h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The basic rule behind this one is you have to have a television going, and it should preferably be showing a cult classic, like Star Trek, Red Dwarf or the Bob Newhart show.

For example: the best known TV drinking game is "Hi Bob." You watch the Bob Newhart Show, and whenever someone says "Hi, Bob," you take a shot. That's enough to get you blotto right there.

The rules are sundry and profuse, and you can pick any TV show on the planet to have an excuse to drink.

Any liquor is acceptable. Cheating is not an option, because everybody playing can (basically) understand what is coming out of the TV sound-wise.

There are even sites on the internet devoted to the TV drinking games, with specific rules for each show. The most detailed one is the Red Dwarf drinking game, with rules for each character and specific phrases. They even go so far as to reccomend that you DON'T use all the rules from this site during one sitting, but pick about five of the rules per show.

TV based drinking games are best played with friends who share the same fanaticism for the show that you choose as you do. In other words, if you're not a trekkie, then don't play the Star Trek version. It'll just annoy you. And make you wonder where you can get your hands on some Romulan Ale.

The best part of a TV drinking game is that you can play it at home, there-by reducing the probability that you'll have to drive home from the pub absolutely snockered.