Behind the scenes at the Oscars: What really happens on Hollywood's biggest night

When it comes to covering the Academy Awards as an entertainment journalist, I've done it all.

Oscars red carpet? Check. The sprawling press room where Oscar historians answer the media's most random questions? Of course. I've been seated inside the Dolby Theatre and reported from the theater wings during four Oscar broadcasts, a spot that's pure nirvana for an entertainment obsessive such as myself.

Even if the viewing position is the living room couch (been there, with popcorn), the Oscars reign as the biggest night of the year for movie, fashion and pop culture fans. Here's what you won't see at Sunday's 96th Academy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel (airing on ABC, 7 p.m. EDT/4 PDT).

The stars practice everything for the Oscars, but we live for the surprises

Most every stage moment of the Oscars telecast is planned and rehearsed, from Kimmel's opening monologue to the performances of the nominated songs (which this year include Ryan Gosling singing "I'm Just Ken"). Even the stage walks are carefully choreographed, with stand-ins striding and standing like the real A-listers during first rehearsals. At Saturday's run-through, the casually dressed stars put down their Starbucks cups to practice walking across the stage and reading their teleprompted moments, some changing into the heels they'll wear on the big night.

Still, the best parts are unscripted, from soaring acceptance speeches to live TV goofs. Kimmel is at his host best reacting to spontaneous moments, even the 2017 EnvelopeGate disaster when the best picture Oscar was given to the wrong film.

The Oscars red carpet is dazzling and choreographed, but accidents happen

In an industry town with more red carpets than days of the week, the Oscar red carpet is special. It's red again this year (not champagne like last year) and tented for rain. At 900 feet long, it sweeps down Hollywood Boulevard and veers right directly into the Dolby Theatre.

There's a Hollywood pecking order to the march. The biggest stars arrive the latest, flashing smiles before a battery of clamoring tuxedo-clad photographers. The not-famous attendees walk a far less noticeable carpet path and are urged (often) to move into the theater and stop gawking. But the flash-lit spectacle is a great show.

The best-prepared celebs have plans for any kind of mishap, from gown-trodding stains to tears. Veteran publicist BeBe Lerner says she carries a discreet "Just in case" bag for her clients that includes double-stick tape, a Tide pen, Band-Aids, a mini-sewing kit and more.

Nerves, sweat and tears are on display backstage at the Oscars

During the show, the Dolby Theatre wings are packed with stars exiting or entering the stage and essential backstage crew. Everyone is so famous that when presenter Dwayne Johnson recognized me one year, he asked in genuine surprise, "What are you doing here?"

During massive stage production changes, it gets so crowded that Daniel Day-Lewis once backed up and stood gloriously and poetically on my left foot.

It's intoxicating drama as stars walk on and off the stage for major moments of their lives in front of a worldwide TV audience totaling hundreds of millions. I stood next to Stedman Graham calming a nervous Oprah Winfrey before she went on. "You'll be fine," a concerned Tom Hanks told her. Brad Pitt noticeably fretted next to me watching as then-wife Angelina Jolie presented at the 2012 Oscars.

That same year, Meryl Streep was so blown away by her surprise third Oscar for "The Iron Lady," that she collapsed onto a metal folding chair just off stage and stagehands called for bottled water. "I'm just so shocked," she said in between sips.

But there's always room for Jack Nicholson, who ambled backstage just to check out the scene in 2013. "I'm just wandering," he declared with that smile to one surprised backstage minder.

The most star-filled bars in the world are at Oscars

There are bars everywhere in the Dolby Theatre, all serving wine, champagne and “It’s Showtime” tequila cocktails. But the best scene is the lowest level bar, where near-the-stage stars step out for some refreshments.

Last year, Michael B. Jordan, Idris Elba and Cate Blanchett watched the show on big screens around the bar for a spell, while Florence Pugh and Cara Delevigne spent some quality time together.

The best bar in the place, and possibly in the world on Oscar night, is backstage in the Rolex Green Room. Officially only for presenters and performers going onstage and winners coming off, a famous smile can go a long way for entry. The joint gets rocking, especially just before the show. During the show, the stars can watch the telecast on four large TVs.

There's no food at the Oscars show, so the stars are starving

The Oscars show is long, always longer than the scheduled 3 ½ hours. Host Ellen DeGeneres ordered pizza for the audience in 2014, and last year Kimmel made sure there were snack boxes with soft pretzels under every seat.

Smart guests bring power bars and Oscar producers have promised more snacks this year. But the best bet is to hold tight for the post-party Governors Ball where chef Wolfgang Puck serves his trademark smoked salmon Oscar statuettes and chicken pot pies topped with fresh-shaved truffles (Barbra Streisand's favorite dish).