The TV News Drinking Game

A Few Rules

    This game can be played during any program produced by a network, cable, or local news operation.  The term “anchor” refers to any person involved in the live on-camera, in-studio presentation of a newscast, (ie. news, weather and sports people, on-set reporters, etc.)
    Of course, know when to say "when."  Don't drink and drive.  As always, no wagering.
 

Drink Whenever:

GENERAL

• An anchor mentions the name of his/her network/station.
• TWICE if an anchor mentions the name of another network/station.
• A microphone flag from another station appears on the air.
• TWICE if a reporter or anchor from another station appears on the air.
• An anchor pretends to sort through papers on the desk.
  
   
• A news anchor is chroma-keyed in front of anything.
• An anchor laughs.
• A generic network liveshot is attempted.
• TWICE if it takes more than five seconds for the network reporter to start talking.
• The anchor thanks the network reporter after the liveshot.
  
   
• Video of fat people shot only from the neck down is shown.
• An anchor or reporter says, medical breakthrough, high tech, fighting for / clinging to life, a family left homeless, or a parent’s worst nightmare.
• You hear someone who is not normally on-camera. (ie. floor directors, camera people, station guests)
• TWICE if you see someone who is not normally on-camera. (bump shots count)
  
   
• Anyone appearing on-camera is not fully clothed. (not necessarily talent. people behind liveshots count)
• An on-air person is refered to only as a letter or series of letters. (ie. Mr. G, A.J.)
• You hear the words Live, Big Board Sports, AccuWeather, Team Coverage, or Exclusive.
• An anchor or reporter says the name of a body part that normally is not discussed in polite mixed company.
• An interview or standup is conducted in front of a bookcase.
  
   
• More than one reporter appears on-camera simultaneously.
• A station vehicle appears on-camera.
• You see or hear a helicopter.
• A reporter uses a prop in a standup.
• A reporter wears a hard hat, or any protective garment.
  
   
• TWICE if the reporter mentions the hard hat, or protective garment.
• It’s obvious the reporter shot his/her own standup.
• A reporter appears on camera in multiple, non-consecutive standups.
• A reporter walks during a standup.
• TWICE if a reporter runs during a standup.
  
   
• A reporter is more than 100 yards from the camera during a standup.
• TWICE if a reporter is in some sort of costume.
• A reporter is driving during a standup.
• TWICE if the camera is somewhere besides in the car with the reporter.
• A reporter is in a boat or aircraft.
• TWICE if the reporter is operating the boat or aircraft. (holding an oar counts)
  
   
• Anyone eats on-camera.
• A reporter is on skis, snowboard, skates, skateboard, or stilts.
• A standup was obviously done in or within walking distance of the station, or a reporter's or photographer's house.
• FULL BEER if both of a reporter’s feet at any time leave the ground during a standup.  (Skipping, skydiving,  bungee jumping, temporary mid-air suspension of any kind)

WEATHER

• The weather person is shown "...in the weather center finishing up your forecast..." during a bump shot.
• A weather person says radiational cooling, frontal system, disturbance, trough, or dew point.
• The word “doppler,” or "NEXRAD" is said, immediately followed by a number.
• TWICE if that number is higher than one thousand.

ERRORS

• TWICE if an anchor is obviously chroma-keyed in front of the wrong thing.
• FULL BEER if it’s so bad a non-news person would notice and laugh.
• TWICE if an anchor laughs uncontrollably.
• FULL BEER if it’s so bad the station has to go to black.
• TelePrompTer obviously goes out.
• TWICE if the anchor says nothing intelligible for more than five seconds.
  
   
• An anchor or reporter is CG’d as someone else.
• TWICE if an anchor or reporter is CG’d as an animal or celebrity.

NETWORK NEWS

• A network anchor is anywhere besides New York.
• TWICE if a network anchor is outside the United States.
• A NETWORK reporter BESIDES JEFF FLOCK so much as moves a muscle below the neck during a standup.
• You hear the word tonight.
• TWICE if it’s said by Diane Sawyer or Sam Donaldson. (consult a physician before playing during PrimeTime Live’s headlines)
  
   
• Katie Couric appears on an NBC show OTHER THAN Today.
• One drink for every period of five consecutive seconds that Katie Couric is not smiling. (on any show)
• Dan Rather cries.
• Tom Brokaw slurs.
• Peter Jennings looks off-camera to your right.