A novice to the world of "Cowboy Bebop" may take a little time adjusting to the quirkiness of this mixed-genre series. So the experts at Akadot have devised a method to make the transition from reruns of "Starsky and Hutch" and "Space Ghost" to "Bebop" a bit smoother. Shucks howdy and happy hunting.

As most "Bebop" fans know, the title of each episode refers to a song. When the title appears on-screen everyone in the room must name another song by that band or composer. Take turns naming appropriate songs until someone can't think of one. They drink. While naming songs there is no pausing, and no hemming or hawing to think. You either have one or you don't.

In the center of the room, place one fewer spoon than there are people playing. Every time a new bounty is announced everyone must grab a spoon. Whoever loses out becomes the bounty head. They may either (A) turn themselves in immediately (slam their drink and then not drink for the rest of the episode); or (B) go on the run (remain free until (1) the bounty head in the episode is either captured or killed, in which case the game's bounty head must drink everyone's open drink and fetch everyone new ones; or (2) the bounty head escapes or is set free, in which case everyone else must drink).

Anytime a player goes to the refrigerator for more drinks, everyone must raise a solemn toast and salute their courage. The contents of most otaku's refrigerators can be very dangerous and that brave player may never return. Godspeed noble beer-wench, godspeed!

Whenever there is an unexplained reference to Spike's shadowy past everyone must drink- but don't let anyone see you do so. If they do, deny that it ever happened, and drink again.

Anytime Faye Valentine is gambling and winning, all guys must drink. If she's gambling and loses, women drink.

Every time Spike comes into possession of a very valuable and much sought after (usually stolen) object that nasty characters want to take away from him, everyone must find the one thing in the room that they value most (their beer, their manga collection, their limited-edition Gundam) and take a moment to tell that object how much they love it. If Spike ever loses the very valuable object, drink a toast to all the fond memories of your very valuable object.

Anyone who joins the game late, or enters the room and asks, "What's this?" or, "What are you watching?" must go to a blackboard, bare wall or fogged-up shower mirror and write the following phrase a hundred times neatly. "Spike Spiegel is even cooler than the vampire Spike on 'Buffy'." They may not share any of your alcohol until they have done so.

Anyone caught laughing audibly at the weird antics of the cross-gender Ed must stand up and admit to the group that they have a problem. Then they must drink continuously until they have calmed themselves and no longer suffer from such outbursts.

Anyone who makes any of the following puns about the canine Ein's name:

"Would you like 'ein stein' of beer?"

"Do you think Ein would like 'zwei drei' martinis?"

"That dog reminds me of 'my'ein'."

"That crap Ein is eating looks like 'f'ein d'eining'."

or any equally bad puns must admit to the group that they themselves are in fact dumber than the average dog, and they must offer whatever drink they have to any pet in the room.

Due to "Bebop's" stolid refusal to bring complete closure to any plotline, drink continuously until you can understand what the hell just happened. Thank you and goodnight!

Cowboy Bebop © Sunrise/Bandai Ent.