Mashable

TikTok brought the TikTok Awards to the U.S. for the first time this year — and after attending the underwhelming show in person, I'm not totally convinced it should happen again.

The night was a total disaster: full of tech mishaps, hot mics, and an ever-growing absent crowd.

The red carpet itself looked promising at first. Creators like Yasmine Sahid, Ashby Florence, Alexis Nikole Nelson, and Janette Ok walked the carpet, and there was no shortage of TikTok-famous faces. But the reach stopped there. You might have expected the main cast members from I Love LA, a show deeply rooted in TikTok culture, to make an appearance. Not to mention, there weren't very many celebrities beyond the FYP bubble — despite the fact that actors and musicians use the app constantly to promote their work. Of course, not everyone attends a carpet, but the absence was curious.

Then came the delay. The show started nearly an hour late. Inside the venue, rumors spread quickly that we were waiting on Paris Hilton, but once she got comfortable — trailed by an entourage fit for royalty, including one person whose sole job seemed to be holding a light inches from her face — we still didn't start.

That's when it became obvious where the real problem was.

All around the room, tech crew members dressed head-to-toe in black scrambled in the back of the venue. The screens weren't working, which is a catastrophic issue for any award show, but especially for one built entirely around short-form video.

"We are running a little late because this is quite a powerful room. You are so powerful because you blew out our screens," Kim Farrell, the global head of creators at TikTok, told the room of restless creators before the show finally began. (A TikTok spokesperson confirmed to Mashable that a "venue-specific electrical issue" affected the on-site screens, resulting in the delay.) The relief didn't last long.

Almost every presenter's bit relied on those screens. La La Anthony, hosting alongside Ashby Florence (who was seated in the crowd), opened the show with an interaction that required La La to show her For You Page on the big screen. Without it, the moment landed awkwardly — confusing for viewers watching at home and uncomfortable in the room.

And that set the tone.

Ashby, to her credit, carried the night. Her crowd work was charming, quick, and genuinely funny, and she managed to inject life into moments that otherwise would have completely stalled. I hope she was paid extraordinarily well, because she was doing the work of an entire production team.

Rei Ami and Ashby Florence fire off a Labubu cannon. Credit: Phillip Faraone and Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for TikTok

Once it became clear the screens weren't coming back, most presenters didn't adjust their scripts at all. They continued gesturing toward blank screens while audio from unseen montages played. Tefi Pessoa's presentation for Video of the Year worked regardless, but when the award went to Bretman Rock, he wasn’t there to accept it, which was another recurring issue. Roughly a third of the winners weren't in the room.

That absence may have something to do with how the night felt less like a celebration and more like a very long advertisement.

Every award was, of course, tied back to TikTok, but the show was cluttered with sponsor integrations — Carl’s Jr., e.l.f. Cosmetics — and awards branded for TikTok-owned tools. There was a CapCut award instead of a general editing category. TikTok Shop presented an award. It was TikTok giving TikTok Awards to TikTok, and while all award shows are commercial at some level, this one felt especially on the nose.

As the night went on, more and more people quietly left their seats and the venue altogether. There were no seat fillers, so the empty chairs became impossible to ignore. Despite repeated reminders about an upcoming Ciara performance, the room was probably 15 percent empty by the time she finally took the stage.

The princess is here to save us. Credit: Phillip Faraone and Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for TikTok

To be fair, Ciara performed, and she absolutely delivered. Between her performance and Ashby’s relentless effort to keep things fun, the night stayed afloat. But just barely.

When Keith Lee accepted the Creator of the Year award, the tone in the room shifted. Lee was visibly emotional, and TikTok announced a $50,000 donation to Feeding America in his honor. It was a rare moment of sincerity in an otherwise uneven night. And it underscored how creators should be awarded for their work — they entertain us, make us laugh, help us learn, and inspire us. These kinds of creator-led award shows should exist. The Webby Awards and the Shorty Awards play a role in uplifting short-form content and its creators, for instance. But this attempt from TikTok fell short.

And maybe that's because it broke its own unwritten rule. The platform that thrives on spontaneity and creator culture instead opted for moments that felt designed for clips, rather than genuine connection.

Earlier in the evening, before the show began, Mashable asked creators on the red carpet what their word of the year would be. Merriam-Webster had just announced "slop" as its official word of 2025, and we wanted to see what the Extremely Online would have to say. La La Anthony said "change." Alexis Nikole Nelson chose "bold." Kelsey Anderson said, "Period." Tan France went with "C U Next Tuesday" (the actual word, not the phrase). And Ashby offered the most painfully accurate word of all: "conundrum."

After being inside that room all night, though, Merriam-Webster might've nailed it the first time.

Amazon loves to throw a sale. This year we had Amazon's Big Spring Sale in March, Prime Day in July, Prime Big Deal Days in November, and to close out the year, there's a Super Saturday Sale on Dec. 20. It's a last-minute opportunity for shoppers to do some Christmas shopping while saving a buck.

During the sale, Amazon is clearly marking products that will arrive by Christmas. Plus, plenty of items are available for same-day delivery, too. Hopefully, that means you won't be caught waiting for your gifts by the front door on Christmas Eve.

Amazon has provided a sneak peak of the savings to come but these deals are only available to Prime members. Here's what to expect during Amazon's Super Saturday sale.

Amazon Super Saturday savings

During the Super Saturday sale, Amazon seems to be focusing on beauty and fashion deals. Some of the highlights will include:

• Up to 50% off Charlotte Tilbury Calm Bliss Eau de Parfum

• Up to 49% off Hydro Flask Travel Tumbler in Thyme Green

• Up to 40% off Crayola Art Set for Kids

• Up to 33% off T3 Aire 360 Multi-Styler & Blowout System 

• Up to 30% off Charlotte Tilbury Glowgasm Beauty Light Wand

• Up to 25% off Touchland SWEET RUSH Body and Hand Mist Essentials Set

• Up to 20% off Away Medium Checked Luggage in Cloud Gray and Ted Baker Women’s ICON Tote

• Up to 15% off Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Face Moisturizer and Vince Camuto Knee High Boots

More Amazon Super Saturday savings

In addition to the savings on products, Amazon is offering up to 20% off gift cards. And did you know Amazon has a bounty of travel deals. During the sale find savings up to 35% off Disney Cruises, 30% off Avis car rentals, and $30 off experiences booked through Tripadvisor.

How to join Amazon Prime

To shop Amazon's Super Saturday sale, there's one catch — you need to be a Prime member. Membership costs $14.99 a month and in addition to sale access, enjoy the benefit of same-day, one-day, or two-day delivery. Visit Amazon to join.

SAVE $120: As of Dec. 19, get the Roku 4K HDR Streambar SE and Wireless Bass Bundle for $99.98 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $229.98. That's a discount of 57%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Roku 4K HDR Streambar SE and Wireless Bass Bundle $99.98 at Amazon
$229.98 Save $130   Get Deal

Looking for an affordable way to upgrade your home entertainment center? A great way to stream your favorite content and improved audio is a good way to do that. Amazon has a deal you won't want to miss ahead of the holidays. This is a home entertainment deal you won't want to pass up.

As of Dec. 19, get the Roku 4K HDR Streambar SE and Wireless Bass Bundle for $99.98 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $229.98. That's $120 off and a discount of 57%.

SEE ALSO: The best soundbars for upgrading your home entertainment

This bundle comes with the Roku 4K HDR Streambar SE and Roku Wireless Bass, both things you can use to enhance your TV viewing routine significantly. First off, the Roku streambar is a soundbar you can use to add some excellent audio to your favorite shows and movis. It gives you seamless streaming options and simple setup that lets you attach a soundbar to your TV setup effortlessly.

Then, the Wireless Bass adds the booming sound you need to pair with your audio to feel every vibration that's happening onscreen. Connect it via Bluetooth to add some simple but effective bass no matter where you set your Streambar up. Plus, everything is controlled via one remote to make things even simpler.

If you're ready for great audio that doesn't take long to set up (or cost an arm and a leg), grab this bundle while it's still available.

SAVE $500.99: As of Dec. 19, you can get the 16-inch HP OmniBook 5 2K Next Gen AI PC (AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for just $439, down from $939.99, at Walmart.

16-inch HP OmniBook 5 2K Next Gen AI PC (AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $439 at Walmart
$939.99 Save $500.99   Get Deal at Walmart

If you have a college student in your life who's still lugging around a heavy, dying laptop (or if you’re tired of waiting 10+ minutes for your own computer to wake up), it’s time for an upgrade. A solid laptop is one of those "treat yourself" purchases that actually pays off every single day, especially when it’s fast enough to handle everything from thesis papers to high-res streaming without making those loud, high-wind cries for help.

SEE ALSO: We tested over 30 laptops in 2025. Here are the 12 best for every budget and use case.

Right now, you can get the 16-inch HP OmniBook 5 2K Next Gen AI PC (AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for just $439, down from $939.99, at Walmart. You'll also get up to four months of Apple Music and Apple Arcade, and up to three months of AppleTV for free with your purchase.

This is a "Next Gen AI PC," meaning it has a dedicated AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor with 50 NPU TOPS built to handle smart features like Microsoft Copilot+ without slowing down. The 16-inch 2K display is a huge step up from the grainy screens you usually see at this price, and the battery lasts for up to 16 hours and 45 minutes of video playback, which is a literal lifesaver if you're jumping between classes or coffee shops all day.

SAVE $100: As of Dec. 19, get the LG 65-inch B5 Series AI OLED 4K TV for $896.99. That saves you $100 off its $996.99 list price for 10% savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 65-inch B5 Series AI OLED 4K TV $896.99 at Amazon
$996.99 Save $100   Get Deal

We're declaring winter as TV season. When it's cold outside, you want to be inside, not to mention there's plenty to watch. Over the holidays, it's time to gather around watching family favorites like Home Alone. For sports fans, it's the thick of NBA season and NFL playoffs. Not to mention, awards season kicks off on Jan. 11 with the Golden Globes on CBS and Paramount+. So if you're looking to upgrade your TV, we found a deal that arrives in time for Christmas.

The LG 65-inch B5 Series AI OLED 4K TV is down to $896.99 as of Dec. 19. That's the lowest price ever on the TV that delivers 4K resolution with crisp OLEDs. This deal at Amazon saves you $100 off its $996.99 price tag. Not only will it save you 10% off, but it'll arrive before Christmas, too.

The LG B5 Series is a next-level TV. It comes with 4K pictures, powered by OLEDs. It has Perfect Black and Perfect Color technology for the most accurate displays, not to mention Dolby Vision gives it a cinematic boost. This LG TV's big selling point is its new AI features that automatically detect what you're watching and improve the picture and sound settings.

Get the LG 65-inch B5 Series AI OLED 4K TV for $896.99 at Amazon and with Prime, it'll arrive before Christmas.

SAVE 21%: As of Dec. 19, you can get the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3D Printer for $299.99, down from $379.99, at Amazon.

Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3D Printer $299.99 at Amazon
$379.99 Save $80   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at ELEGOO

If you've been interested in giving 3D printing a go, but haven't moved forward due to budget restraints or skill level, we found a 3D printer that's both easy to use and affordable.

Right now, the Elegoo Centauri Carbon 3D Printer is on sale for $299.99, down from $379.99, at Amazon. That’s a 21% discount on what our freelance reviewer, Adam Doud, says is "truly beginner-friendly." It also arrives before Christmas, so you can have it unboxed and printing in about 20 minutes.

This machine is designed to be "plug-and-play." Unlike older printers that require a lot of tinkering, it arrives fully assembled and has a full auto-calibration cycle that levels itself.

SEE ALSO: Like a swarm of bees, these 3D printing robots can build almost any structure

"I'm sure there are more advanced models for hardcore 3D printing hobbyists," writes Doud. "But when I consider that my entire journey from unboxing the printer to printing 24/7 happened over less than a week, I'm impressed both with Elegoo for making an idiot-friendly 3D printer that even I could understand, and with myself for finally embracing a new category of tech that I had previously thought beyond my abilities."

It also has flagship-level features that usually cost twice as much, like a fully enclosed design that keeps noise down and helps maintain the right internal temperature for higher-quality prints. It’s also super fast (up to 500 mm/s print speeds) and comes with a built-in camera so you can monitor your progress in the mobile app while you're in another room.

Maybe it's me, but it sure doesn't seem like a good idea to drive the wrong way on a road. I'm just a measly human being, however, not the technological marvel that is a driverless car.

A recent viral video shows a driverless Waymo robotaxi driving straight into oncoming traffic in Austin, Texas. The post has garnered lots of upvotes on Reddit. In the video, you see that the robotaxi crawls to a halt facing the wrong direction, staring down oncoming traffic. Obviously out of sorts, it has its right turn signal on before whipping left into a gas station. "Just another day in Austin," reads the caption.

Perfectly executed maneuver, no notes.

Reddit

The incident happened on a frontage road near I-35 in Austin, according to MySanAntonio. The local news source reported that neither the Austin Police Department nor the Austin Transportation and Public Works Department had received reports on the issue.

"Safety is our highest priority at Waymo, both for people who choose to ride with us and with whom we share the streets," wrote a Waymo spokesperson in an email to Mashable. "We take situations like this seriously and are committed to improving road safety through our ongoing learnings and experience."

It's been a rough month for Waymo and safety concerns. Earlier this month, it issued a software recall after reports its robotaxis were illegally passing school buses. A a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation found Waymos had passed buses in at least 19 incidents in Austin.

SAVE $250: As of Dec. 19, get the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 for $849.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,099.99. That's a discount of 23% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 $849.99 at Amazon
$1,099.99 Save $250   Get Deal

We're on the precipice of 2026, and that means new starts and fresh reboots. Why not get a new phone to celebrate the occasion? It's time to shed the old and bring in the new, and you can do just that with an affordable Android phone that's made it to the most affordable price it's ever been.

As of Dec. 19, get the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 for $849.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $1,099.99. That's $250 off and a discount of 23%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The best smartphones of 2025 include some surprises

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a modern version of the quintessential flip phone. It boasts Samsung's powerful Exynos 2500 processor, which makes it a zippy and capable device for calls, video, and all other types of media. It also has 256GB of storage, a 50MP wide angle camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera and a 1-year manufacturer warranty with your purchase.

Mashable's Adam Doud took the phone for a spin and awarded it a 4.4 out of 5 score, praising its "excellent build quality and improved hinge" as well as its "excellent camera".

"If you're a fan of the form factor, this is the most compelling foldable on offer here in the United States," Doud proclaimed. "I like what Samsung has finally done here, catching up to its contemporaries and restarting a competition war in which the consumer will ultimately win."

You can pick up the phone for its lowest sale price yet, so grab it while it's still available.

SAVE $452.06: As of Dec. 19, get the Philips 4400 Series espresso machine for just $747.93. That knocks $452.06 off its $1,199.99 list price for 38% savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Philips Philips 4400 Series Espresso Machine $747.93 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $452.06   Get Deal

When it's chilly outside and warm under the covers, getting out of bed feels like an impossible task. So having a morning ritual to motivate you to start your day really makes a difference. For most of us, that means coffee. If your regular old coffee maker just isn't doing it for you anymore, you deserve an upgrade and an espresso machine turns your kitchen into a café. If you're looking for a new machine but want to score a good deal, check out the Philips 4400 Series.

As of Dec. 19, get the Philips 4400 Series espresso machine for 38% off. It's a luxe machine, retailing for $1,199.99, but with this deal you can score it for just $747.93. That saves you a ton, $452.06 to be exact.

The Philips 4400 Series is the ultimate automated machine. If you want your coffee at the press of a button and aren't looking to perfect your grind or microfoam, the 4400 Series is the answer. It comes with 12 presets and will automatically grind, tamp, and pull your coffee. Plus, it'll foam and steam your milk.

Get the Philips 4400 Series espresso machine for $747.93 and save $452.06 at Amazon.

YouTube has shut down two high-profile channels, Screen Culture and KH Studio, for repeatedly violating its spam and misleading metadata policies by publishing AI-generated, fake movie trailers, Deadline reports.

Together, the channels had amassed over 2 million subscribers and more than 1 billion views.

Both channels were known for creating highly realistic "trailers" for unreleased or non-existent films by mixing official studio footage with AI-generated visuals, often misleading viewers into believing the projects were real. One example included Screen Culture's 23 versions of a fake Fantastic Four trailer, some of which outranked Marvel's official release.

SEE ALSO: Google reportedly takes down AI videos of Disney characters following cease and desist

Their pages now display a standard YouTube removal notice.

Earlier in 2024, YouTube had demonetized the channels following a Deadline investigation into the rise of AI-generated fake trailers. According to Deadline, the creators later regained monetization by labeling videos as "fan trailers," "parodies," or "concept trailers," but eventually removed those disclaimers and returned to their earlier practices. Deadline reports that this reversion led directly to their termination from YouTube.

The Deadline investigation also found that instead of requesting takedowns, some major studios — including Warner Bros. Discovery and Sony — quietly asked YouTube to redirect ad revenue from these AI-heavy videos to themselves.

SEE ALSO: Google's Veo 3 AI video generator is unlike anything you've ever seen. The world isn't ready.

Adding to the pressure, Disney recently sent a cease-and-desist letter to Google, alleging that its AI training models infringe Disney copyrights "on a massive scale."

The channel takedowns have been welcomed by parts of the fan-trailer community, with one content creator telling Deadline, "The monster was defeated."

SAVE $66.48: As of Dec. 19, get the Magic: The Gathering Avatar: The Last Airbender Collector Booster Box for $389.40 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $455.88. That's a discount of 15% and comparable to the market value at TCGPlayer.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Magic: The Gathering Avatar: The Last Airbender Collector Booster Box $389.40 at Amazon
$455.88 Save $66.48   Get Deal

If you're an avid Magic: The Gathering collector and want to add some new cards to your stash, now's a good time to do it. Now that the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collection is dropping on March 6, you can save on the previous Universe Beyond collaboration and snap up some of the Avatar: The Last Airbender cards you may be missing.

As of Dec. 19, get the Magic: The Gathering Avatar: The Last Airbender Collector Booster Box for $389.40 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $455.88. That's a discount of 15% and comparable to the market value at TCGPlayer.

SEE ALSO: The Magic: The Gathering Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Play Booster Box is now below market value at Amazon

This booster box contains 12 packs of Collector Boosters, each of which containing 15 cards per pack. They also come with 5 cards of guaranteed rarity Rare or higher. They could come with special alt-art and alt-border cards featuring characters from the series and special moments with them as well.

Collector Boosters are some of the only booster packs that come with special foil treatment cards and ultra-rare headline cards as well, with additional chase cards you can only get in these particular packs. That's a total of 180 cards, so you'll get more than enough to build decks and chances to own some of the rarer cards in the set.

Whether you're an avid collector or want to surprise one this holiday season, now's the time to pounce on this particular set.

SAVE 29%: Score the Breville Barista Express for just $499.95, down from $699.95, at Amazon. That's a 20% discount or a $200 price cut.

Breville the Barista Express Espresso Machine (BES870XL) $499.95 at Amazon
$699.95 Save $200.00   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Best Buy

If you’ve been waiting for the "perfect" time to stop spending $7 on lattes, this is it. The Breville Barista Express (BES870XL) is currently on sale for $499.95 at Amazon. That's a $200 discount (29% off) and matches the record-low price we saw during Black Friday.

This machine is an all-in-one setup; it has everything you need to get started, including a built-in conical burr grinder (which can easily cost another $200+). The grinder delivers the right amount of fresh coffee directly into the portafilter for bean-to-espresso results in under a minute. And unlike cheaper machines with "frothers," this has a real manual steam wand that lets you create the kind of microfoam needed for latte art.

SEE ALSO: The best coffee machines for modern kitchens

One quick tip: There's a slight learning curve here. You’ll spend your first afternoon "dialing in" your grind size and dose, but once you find the sweet spot for your favorite beans, it’s remarkably consistent.

Some owners of LG smart TVs were unpleasantly surprised to see unwanted shortcuts for Microsoft Copilot suddenly pop up on their smart TVs this month. Even worse, these shortcuts were impossible to delete; best you could do is hide them, but the actual Microsoft Copilot app would remain installed on the TV.

Now, Engadget reports that LG has relented in its pursuit of forcing Copilot down its users' throats. According to an LG representative, the company will "take steps to allow users to delete the shortcut icon if they wish."

SEE ALSO: Samsung and LG preview new Micro RGB TVs. OK, but what are Micro RGB TVs?

The idea behind the Copilot shortcut was, reportedly, to launch it in the web browser on LG TVs, instead of as a native smart TV app.

However, placing a Microsoft Copilot shortcut on the smart TV's shortcut bar is probably a bad idea. I've tried out my share of phones full of bloatware, and I was never too happy about having pre-installed app that I didn't need, especially if I was unable to delete it.

It's unclear when LG will allow users to remove Copilot from their TVs, but it's likely coming via a future software update.

How do you feel about Hallmark movies?

Hallmark, as you might guess, is divisive. But what you might not know is that Hallmark is more than a TV channel slash greeting card company…it’s a powerhouse. A genuine phenomenon. Hallmark Cards has been in the TV business since 1951! And in 2024, Hallmark Channel was the #1 cable entertainment channel. Hallmark Mystery — which is its own channel, just so you know — was number #3 with women 18+ in Q4. Hallmark is also a convention…and a CRUISE.

No matter your opinion on Hallmark movies, you probably don't know the story behind why Hallmark movies really hit. Video producer Matt Fornwald takes us on a mind-bending journey through (mostly) every 2025 Hallmark holiday movie to discover the formula behind what draws so many people to Hallmark holiday movies every year.

If you'd like to take a deeper dive, check out the extended video on YouTube.

SAVE OVER $80: As of Dec. 19, the Lego Technic NASA Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle (42182) has hit its lowest-ever price of $137.99. This is 37% off its list price of $219.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Technic NASA Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle LRV Building Set (42182) $137.99 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $82   Get Deal

Amazon has been dropping some great deals on select Lego sets recently in the lead-up to the holidays. If you have an adult Lego fan on your seasonal shopping list, this discount on the Lego Technic NASA Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle (42182) is worth a look. Particularly because it's hit its lowest price yet at the retailer.

For a limited time, Amazon has knocked the price of the Lego Technic NASA Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle set down to $137.99 from $219.99. This saves you a whopping $82, which is an excellent offer to take advantage of. Not to mention, it'll even arrive before Christmas if you pick it up now, according to the Amazon sale page. So why wait?

SEE ALSO: The 30 best new Lego sets run the gamut from Game Boy to 'The Goonies' and the U.S.S. Enterprise

This 1,913-piece Lego set creates a detailed display model of the lunar rover module that was carried by Apollo 17, alongside three attachable equipment sets that each have their own information plaque. Given its very detailed assembly and piece count, it's a set that's recommended for adults to build. If you know someone with a love of space, this is a great gift to give them for the holiday season that'll arrive just in time.

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Considering Amazon has it listed as a limited-time deal, it likely won't stay at this price for long. Now is a great opportunity to save $82 on the Lego Technic NASA Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle set while it's still on sale at Amazon.

Christmas is coming up fast, but if you're looking for more gift ideas, our roundup of the 60+ best Christmas gifts for 2025 highlights some more options worth giving this year.

With Wake Up Dead Man, writer/director Rian Johnson brings a third fascinating Benoit Blanc murder-mystery to movie fans. But what inspired this heady blend of faith, fear, and dogged logic?

Johnson spoke with Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko in a Say More interview. Their conversation began on Broadway, weaving in Johnson's long-held love of the theater — including his hopes for Miss Piggy doing Oh, Mary! From there, he talked his love of genre, blending highbrow and lowbrow elements. They dug into that neck tattoo of Josh O'Connor's "hot priest" — and how the internet is thirsting hard over it.

Fun fact for fans: O'Connor created the design himself. Johnson wrote the neck tattoo into the script, and apologized to O'Connor, saying, "I know this is going to be a lot of work. We'll barely glimpse it, and nobody might even notice it, but I feel like this says volumes. This is like the key to this guy."

An AI slop bucket piece of shit was never going to be able to have that connection with an audience because it's never lived.

He continued, "It's something that Josh designed. Because that was another thing, all I wanted to see is one little tiny peek of it. [I told him], 'I want you to pick what it is, and I want you to design it.' And I can't remember exactly what it was. It was some kind of like symbol or something. It wasn't like a word or something, but it was something that Josh kind of came up with a backstory that involved what this thing actually meant."

Beyond being "happy" that fans spotted the tattoo, Johnson is also hopeful about the future of film. While the possible Netflix/Warner Bros. merger has some worried about the fate of movie theaters, and the rise of AI has Hollywood in an uproar, this heralded filmmaker expressed a calm certainty that human-made art in theaters will survive.

"I'm not afraid," Johnson began, "Because I go to the movies, and what I see at the movies are young people. And I see young people showing up to movies. I see them getting excited to go with friends and have that experience. And I mean, AI is a bunch of slop bullshit...I don't care how good it gets. I think there is some element of the movie-going process where it's a bit like theater, where the audience is aware they're engaging with another person, even if that person is the filmmaker, when they're watching something."

SEE ALSO: The internet is drowning in AI slop. Here's how we got here.

He continued, "And I think that's the reason why you're seeing directors like Guillermo [del Toro] and directors like Director Bong [Joon Ho] and directors like PTA [Paul Thomas Anderson]. And I'm seeing fan bases growing up around them because they are voices, and the audience is having a connection with them when they're watching their movies. An AI slop bucket piece of shit was never going to be able to have that connection with an audience because it's never lived. So no, I think these are crazy times, and I think there are really hard things about these times. But ultimately, I feel secure that people are going to keep wanting to get together and watch stories."

For more from our Say More interview with Johnson, check out the full interview on YouTube.

Wake Up Dead Man is now playing on Netflix.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you know a lot about ships.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for December 19, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Stats

• Green: What to eat

• Blue: Government agencies

• Purple: Naval terms

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Findings

• Green: Dinner options

• Blue: U.S. Cabinet departments

• Purple: Homophone of places to park a ship

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #922 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Findings: DATA, DETAILS, INFORMATION, INTELLIGENCE

• Dinner options: COOK, DELIVERY, GO OUT, LEFTOVERS

• U.S. Cabinet departments: COMMERCE, EDUCATION, ENERGY, LABOR

• Homophone of places to park a ship: BIRTH, DOC, PEER, WORF

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 19, 2025

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a good cook.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 19, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 19, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: On the chopping block

The words are related to cooking.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe ways to cut food.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Immune Boosters.

NYT Strands word list for December 19

• Julienne

• Cube

• Making the Cut

• Slice

• Mince

• Chiffonade

• Dice

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love a good paste.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 19, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for December 19, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A minty gum.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter R appears twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter M.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

MYYRH

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 19, 2025

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

Two TV giants, Samsung and LG, can't stop talking about their fancy new Micro RGB TVs. But are these TVs truly better than OLEDs, and should you splurge now or wait for the prices to go down? We investigate.

What have Samsung and LG announced?

In mid-December, Samsung and LG front-ran CES 2026 by announcing their new Micro RGB TV sets.

In particular, Samsung said that in 2026 it would expand its Micro RGB TV lineup with 55-, 65-, 75-, 85-, 100- and 115-inch models (the company previously launched a massive, 115-inch TV in 2025).

Samsung's 115-inch Micro RGB behemoth will be joined by smaller models in 2026. Credit: Samsung

LG, on the other hand, said it would unveil its first-ever flagship RGB TV at CES 2026. Called the Micro RGB evo, it boasts the smallest individual RGB LEDs ever seen in an LG TV. The company said the TV would be available in 75-, 86-, and 100-inch sizes.

OK, but what are Micro RGB TVs?

These are still LCD TVs, but improved.

Remember when the first LED TVs showed up? Those were displays that used LEDs (light emitting diodes) for backlighting an LCD (liquid-crystal display) panel. The next step in the evolution of LED TVs was mini-LED TVs, which used smaller LED modules to provide backlight to an LCD screen. Smaller is better here, because the mini-LEDs drain less energy and provide more precise illumination, which translates into better picture on your TV.

SEE ALSO: What to look for when buying a TV, as told through this easy TV specs guide

This leads us to Micro LED TVs, which introduce even smaller LEDs. Again, this means less energy drain, and better picture quality (more on that in a second). But most importantly, these aren't LCDs, as there's no LCD panel being backlit with LEDs. Instead, the LEDs themselves create their own light at the pixel level.

And then we have Micro RGB TVs, which are less a name for the technology and more a marketing term that Samsung and LG use to describe a TV with tiny LEDs that, instead of emitting only white or blue light (like those on mini-LED TVs), use LEDs that can emit red, green, or blue light. Despite that, this is still an LCD TV. Think of it as a hybrid solution: The LEDs produce both the backlighting and the colors, but the image is created on an LCD panel.

Samsung has created this nifty evolution of LED TV panels in one picture. Credit: Samsung

All of the above compete with OLED (organic light emitting diode) TVs, which work in a different way (and are in fact similar to Micro LED TVs). Instead of using LEDs to illuminate the LCD panel, OLED TVs use pixels that can create their own light and color. The best OLEDs have superior picture quality to most LCD/LED TVs, with deeper blacks and almost infinite contrast, but OLED TVs are pricy to manufacture and tend to degrade over time.

Are these Micro RGB TVs any good?

This is where things get tricky.

Ideally, a Micro LED TV will offer incredibly precise colors, high contrast, and deep blacks — basically the stuff you expect from an OLED TV.

But what Samsung and LG have announced are Micro RGB TVs, and while the name is confusingly similar to Micro LED, it's not the same thing. (By the way, you can buy a true Samsung Micro LED TV right now, but it will cost you $150,000).

SEE ALSO: The best TVs for under £500 in 2025

The issue, of course, is that this is not just about making a TV that's better than OLED. Instead, companies such as Samsung and LG want to make TVs with picture comparable to OLED TVs, but at a more affordable price, and without the drawbacks.

That won't happen right away. Samsung's first Micro RGB TV, the 115-inch monster that launched this year, costs $30,000. Smaller models will be cheaper, but we don't know the exact prices yet.

Finally, these Micro RGB TVs are very new. Few people had a chance to review them, and we just don't know how they compare to OLEDs or the best LED TVs out there.

No detailed specs yet

There's a couple of things we can glean from Samsung and LG's announcements. For example, Samsung says its new Micro RGB TVs will offer "ultra-precise light control and improved color accuracy." The company also said that these TVs will come with a next-gen AI chipset which will enable "more precise frame-by-frame clarity and realism."

LG, on the other hand, said its Micro RGB TVs uses "OLED precision to control each of the RGB LED backlights," and, of course, there's a next-gen AI improving upscaling as well as overall picture quality. Both companies say their TVs will offer incredibly precise color reproduction.

All that said, we don't have the exact specs for the upcoming TVs, and we won't really know how good they are until we see them in person. That will happen at next year's CES, which takes place in Las Vegas from Jan 6. to 9, so stay tuned for more details.

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