Television or the drink?

Television has the unique power of bringing people together. The usual complaint is that a tv dominates the living room. The flip side to this is that it unifies the thought of each viewer, to a remarkable degree. Films can do this, but there is nothing quite like mimicking a line from a tv show, only for your interlocutor to reciprocate, turning the dialogue into a skit.
Of course, if you happen to be reading the same book as another person (apart from Potty Harry, what are the odds...) there is instant rapport. But really, 'what are the odds?'