Today is National Drink Wine Day—one of those mysterious holidays that seem to spring fully formed from your Facebook or Twitter feed. A Google search leaves the holiday’s origins ambiguous but seems to at least source it to a year: 2011. So happy Fifth-Annual National Drink Wine Day, everyone. Who are we to argue with such a fantastic idea? To put you in the mood to guzzle some grapes, here are 20 TV characters who know their way around a bottle. Let their hardy livers inspire you.
TYRION LANNISTER—GAME OF THRONES
The shortest member of the Lannister clan is, nonetheless, its most accomplished drinker. Ever since Tyrion made his first appearance in the pilot he’s not been too far from a wine bottle, goblet, or skin.
TYRION LANNISTER—GAME OF THRONES |
CERSEI LANNISTER—GAME OF THRONES
But if anyone could give Tyrion a run for his money in the drinking department, it’s his sister: Cersei. The thirst she developed when holed up during the Battle of the Blackwater in Season 2 has only increased in the intervening years. Maybe if she had been drinking less and scheming more, Season 5 wouldn’t have gone quite so terribly for her.
CERSEI LANNISTER—GAME OF THRONES |
ALICIA FLORRICK—THE GOOD WIFE
Alicia recently got in trouble with her neighbors for running a law office out of her swanky Chicago apartment. But if I shared a recycling bin with the Florrick household, I would have raised a few flags long before. She doesn’t need wine—she likes wine. For the record, she likes tequila too.
LINDSAY JILLIAN—YOU’RE THE WORST
Any one of the four core characters on this show could have cropped up here but somehow I think Linds is the most inclined to prefer wine. It’s classy, just like her.
LINDSAY JILLIAN—YOU’RE THE WORST |
ROBIN SCHERBATSKY—HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
It’s possible now that she’s found a happily ever after with Ted, Robin is less inclined to drink under a desk while weeping. Then again, when Ted gets out his red cowboy boots, we won’t blame Robin for taking a deep swig, or 20.
ROBIN SCHERBATSKY—HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER |
THE CUL-DE-SAC CREW—COUGAR TOWN
If you don’t have a Big Carl or Big Joe to call your very own, then fill the closest vase with all the wine you have, make fun of your neighbors, play Penny Can, and fondly remember this late, great show.
TAMI TAYLOR—FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Truth be told, both Eric and Tami Taylor enjoyed unwinding with a glass of wine, but I decided to put Mrs. Coach on here because . . .
AMY SCHUMER—INSIDE AMY SCHUMER
Amy Schumer paid such a beautiful homage to Connie Britton’s character in her sketch “Football Town Nights.” Bleary eyes, full glass, can’t lose.
BERNARD BLACK—BLACK BOOKS
I don’t recommend trying Bernard Black’s wine popsicle (or ice lolly if you’re British) at home. Freezing a full, glass wine bottle sounds like a recipe for disaster. But if you can pull it off, more power to you, and may I suggest a nice rosé?
LIZ LEMON—30 ROCK
You know what pairs well with Night Cheese? Treadmill wine. But if neither of those sounds good, you might want to try some of Liz Lemon’s patented Funky Juice. Find the recipe here.
LIZ LEMON—30 ROCK |
HANNIBAL LECTER—HANNIBAL
What good is an elegantly prepared meal without a nice Chianti to wash it down?
HANNIBAL LECTER—HANNIBAL |
CARRIE MATHISON—HOMELAND
I don’t, however, recommend you wash down your meds with wine. But if you do, make sure you’re ready to blow your life up completely and repeatedly.
CARRIE MATHISON—HOMELAND |
KATHIE LEE GIFFORD AND HODA KOTB—THE TODAY SHOW
O.K., yes, Kathie Lee and Hoda aren’t exactly characters, but, well, aren’t they? Like Tami Taylor before her, Kathie Lee got her own loving send-up courtesy of S.N.L.’s Kristen Wiig. Wiig’s preferred accessory? A wine glass, of course.
KATHIE LEE GIFFORD AND HODA KOTB—THE TODAY SHOW |
EDINA MONSOON AND PATSY STONE—ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS
Eddie and Patsy—maybe the original Hoda and Kathie Lee?—are back in the news today thanks to the teaser for their upcoming movie. As you might expect, the women have not changed their hard-drinking ways one bit. You wouldn’t want it any other way, would you, sweetie darling?
EDINA MONSOON AND PATSY STONE—ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS |
SKYLER WHITE—BREAKING BAD
When things got especially rough in the White household, Skyler turned to some classic white-wine therapy to get her through tense dinners and even tenser nights. I’d like to think that with a little bit of closure from Walt, Skyler is no longer hitting the bottle quite as hard. But she should go ahead and do whatever she needs to do to get through. She deserves it.
SKYLER WHITE—BREAKING BAD |
OLIVIA POPE—SCANDAL
If you decide to go full Olivia Pope today and drink red wine while wearing white, then I take my over-sized white hat off to you. You’re a braver drinker than most of us.
OLIVIA POPE—SCANDAL |
Watching National Drink Wine Day: The 16 TV Characters Most Likely to Toast Video