Year’s gets added to your list.

 

Watch Party Photos

After you’ve gussied up your space, filled your belly, wet yer whistle, and reminisced about the good times, commemorate your watch party the way Cassie and Layne would by taking and sharing cheesy photos.  Add some party flair with these printable New Year’s Eve props (http://uncommondesignsonline.com/diy-new-years-photo-prop-free-printables/), and don’t forget to tag them with #IHNYmovie.

 

Get your copy: Available on December 4th, I Hate New Year’s can be rented or purchased on demand on Amazon, iTunes, Charter, Comcast, DirectTV, Dish, Google Play, and Tello Films.

 

Gift a copy: ’Tis the season for giving, and if you feel so inclined to gift I Hate New Year’s to someone special, then follow this link here: (place holder for link)

 

Join Us: We cordially invite you to join the cast and creators of I Hate New Year’s on Twitter for a watch party of our own on December 5 at 2pm PST.  Anyone who wishes to join the party can use the hashtag #IHNYwatchparty to interact with each other while we watch the movie together.  I can’t wait to see y’all there!