It's far enough out that I feel I can stop a few people from making big mistakes this halloween.  Here are some costume ideas you should NOT use this year.

ANY Celebrity who was recently in the news:

I'm looking at you, guy who has that "killer" Charlie Sheen costume planned.  You think you will be the only Sheen at the big party?  Wrong!  There will be at least 10!  What's that?  You say that you will have a great prop?  Like Tiger Blood?  At least 8 of the other Sheens will also have this idea.  Unless you have an actual dead hooker in your trunk, you won't be the one who stands out.

Lady Gaga:

This has been a popular one for the past couple years.  This year will be no exception.  Much like Charlie Sheen there will be a TON of them.  And most of them will have a better outfit than you.

The zombie version of somebody who died this year:

In years past this one has taken the form of Billy Mayes, Michael Jackson, Kurt Cobain, Abe Lincoln and so on.  It's not an original idea.  This year the big one will be Zombie Amy Winehouse with a needle sticking out of her arm.

Fat chick as sexy Nurse, cheerleader, cop, catwoman etc:

Really?  I think we both know that this costume is not doing any of us any favors sweetie.

Any guy dressed as a chick:

Cheerleader, Hooters Girl and so on.  Guys dressed as chicks are not as funny as you think they are.  Trust me.

Free breast exam machine

This has never worked in the (long) history of this costume.  Also I got 5 bucks that says the guy wearing it was voted "Most Likely to Murder a Woman at the Bus Station" in high school.

Adult version of a childs costume:

Power rangers and such.  This is also where you will find the jackass who thinks his Sheriff Woody costume is hilarious because "He's a giant Woody"  Give it a rest dude.

Any costume that should have been retired YEARS ago:

I'm looking at you Captain Jack Sparrow!  This catagory also includes the guy dressed as a tampon, The Giant Bong, Towlie From South Park and Heath Ledgers version of The Joker.  (Nobody wants to "See a magic trick" you douchebag)

Stay away from anything on this list and you should be fine.  If you already had a "great" Captain Jack costume planned, sorry.  You'll thank me when you don't get knocked the hell out by some dude who heard you say "Savvy?" a few hundred times.