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Stephen Colbert has some strong words for Donald Trump's new FBI director pick, Kash Patel, who clearly isn't a big fan of media types.

"We're gonna come after the people in the media," says Patel in an interview clip from Dec. 2023 that Colbert played on The Late Show on Monday night. "Whether it's criminally or civilly, we'll figure that out. But yeah, we're putting you all on notice."

Colbert, however, is clearly unfazed by this threat.

"Oh, really? You see me shake, Kash?" says the host in the clip above, advancing towards the camera. "Let me help you remember me, OK? I'm the middle-aged, brown-haired, white guy with an 11:30 network show. And I will never bow down to authoritarians, or my name isn't Jimmy something! Write it down! Write it down!"

SAVE $650: As of Dec. 3, Samsung Odyssey G9 OLED curved gaming monitor is still on sale for $949.99 at Amazon. That’s $650 off its original price of $1,599.99 (41% saving). This deal is live for Cyber Monday shoppers who want an unbeatable gaming setup.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Odyssey G9 OLED $949.99
$1,599.99 Save $650.00 Shop Now

Are you looking for a premium ultrawide gaming monitor that's easier on the pocket? The Samsung Odyssey G9 OLED is easy on the brand tax at $949.99, an incredible $650 off the usual price tag of $1,599.99 on Amazon.

This huge 49-inch ultrawide gaming monitor sports a dual QHD resolution at 5120 x 1440 with a buttery smooth 240hz refresh rate. Ghosting won't happen here, either, thanks to a 0.03ms response time. Every move on a keyboard, mouse, or controller will occur in near real-time. The screen's 1800R curvature is designed to align with the human eye, making it ideal for ultrawide HUDs in first-person shooters or power-user multi-tasking setups.

SEE ALSO: 2024 Black Friday ads: Best deals from Amazon, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Home Depot, and more

Odyssey G also packs OLED tech, with vibrant colors and inky blacks backed up by a strong contrast. It has DisplayHDR True Black 400, which helps make gaming or watching movies in low-light settings almost lifelike with no pixel bleed. Got an AMD graphics card? It's locked and loaded with FreeSync Premium to keep games smooth and stutter-free, too.

There are enough connectivity options, such as HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort, and a USB hub, for linking up your operational battle station. They are all powered by Auto Source Switch+, too, which detects when new devices are powered on and switches inputs automatically.

SEE ALSO: Get both Hulu and Disney+ for $2.99 per month for Black Friday

The G9's metal finish is only 4.5mm thick at its thinnest point, which means it doesn't take up more space than it needs to. It's as sleek as it is functional, thanks to its adjustable stand, which helps avoid neck and shoulder pain. All in all, this monitor has it all, including the real estate. Think of it as a cheaper investment in ensuring your day-to-day and alone time is the best. Cyber Monday may be over, but this is a fantastic deal and a solid way to upgrade your gaming rig for less.

SAVE $160: As of Dec. 3, the 47mm Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Bespoke Edition is on sale for $489.99 at Amazon. This is 25% off its list price of $649.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Bespoke Edition (47mm) $489.99 at Amazon
$649.99 Save $160.00 Get Deal

Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales may be over and done with, but that doesn't stop the deals entirely. Amazon's still offering a few discounts ahead of the holidays that are worth checking out. If you've had your eye on a smartwatch, why not invest in a techy timepiece like the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra? Thankfully, it's on sale right now at Amazon for a limited time.

The 47mm Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Bespoke Edition is currently on sale at Amazon for $489.99. This is 25% off its original price of $649.99, allowing your to pocket $160. As mentioned earlier, this is a limited-time deal so you'll want to act fast to pick it up if it has caught your eye.

SEE ALSO: Save $1,700 on a massive 77-inch Samsung OLED TV after Cyber Monday

This durable smartwatch is built for adventurous individuals, complete with a GPS, heart rate tracking, an energy score, and so much more. In our hands-on review of the smartwatch, Mashable's Kimberly Gedeon also mentions that, "Unlike the Apple rival, the Galaxy Watch Ultra offers a blood-oxygen sensor (the Apple Watch used to have one, but er, it's a long story) and a sleep apnea monitor (though some rumors claim the Watch X will have it)."

This deal won't last long, so pick up the 47mm Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Bespoke Edition for $489.99 at Amazon.

While Cyber Monday deals have largely disappeared there are still a few smartwatch discounts holding on, like the Garmin Forerunner 955 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 6. If you're curious what other Cyber Monday deals might have carried on to today, it's worth having a look at our overall breakdown of Cyber Monday deals this year to check out which sales are still live.

You'd think Daniel Craig's name is pretty straightforward to pronounce, but then again, it depends whether you're from the UK or U.S. when attempting it.

The Queer star and English actor would very much like people to pronounce it the British way ("crayg" — it's Scottish Gaelic) rather than the American way ("cregg") and took this pitch to Stephen Colbert during his interview on The Late Show.

"I've a bone to pick with you. Six shows. Say my name," said Craig to Colbert, before demonstrating the diphthong difference many, many times.

"That is a subtle difference, and I apologise," responded Colbert. "I don't want you Daniel Craig-mad at me. Daniel Cregg? Fuck that guy. Daniel Craig, I'm so sorry."

You can watch Mashable's interview with Daniel CRAYG while you're mastering the difference too.

SAVE $1,700: As of Dec. 3, Samsung's 77-inch S84D 4K OLED TV is on sale for $1,599.99. That's $1,700 off the list price of $3,299.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 77-inch Class S84D Series 4K OLED TV $1,599.99 at Best Buy
$3,299.99 Save $1,700.00 Get Deal

Black Friday and Cyber Monday may be officially over and done with, but a few retailers are still offering some great discounts in the lead-up to the holidays. Best Buy is one such location with its own selection of Holiday Deals available. If you missed out on some of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday TV deals this year, they're here to assist with a fantastic discount on a Samsung 4K OLED TV.

For those looking to create a mini movie theater in their home, this huge 77-inch Samsung S84D 4K OLED TV has had a whopping $1,700 discount at Best Buy. This has dropped its price from $3,299.99 to $1,599.99. You also get a nice little bonus with your purchase of one free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

SEE ALSO: Last chance to save over $250 on the PlayStation VR2 'Horizon Call of The Mountain' bundle

Alongside its large size, this TV offers up high-quality 4K resolution and an OLED display to bring you crisp, vibrant colors for any movie nights, TV show marathons, or games you love to get lost in. It also comes with Dolby Atmos built it, which makes the sounds you hear just as immersive as the visuals. On top of that, it's also a smart TV that can hold all of your favorite streaming apps in one place.

There's still time to invest in a new TV. Don't miss out on this 77-inch Samsung S84D 4K OLED TV deal at Best Buy.

While the official seasonal sale event is over and most deals have disappeared, there are a few still lingering around at other retailers. If you want to check out more TV deals, it's worth having a look through our roundup of the best Cyber Monday TV deals live at Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon to see which ones are still on sale.

SAVE OVER $250: As of Dec. 3, the PlayStation VR2 Horizon Call of The Mountain bundle is still down to $349 after Cyber Monday. This is 42% off its usual price of $599.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: PlayStation PlayStation VR2 'Horizon Call of The Mountain' Bundle $349.00 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $250.99 Get Deal

There were so many great video game deals available during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, including some excellent bundle deals. One of the best deals that popped up was a PlayStation VR2 bundle with Horizon Call of The Mountain, and thankfully, it's still available for a limited time.

The PlayStation VR2 Horizon Call of The Mountain bundle is still on sale right now for $349 post-Cyber Monday. This is 42% off its original price tag of $599.99, and a deal that likely won't stick around for much longer. If you were hoping to scoop up this bundle to jump into PlayStation's world of VR, this could be your last chance to get it with such a nice discount ahead of the holidays.

SEE ALSO: How is this deal still live? Save $150 on Bose QuietComfort headphones after Cyber Monday.

This bundle is really worth the investment, too. Alongside the PlayStation VR2 headset — which our review called "a huge improvement over the original" — and controllers, you're also getting a code for the game Horizon Call of The Mountain. With that, you'll be able to jump into the colorful world of Horizon as soon as you get set up.

Don't miss out on this excellent deal on the PlayStation VR2 Horizon Call of The Mountain bundle.

The official sale event may be over, but there are still some deals hanging on after Cyber Monday. If you're curious to see more gaming deals, it's worth having a look at our roundup of the best Cyber Monday gaming deals to see if some items are still on sale.

SAVE $150: As of Dec. 3, Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth headphones are still on sale for $199 at Amazon. That’s $150 off the original price of $349 (a 43% discount). Grab these premium noise-cancelling headphones before this last-minute Cyber Monday deal ends.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth Headphones $199.00 at Amazon
$349.00 Save $150.00 Shop Now

That's right. Cyber Monday deals are still live on a regular Tuesday, with Bose QuietComfort headphones for only $199. That's £150 off their usual price tag of $349, which is an absolute bargain for Bose's best-in-class noise cancellation technology.

Bose is known for delivering premium sound quality and unmatched noise cancellation, and the QuietComfort headphones are a brilliant example of what to expect from them. Do you want to drown out distractions or stay aware of your surroundings? These headphones feature Quiet and Aware Modes, which are great for almost any situation.

SEE ALSO: 2024 Black Friday ads: Best deals from Amazon, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Home Depot, and more

They're comfortable, too, thanks to their plush ear cushions and padded headband design, which is great for anyone with platted or dreadlocked hairstyles. These headphones have hours of wear, and they sound good, too, thanks to the adjustable EQ. Audiophiles will love the bass, range, and treble settings, which let you get the sound you like best.

Bose Quietcomfort holds around 24 hours worth of juice on only one charge. We all need to remember to charge things overnight, but the 15-minute charge gives listeners 2.5 hours of playtime. You can hook up QuietComfort headphones to multiple devices via Bluetooth simultaneously, making switching from tablets to phones super convenient. There's an included audio cable for those who prefer a wired connection, too, so that's about every kind of user covered.

SEE ALSO: Get both Hulu and Disney+ for $2.99 per month for Black Friday

There's a colorway for every user, too. With choices like black, sandstone, and chilled lilac, you can have a set of Bose Quietcomfort headphones to match your personality. As we said, this deal should have ended yesterday, so act fast. Paying an extra $150 for your headphones isn't much fun, so snap up this last-minute Cyber Monday deal before it shoots back up in price.

Even robots die quickly on Venus.

The most long-lived of the 10 Venusian landers, the Soviet Union's Venera 13 probe, lasted two hours before succumbing to pizza oven-like temperatures of some 870 degrees Fahrenheit (465 degrees Celsius) and the crushing surface pressure of 1,350 psi — which The Planetary Society describes as "like having a small car sitting on your thumbnail." Even so, there's an ongoing scientific debate as to whether this now-hellish world was once hospitable, perhaps harboring great oceans like Earth.

New research, published in the science journal Nature Astronomy, concludes the answer is no. And in the search for potential life in the cosmos, the findings suggest Venus-like planets orbiting on the edge of a solar system's zone of possible habitability may not be good places to sleuth for livable worlds.

"We would have loved to find that Venus was once a planet much closer to our own, so it’s kind of sad in a way to find out that it wasn’t, but ultimately it’s more useful to focus the search on planets that are mostly likely to be able to support life — at least life as we know it," Tereza Constantinou, an astronomer at the University of Cambridge, said in a statement.

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

Today, planetary scientists suspect that scorching Venus is an active, erupting world, with lava pouring down some of its volcanic slopes. The surface is clearly inhospitable for life. But why don't these researchers think this planet — a rocky world about the same size of Earth — could have once hosted inviting environs, billions of years ago?

The answer lies in the world's atmosphere.

If Venus was once a watery, habitable world, the composition of water in the planet's erupting gases would reflect this past history. "To keep the Venusian atmosphere stable, then any chemicals being removed from the atmosphere should also be getting restored to it, since the planet’s interior and exterior are in constant chemical communication with one another," Constantinou explained.

On water-rich planets, like Earth, surface water is recycled into the planet's interior and outgassed from volcanoes. Nearly 80 percent of Earth's volcanic gases are steam. But the researchers' analysis — calculated from Venus' observable atmosphere and calculations of how gases break down on Venus — found that its volcanic gases contain at most six percent water. That's an extremely dehydrated interior, and points to a profoundly dry Venusian past.

NASA's Mariner 10 spacecraft snapped this image of cloud-shrouded Venus in 1974. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech

A looming NASA mission will confirm the findings — or possibly challenge them — in 2031. The space agency's DAVINCI spacecraft — short for Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging — will drop a three-foot-wide titanium sphere through Venus' thick clouds. Over the course of just an hour, the probe will ingest gases, run experiments, show us what Venusian mountains actually look like, and dramatically improve our understanding of Venus.

"Venus has always been this enigmatic sister planet," Jim Garvin, who leads NASA's DAVINCI mission, previously told Mashable. "Why doesn't Venus look like Earth?" he wondered.

It's possible — though just a hypothesis — that microbial life could sustain itself high up in Venus' temperate atmosphere where scientists have detected hints of phosphine, a potential indicator of biology. But until NASA's probe plummets through the Venusian atmosphere, the nearby planet will largely remain an enigmatic place.

TL;DR: This refurbished HP Chromebook with a 11.6-inch screen, 32GB of storage, and 4GB of RAM is now priced at $74.99 (reg. $239) — a 68% discount.

You probably know that Chromebooks — with basic processors and Chrome OS — are designed to be simple and affordable. But this Cyber Week price may still surprise you: A 2020 refurbished HP Chromebook is now only $74.99, normally $239. This limited-time price and low inventory won’t last long.

Simple processing and operating 

Chromebooks aren’t for those that expect high-level performance, running with an Intel Celeron N4000 processor with 1.1GHz speed and 4GB of RAM. If you don’t speak tech, that essentially means it’s built for basic programs and light multi-tasking, not for intense gaming or heavy-lift programs.

This laptop's Chrome OS allows you to use cloud-based Google apps — like Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail, and more — seamlessly. You’ll also have access to the Google Play store and 32GB of storage to add productivity apps or basic games.

Some other surprising specs of a Chromebook at this price point are an 11.6-inch HD display, reinforced corners, and an anchored, spill-resistant keyboard. All of these features make for a solid computing option for students, writers, or even hybrid workers.

Refurbished = a high-quality device at a low price

This HP Chromebook’s affordability is due to its refurbished status. It’s a 2020 model year, so it’s not the newest device. However, it has been fully inspected, tested, and cleaned to arrive in high-quality, usable condition with at least 70% of its battery health intact. 

Its Grade “B” refurbished rating simply means you may notice some cosmetic imperfections like faint scratches on the body or trackpad, but none on the screen. It seems a fair tradeoff for getting a basic laptop at this price.

But they won’t last long. Take advantage of this Cyber Week deal and get a refurbished 11.6-inch  HP Chromebook for $74.99 (reg. $239) for a limited time while supplies last.

HP 11.6" Chromebook 11 G8 EE (2020) Intel Celeron 4GB RAM 32GB SSD (Refurbished)

Only $74.99 at Mashable

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP 11.6" Chromebook 11 G8 EE (2020) Intel Celeron 4GB RAM 32GB SSD (Refurbished) $74.99
$239.00 Save $164.01 Get Deal

TL;DR: Grab lifetime access to SwiftScan VIP for $41.99 with code FESTIVE30 and turn your phone into a professional-grade document scanner.

Does your desk look like a paper tornado just passed through? Between receipts, contracts, and those notes you swore you’d file months ago, keeping documents in order feels impossible. That’s where SwiftScan VIP steps in to save your sanity. At the Mashable Shop, you can get lifetime access to this mobile scanner app with a one-time payment of $41.99 — just enter the code FESTIVE30 at checkout.

This app turns your phone into a top-tier scanner, letting you create crystal-clear scans in seconds. Whether it’s an important invoice or handwritten notes from a meeting, SwiftScan makes them look polished and professional. With intuitive editing tools, you can crop, adjust, or fine-tune your scans before saving them, so they’re always ready to impress.

SwiftScan also plays nicely with your favorite cloud services, so you can save and access your documents from anywhere. Need to send something fast? The app has built-in sharing options, so you can email, text, or upload with a tap.

Unlike subscription services that charge you forever, this lifetime deal means you pay once and get access to all premium features forever. No monthly fees, no surprises, just hassle-free scanning for life.

Say goodbye to paper chaos.

Whether you’re a student managing class notes, a professional on the go, or someone looking to tidy up their paper clutter, a lifetime subscription to SwiftScan VIP is the ultimate solution at just $41.99 with promo code FESTIVE30.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Maple Media SwiftScan VIP: Lifetime Subscription $59.99 at the Mashable Shop
$199.99 Save $140.00 Use coupon code 'FESTIVE30' Get Deal

TL;DR: Get a lifetime subscription to Matt’s Flights Premium Plan for $79.97 and start finding flight deals that can make vacations more affordable year-round.

Planning your winter escape or already daydreaming about 2025 adventures? Airfare doesn’t have to drain your travel budget or your energy — Matt’s Flights Premium Plan makes it easy to find the best flight deals without spending hours searching.

With a lifetime subscription for $79.97, you’ll receive unlimited access to curated flight deals delivered straight to your inbox. These aren’t just run-of-the-mill discounts; Matt’s team uncovers mistake fares, flash sales, and rare price drops for both domestic and international destinations. Think of it as having a personal flight deal detective working on your behalf.

Premium subscribers get even more perks, like custom flight search requests. Have a specific destination in mind? Just let the team know, and they’ll find the cheapest options tailored to your travel dates. Plus, as a Premium member, you get early access to these deals before anyone else, giving you a jumpstart on snagging the best prices.

Start saving on flights and make your travel plans a reality — without breaking the bank. Whether you’re planning a tropical getaway, a romantic European adventure, or visiting family for the holidays, Matt takes the stress out of finding affordable tickets.

This Cyber Week, you can get lifetime access to a Matt's Flights Premium Plan for $79.97. It’s a small investment that can pay off with a single cheap flight.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Matt's Flights Matt's Flights Premium Plan (Lifetime Subscription) - Save up to 90% on Domestic & International flights $79.97 at the Mashable Shop
$1,800.00 Save $1,720.03 Get Deal

TL;DR: Get lifetime access to Hushed for $24.99 with coupon code HOLIDAY20 and manage private calls and texts with a second phone number.

Ever wish you could give out a phone number without worrying about your privacy? Hushed makes it simple to stay connected while keeping your personal number completely personal.

This lifetime plan for $24.99 with code HOLIDAY20 gives you access to a second phone number with 1,000 minutes and 6,000 texts included, perfect for separating business from personal or managing side projects. Whether you’re selling something online, running a small business, or just value your privacy, Hushed lets you make calls and send texts without

Hushed isn’t just about convenience — it’s about control. The app allows you to choose from numbers in over 300 area codes across the U.S. and Canada. Need more than one number? You can manage multiple lines from the same app. When you’re done using a number, you can even burn it for added security.

With Hushed, your communication stays completely private. No contracts, no hidden fees, and no ties to your carrier — just the freedom to call and text securely. And because it’s available on both iOS and Android, you can access your second line from virtually any device.

Get started today and make your calls your business, not theirs.

At just $24.99 with promo code HOLIDAY20, a lifetime virtual number subscription to Hushed Private Phone Line can help protect your privacy, manage multiple numbers, and simplify your life with Hushed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Affinity Click Hushed Private Phone Line: Lifetime Virtual Number Subscription $24.99
$150.00 Save $125.01 Get Deal

Between new hits and old favorites, 2024 was a big year for Netflix.

Baby Reindeer won big at the Emmys. Andrew Scott and Ripley offered up a phenomenal Patricia Highsmith adaptation. KAOS gave us the Greek myth-inspired show of our dreams — only to be ripped away by the cancellation gods. And when it comes to returning series, Arcane Season 2 staked its claim as the best fantasy show of the year, while Heartstopper Season 3 grew up in spectacular fashion.

SEE ALSO: The best Netflix movies of 2024 now streaming

But there's so much more where that came from! If you're looking for a great new binge to close out the year, read on for our picks for the top Netflix shows of 2024.

22. Dead Boy Detectives

Adapted from the comic book series by Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner, Dead Boy Detectives' premise is pretty self-explanatory: Two teen ghosts solve crimes. 

Specifically, Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri) are an odd couple: the former a 1918 prep school student, the latter a 1989 punk. But together — with the help of psychic gal pal Crystal Palace (Kassius Nelson) and a uniquely plagued neighbor Niko Sasaki (Yuyu Kitamura) — they crack the cases that the living can't. While each episode follows a Buffy the Vampire Slayer monster-of-the-week model, the overarching plotline has the pair dodging Death (The Sandman's Kirby Howell-Baptiste), matching wits with the mischief-making Cat King (Lukas Gage), combatting a gnarly witch known as Esther Finch (Jenn Lyon), and confronting their own confusing teenage longings. If you like your teen drama with a touch of gallows humor and scads of supernatural mayhem, you'll revel in this charmingly creepy series. But be warned: The slow-burn romance at its core burns a bit too slow — especially considering the series got canceled after Season 1. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Dead Boy Detectives is now streaming on Netflix.

21. Bridgerton, Season 3

First, there was Daphne and the Duke. Then came Kate and Anthony and Queen Charlotte and George III. Now, with Season 3, Shondaland's beloved adaptation of Julia Quinn's romance novels brings us Penelope and Colin's love story, the slowest-burn romance yet — she's been burning for him since Season 1! It took traveling around the world for Colin Bridgerton to get a glow-up and realize what a great girl he had back home. Thankfully by the end of part one, he showed her his deep, probing affection in a carriage scene that left fans hot and bothered. 

Featured Video For You ‘Bridgerton’ Season 3 has the internet upset for all the wrong reasons

Part two throws these lovers into each other's arms amidst fresh drama. And we're here for every moment, because Nicola Coughlan is our queen. Admittedly, there are other plotlines this season, some spicy, some bewildering boring, and one involving a vegetarian who deserves better! Is it the worst of this franchise so far? Indubitably. But it's Coughlan and her grace, her comedic timing, and her swoon-inducing charms that make Bridgerton Season 3 still utterly worth watching. — K.P.

How to watch: Bridgerton Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: 'Bridgerton' Season 3 is fun, but I can't get past this 1 plot hole 20. Avatar: The Last Airbender

After M. Night Shyamalan's horrendous 2010 live-action movie adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender hit fans like a fire fist to the face, we were rightly dubious about Netflix's live-action reboot of the masterful Nickelodeon animated series. And the results from showrunner Albert Kim were admittedly mixed. As Belen Edwards wrote in her thoughtful review of Season 1, "As if torn between its predecessors, Avatar: The Last Airbender alternates between high highs and low lows, both of which stem from adaptation choices that range from fresh and exciting to dull and bewildering."

Frustratingly, this live-action series seemingly aimed at fans of the original shaved off much of the complexity of its most compelling heroes. (Let Katara be mean onscreen again!) But it also created curious new interpretations of past canon and offered an array of action scenes and re-envisioned monsters that were undeniably thrilling. Plus, the casting of Ian Ousley as Sokka is cosmically terrific, from the jutting jaw to his awkward flirtations with Suki! Still, we're hoping the series will course-correct for Season 2. Because to do Toph (Miya Cech) and Azula (Elizabeth Yu) justice, you've got to let these girls sink their heels into their mean streaks. It's a big part of why we love them! — K.P.

How to watch: Avatar: The Last Airbender is now streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: Netflix's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' sneakily references episodes it cut from the original 19. Eric

If you miss the Sherlock days, when Benedict Cumberbatch was a broody misanthrope on a mission to solve a confounding case, you should check out Eric.

This miniseries created by Abi Morgan stars the British leading man as Vincent, a grumbling puppeteer in 1980s New York. While at work, it's his job to perform warmly; at home, he's callous with his wife (Gaby Hoffmann) and son Edgar (Ivan Morris Howe). But when his kid goes missing on the walk to school, Vincent is determined to find him — with the help of an imaginary monster named Eric. Mixing family drama with crime procedurals and Sesame Street, Eric weaves together narratives of cops, criminals, suspects, and the guilt-stricken father that kicks this story off. If you're seeking something with twists and thrills, consider this show for your next binge-watch. — K.P.

How to watch: Eric is now streaming on Netflix.  

18. The Law According to Lidia Poët, Season 2

If you love stories of lust and murder, you'll want to get wise to The Law According to Lidia Poët. The Netflix import is sure to fill the hole in your heart left by the conclusion of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. Like that superb sleuthing series out of Australia, this Italian show is a period piece that focuses on a determined heroine who is often underestimated by the sexist men around her. By day, she's solving homicide cases; by night, she's cozying up a dashing lover.

In this case, Lidia Poët (the beguiling Matilda De Angelis) is a certified lawyer in late 19th-century Turin — a very rare thing for a woman at the time! Stranger still, she pursues groundbreaking detective work like fingerprint analysis and lie detector tests to help her defend her clients. And all this while unmarried! With each episode, Lidia fights back against injustice, misogyny, and the tiresome gender norms that would confine her talents and interests. But don't let the setting have you expecting something quaint. Lidia curses like a sailor. The corpses uncovered are ghastly spectacles. And this sexy show offers full-frontal male nudity by its second episode. Something saucy and sinister fun is afoot! (And if you're not one for subtitles, I can vouch for the wonderfully entertaining English overdub.) — K.P.

How to watch: The Law According to Lidia Poët Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

17. The Brothers Sun

Academy Award–winner Michelle Yeoh gets bloody in The Brothers Sun, a family drama/crime thriller/comedy caper about two very different brothers. Charles (Justin Chien) is a world-renowned assassin with a big role to play in the family's Taiwanese crime syndicate. Bruce (Sam Song Li) loves improv, slacks off in school, and doesn't know a thing about the family business. But when an attack on their father brings the estranged brothers together, it's up to this unlikely pairing — and their fierce mother Eileen (Yeoh) — to take down their enemies. Featuring some kick-ass fighting, heartfelt musings on different immigrant experiences, and a surprising amount of churros, The Brothers Sun is an action-packed treat. It's a shame Netflix canceled it. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: The Brothers Sun is now streaming on Netflix.

16. The Diplomat, Season 2

If you can't handle the diplomatic heat, get out of the streaming service. Debora Cahn's (The West Wing, Homeland) addictive, superbly scripted political thriller The Diplomat picks up in the chaotic fallout from Season 1 — with the calls coming from inside the house and characters' fates uncertain after a deadly attack. Once again, Keri Russell is electric as Kate Wyler, the U.S. ambassador to the UK, trying to get to the heart of an insidious government conspiracy and carefully, politically navigate unmasking the Big Bad. The show's razor-sharp cast includes Ali Ahn, Ato Essandoh, Rufus Sewell, David Gyasi, and Rory Kinnear, who all devour that script, and the arrival of Allison Janney as the U.S. vice president is pure, dramatic TV gold. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

How to watch: The Diplomat Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

15. Penelope

From Mark Duplass and Mel Eslyn, the creative team behind the undersung sci-fi dramedy Biosphere, comes a coming-of-age series unlike any you've seen before. Penelope centers on the titular teen (Little Fires Everywhere's Megan Stott) who abruptly decides to go off-grid, leaving behind her family, her SAT prep course, and all ties to the internet to find herself in the forest.

SEE ALSO: 'Penelope' review: Teen girl logs off to touch grass, literally

While admittedly this could be the starting point for a horror movie (or a true crime documentary), Eslyn and Duplass offer viewers instead a peaceful meditation on what it could mean to go on such a retreat of solitude. Over the course of eight episodes under 30 minutes each, Penelope learns to build a fire, purify water, protect her food from bears, and make friends (human and animal) as she camps in a sprawling park. Conversations with strangers touch on faith, identity, and philosophy, with Penelope a willing recipient to unfurling thoughts and feelings. But be warned, where some episodes play like a daydream of communing with nature, the later episodes tear into some dangerous new experiences, both from the wild animals of the forest and from the world she left behind. — K.P.

How to watch: Penelope is now streaming on Netflix.

14. No Good Deed

Emmy–winning creator and showrunner Liz Feldman previously gifted us the twisted pleasures of Dead to Me, a dramedy that intoxicatingly blended crime and comedy. Now she's back at it with No Good Deed, another enticing Los Angeles series co-starring Linda Cardellini.

Ray Romano and Lisa Kudrow star as a married couple looking to sell their beautiful Los Feliz home. The interested — and nosy — buyers are played by a crackling ensemble cast that includes Cardellini, Luke Wilson, Abbi Jacobson, Poppy Liu, Kate Moennig, Teyonah Parris, and O-T Fagbenle. Beyond buyer rivalry and family drama, there are also skeletons in the closet to be uncovered, and plenty of socially awkward shenanigans to boot. Funny, addictive, and sharply cast, No Good Deed is a no-brainer to add to your watch list. — K.P.

How to watch: No Good Deed premieres Dec. 12 on Netflix.

13. Nobody Wants This

Netflix's Nobody Wants This filled the rom-com shaped hole in our lives as we descended into cuffing season. The show tells the story of an unusual pairing: Noah (Adam Brody) a "hot rabbi" who meets Joanne (Kristen Bell), an agnostic sex and dating podcaster. In a break with typical rom-com tropes, Noah is the beguilingly unproblematic and validating partner that rarely makes an appearance on our screens. In one particular scene, Noah tells a spiraling Joanne: "I'm on your side. I can handle you."

Another refreshing detail: The fact the characters are a little bit older than your average rom-com protagonists. Brody and Bell are both 44 years old, and it’s clear their characters are navigating dating post-35. Given that people are getting married later in life and that dating in your late 30s is the norm, it's jarring that most rom-coms focus on twentysomething characters. As a 36-year-old singleton, this show was refreshing and relatable. Bring on Season 2! — Rachel Thompson, Features Editor

How to watch: Nobody Wants This is now streaming on Netflix.

12. 3 Body Problem

Sometimes you want a light comedy; other times, you want to lean into potentially world-ending existential terror. The latter is firmly on offer in 3 Body Problem, a sci-fi epic based on Cixin Liu's trilogy and brought to the screen by Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and The Terror's Alexander Woo. The series tells the story of an alien race called the San-Ti, who have been forced to leave their home planet and are several hundred years away from landing on their new home: Earth. 3 Body Problem is impressive because it asks some pretty big questions of the universe while also creating a very human story about how people might react when faced with possible future extinction. Oh, and there are some sequences that will never leave your head — hello, episode 5. — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

How to watch: 3 Body Problem is now streaming on Netflix.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Netflix's '3 Body Problem' 11. The Decameron

This Netflix offering doesn't feel like the result of appeasing some almighty algorithm. It feels like Mad Libs, in the best way possible: Based on 14th-century Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio's collection of short stories, The Decameron is a dark comedy about sex, lies, class conflict, and the Plague — starring your favorites from Girls, Derry Girls, Veep, and Sex Education.

SEE ALSO: Tony Hale is hot, and 4 other reasons to watch 'The Decameron'

A silly soap opera set in a remote yet opulent Italian villa during the Black Death, The Decameron welcomes audiences into the bizarre games of the wealthy, the sly subterfuge of their servants, and all the hypocritical horniness you can fit into a limited series. There's plenty to marvel at in this deeply binge-worthy show: Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Zosia Mamet as funny and fierce frenemies; gnarly twists; Amar Chadha-Patel as a sexy, often shirtless love interest; shocking trysts; and Tony Hale, funny as always, and also brazenly hot as a butler who's had enough of rich people nonsense. Come for the cast, stay for the schadenfreude! — K.P.

How to watch: The Decameron is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Heartstopper, Season 3

This year, Heartstopper grew up fast. Maintaining the show's signature sweetness, the third season of Alice Oseman's graphic novel adaptation matured in more ways than one, with hormones raging, university choices ahead, and the Paris crew navigating their first sexual experiences. But the show also went deeper into themes of identity and mental health among its core characters, with Joe Locke giving a standout performance conveying Charlie's immensely challenging time with anorexia — a feat not every show achieves with compassion or nuance like this — and Kit Connor gently exploring the relatable sense of helplessness in supporting someone you love through hardship. — S.C.

How to watch: Heartstopper Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

9. Supacell

A hell of a refreshing take on the modern superhero genre, Supacell was one of the more anticipated British shows on Netflix this year. We'd been waiting for showrunner, creator, and director Rapman's, aka Andrew Onwubolu, series for an age — and the result was an absolute banger of a first season. Set in South London, Supacell sees five strangers — Michael (Tosin Cole), Sabrina (Nadine Mills), Andre (Eric Kofi Abrefa), Rodney (Calvin Demba), and Tazer (Josh Tedeku) — suddenly land superpowers, all while dealing with complications in their own lives. With powerful performances, impressive special effects, and a timely mystery at the show's core, Supacell leaned on realism for a unique take on the genre while turning stereotypes on their head. — S.C.

How to watch: Supacell is now streaming on Netflix.

8. KAOS

Pour a giant glass of Meander water out for Kaos.

The End of the F***ing World writer Charlie Covell's covertly nerdy, overtly soapy Greek mythology-based series was unceremoniously canceled after one brilliant season, despite being one of the best Netflix shows of the year. With directors Georgi Banks-Davies and Runyararo Mapfumo at the helm, Kaos is a satisfying, dark interpretation of the Greek myths set in modern Krete. Thanks to flamboyant and meticulous performances from the stacked cast, detailed production design, and an immensely clever interweaving of several long-told stories, Kaos looked established for multiple seasons of Olympian-caused pandemonium. But alas, it's done for now. — S.C.

How to watch: Kaos is now streaming on Netflix.

7. A Man on the Inside

A Man on the Inside reunites The Good Place creator Mike Schur with star Ted Danson. And wouldn't you know it, this comedy is just as likely to make you laugh and pull at your heartstrings as their first team-up. 

Based on the 2020 documentary The Mole Agent, A Man on the Inside follows retired professor Charles (Danson) as he teams up with private investigator Julie (Lilah Richcreek Estrada). His mission? To go undercover at a retirement home and recover stolen jewelry. Of course, hijinks are soon to follow, as Charles bumbles through the challenges of using spy equipment and assimilating into the home's clique-y community. However, it's not long before Charles finds himself opening up to the people around him, leading to the real heart of A Man on the Inside: its deeply affecting portrayal of aging. Throughout the first season, characters reckon with distant family members, dementia, and losing their friends, and Schur and A Man on the Inside's stellar ensemble — which also includes Stephanie Beatriz, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Sally Struthers — ensure that these difficult stories are given the space and gravity they deserve. With its sweetness, sensitivity, and a steady flow of great gags, we can chalk A Man on the Inside up as another win for Schur and Danson. — B.E.

How to watch: A Man on the Inside premieres Nov. 21 on Netflix.

6. One Day

In February, we did a whole lot of TV-induced crying, as Netflix's One Day broke our damn hearts. An ambitious, romantic, and fresh adaptation of David Nicholls' novel, this impeccable, slow-burn series gave the story more room to breathe than Lone Scherfig's 2011 film. Following students Emma and Dex (magnetic, lived-in performances by Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall) across decades of their complex friendship, One Day makes a cinematic epic of long-game love while unpacking the politics of privilege in relationships. Even hearing the name of the series will induce starry-eyed looks into the horizon and a palm to the heart. — S.C.

How to watch: One Day is now streaming on Netflix.

5. Girls5eva, Season 3

If you're looking for a pop culture-savvy sitcom to fill the 30 Rock and The Other Two–shaped hole in your heart, look no further than Girls5eva. Canceled by Peacock after two (great) seasons, Girls5eva moved to Netflix for a stellar Season 3 in which our titular girl group hits the road on tour. The quartet of Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Paula Pell, and Busy Philipps has never been better; the jokes have never flown faster; and the songs are catchy as ever. "Sweet'N Low Daddy"? "Returnity"? "Tap Into Your (Fort) Worth"? All bangers! So, Netflix, please do us a favor and give us more of Girls5eva. To borrow a turn of phrase from our girls, three seasons is just three short. — B.E.

How to watch: Girls5eva Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Boy Swallows Universe

A dark but genuinely funny tale of suburban crime brimming with magical realism, the Netflix adaptation of Trent Dalton's novel Boy Swallows Universe is one of 2024's unsung heroes — much like its pint-sized protagonist, 13-year-old Eli Bell (played by outstandingly talented youngster Felix Cameron). Chock-full of '80s Australiana, the series is set in the working-class Brisbane suburb of Darra, where Eli navigates school bullies and a turbulent family life as well as he handles hard-edged criminals with his imaginative brother Gus (Lee Tiger Halley). It's a heartfelt, unsettling, and hilarious journey through young adolescence, the reality of addiction, and brutal crime, with a killer Aussie soundtrack.* — S.C.

How to watch: Boy Swallows Universe is now streaming on Netflix.

3. Arcane, Season 2

2024 blessed us with the return of high-profile fantasy series like House of the Dragon and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, but it's Arcane Season 2 that wins this year's fantasy crown.

SEE ALSO: 'Arcane' Season 2 review: The best fantasy show of 2024, hands-down

Netflix's League of Legends–based series returns us to the feuding cities of Piltover and Zaun, with estranged sisters Vi (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (voiced by Ella Purnell) caught smack-dab in the middle. What follows is a brutal examination of how war pushes people to their extremes, and how even well-intentioned actions can have devastating consequences. But that's not all! Arcane goes bolder and weirder in Season 2, yet never skimps on its emotional heft. In one of the season's most poignant, heart-wrenching arcs, the resurrection of Vander (JB Blanc) as the monstrous wolf hybrid Warwick offers Jinx and Vi a chance to reunite their family, broken as it may be. Elsewhere, Viktor (voiced by Harry Lloyd) and his Hextech commune offer up a take on transhumanism that is idealistic and disquieting all at once. All these nuances come to life with breathtaking, fearless animation courtesy of Fortiche Productions, making Arcane one of the most stunning, ambitious series of the year. — B.E.

How to watch: Arcane Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Ripley

Andrew Scott awed TV audiences as the theatrically malicious Moriarty in Sherlock, then as the scorchingly hot Priest in Fleabag. But with Ripley, he plays a very different game. 

SEE ALSO: Does 'Ripley's murder scene count as ASMR?

Adapted from Patricia Highsmith's classic novel The Talented Mr. Ripley, this drama miniseries from Steven Zaillian lures audiences into the seductive world of Thomas Ripley, American social climber turned con man and killer. Offered a free trip to Italy to reclaim an industrialist's expatriate heir, Ripley sees a whole new world open before him: one of privilege, art, and endless opportunities, all tied to status and money. But to claim a bit of it himself, he'll have to get his hands dirty. While you might know the story (or the Matt Damon movie), the patience with which this slow-burn series doles it out allows audiences to luxuriate in Highsmith's high-stakes game of jealousy, deception, and murder. The result is a show that feels like a lost holiday — alluring, surprising, and sure to linger on in your mind, heart, and soul.* — K.P.

How to watch: Ripley is now streaming on Netflix.

1. Baby Reindeer

For better or worse, Baby Reindeer is a show that sticks with you: It's amusing in parts, tense in others, and emotionally shattering overall. Based on creator Richard Gadd's own experience of being stalked, the series follows the budding comedian (who plays a version of himself) as he balances career disappointment with his job in a London pub — until a woman named Martha (a brilliant and terrifying Jessica Gunning) comes in one day and develops an obsession with him. "This isn't the type of show with a clear resolution," I wrote in my review for Mashable. "It's messy, thought-provoking, and — like a dream that's difficult to shake — you'll find your mind going back to it long after the credits have rolled."* — S.H.

How to watch: Baby Reindeer is now streaming on Netflix.

(*) denotes that this blurb has been modified from a different list.

Memes are becoming an increasingly rare breed on the internet. (Thanks, Elon.)

You see, though Elon Musk — Tesla billionaire and head of X / Twitter — might consider himself a memelord, he's done more than anyone to kill the genre. Musk has fractured the user base from Twitter's halcyon posting days and has generally made the platform less usable, unreliable, more prone to conspiracy, and a less enjoyable place to hang out online. Bluesky, X's chief competition, has taken off in recent months but still hasn't reached Twitter's former ubiquity.

SEE ALSO: From yap to pookie, 2024's most viral internet slang defined

So, in turn, we get fewer good memes. Back in the day, Twitter was the source for all the memes that would eventually spread to Instagram and beyond. TikTok has filled that void to some degree, but it is, by definition, a less centralized platform because of its addictive and incredibly algorithmic FYP.

Still, there are good memes out there. We've collected some of the funniest, best, and most prevalent memes from the year — since we are somehow nearly through all of 2024.

The smoking duck

A duck smoking a joint? Sure, why not?

Yes, a cartoon duck smoking has been one of the biggest memes of 2024. As Mashable's Elena Cavender wrote, it has often been posted with resonant song lyrics or alongside moments of vindication. It makes sense. The duck looks, for lack of a better description, very chill and content. It's nodding and enjoying itself — as if it's saying, "I told you so."

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Of course, the meme only grew from there. But it has been a top-tier meme of 2024.

Dune: Part Two memes. Lots of them.

Dune: Part Two has been the year's biggest movie. Therefore, it has inspired lots of memes. Perhaps chief among them were the Lisan al Gaib jokes. This is a mild spoiler, but that was the term given to Paul Atreides in his...let's say, ill-conceived...quest to become a savior. Stilgar, the Fremen character played by Javier Bardem, would yell that out every time Paul did something impressive. And the internet quickly turned it into a meme.

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There were other Dune jokes, including lots about that (odd) popcorn bucket, but the Lisan Al Gaib meme stuck around.

SEE ALSO: The internet is just as obsessed with Lisan al Gaib as Stilgar is with Paul Atreides in 'Dune: Part Two' Remember Josh wine?

It might've been the most unlikely meme of the year: Josh Cellars wine. It was pretty simple, however. A guy on X bragged about buying Josh wine, and people found the name hilarious online.

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So, yes, that was a thing. And you know what...it is funny that there is a wine called Josh. It just is. And it was a good meme.

"Mama, kudos for saying that"

A meme emerged from a mantra from the latest season of RuPaul's Drag Race. That mantra (and meme) was, "Mama, kudos for saying that."

It was a perfect, flippant quip that became a meme.

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The quote got inserted into famous film and TV scenes because it's so silly and wonderful. It takes a big moment and makes it hilariously glib.

SEE ALSO: 'Mama, kudos for saying that' is the internet's new favorite reaction Tinashe gets nasty, and we're all matching freaks.

This is new, but Tinashe's catchy song "Nasty" has created great memes about folks finding (or wanting) a person who matches their freak.

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It's a great meme because it's hilarious to point out the people who've had their freak matched.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Hot dog yells! Yes, that was a thing.

There was a period on TikTok when folks would ask someone to share how they would yell out to sell hotdogs in a stadium. Honestly, it seems some people missed out on their true calling. It's as if a whole world of folks had been waiting to be asked that question.

Tweet may have been deleted Ayo Edebiri is Irish??

OK, no, the actress from The Bear is not Irish. But she is hilarious and did start a meme about herself by randomly claiming Irishness. The internet, and Ireland itself, ran with it.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted SEE ALSO: Is Ayo Edebiri Irish? A guide to the internet's best joke. A golfer got arrested, and the internet had jokes.

Scottie Scheffler is the best golfer in the world and is currently on a run of winning unseen since Tiger Woods' peak. At the PGA Championship in Louisville, however, he was arrested by a police officer seemingly overzealous in his pursuit of upholding traffic patterns. The internet responded with great memes because Scheffler is about the most milquetoast man in existence and the last person you'd expect to be embroiled in such a situation.

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By the way, the charges were dropped.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck became a meme, which could mean nothing.

It's a long-held internet tradition that folks would ship the famous actors and best friends Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. TikTok got in on the action this year, primarily relying on the phrase "which could mean nothing." That phrase was lifted from an old Lainey Gossip headline about Damon not wearing his wedding ring while hanging out with Affleck. People now use "which could mean nothing" to suggest the two are in romantic love heavily. Fancams and compilations of the two A-listers have been accompanied by "which could mean nothing.

Those TikTok memes traveled elsewhere online, as these things tend to do.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Emptying your bank account for Oasis tickets

Liam and Noel Gallagher, the famously short-tempered brothers who make up Oasis, announced a reunion tour in 2025 after 15 years of feuding. It's a long-awaited tour that many folks thought would never happen. With the consistently staggering prices for stadium tours, many folks online joked about what it would cost to see Oasis before they inevitably break up again.

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There was a stretch of time in 2024 where everything, everywhere, focused on a baby pygmy hippo. Moo Deng of the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand captured the internet's heart.

SEE ALSO: Why we’re all in love with a little hippo named Moo Deng

She's adorable, always damp, and a bit naughty. The memes were immediate.

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Moo Deng got so big that Bowen Yang played her on SNL.

"In da club, we all fam"

TikTok seemingly discovered just how ridiculous and funny (and ridiculously funny, for that matter) Broad City was. A strange, specific quote from Ilana Glazer in the show — "In da club, we all fam" — went viral on TikTok and birthed a meme.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted "Very demure, very mindful"

TikTokker Jools LeBron had the world using the word "demure" for a lot of the year. She went mega-viral for her hilarious, creative way of using the phrase to describe her life. Did the word demure then become meme'd and overused into oblivion? Of course. But it was certainly one of the top memes of 2024.

SEE ALSO: 'Very demure' demonstrates TikTok's ability to shape modern language Tweet may have been deleted Hawk Tuah

It's unclear if Hawk Tuah is a meme. But it was such a thing that we included it regardless. In case you were living under a rock, hawk tuah is the phrase viral sensation Haliey Welch used to describe well...spittin' on that thang...during a sexually suggestive street interview in Nashville.

Since then, she's sold merch, launched a podcast (Talk Tuah), and inspired countless jokes and memes.

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One final, popular meme surfaced just before 2024 wrapped up. The press tour for Wicked was expansive and produced a funny little meme just as the musical hit theaters. Tracy E. Gilchrist of Out Magazine told stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo that "people are taking the lyrics of 'Defying Gravity' and really holding space with that and holding power in that."

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Gilchrist's tone was so sincere, and the phrasing so particular, that it became a meme.

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Sure, 2024 hasn't been the best year for memes. But it has been pretty good — and there's always the hope that 2025 produces meme excellence.

Want more of the best of 2024? Join Mashable as we look back at all the viral TikTok songs, internet slang, movies, hyped-up hardware, video games, scientific discoveries, dating trends, social media apps, and more that have delighted and amazed us this year.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, 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 the latest 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 Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. 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's The Mini crossword answers for December 3 Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Sin

• Green: Crummy

• Blue: Hoops no more here

• Purple: Horses

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Transgression

• Green: Not at One’s Best

• Blue: Former NBA Cities

• Purple: Triple Crown Winners

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 Sports Edition #68 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Transgression - FOUL, INFRACTION, PENALTY, VIOLATION

• Not at One’s Best - COLD, OFF, OUT OF FORM, RUSTY

• Former NBA Cities - BUFFALO, KANSAS CITY, SEATTLE, VANCOUVER

• Triple Crown Winners - CITATION, JUSTIFY, OMAHA, SECRETARIAT

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.

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

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.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands 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 3 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 3 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Lead the way

These words are used to light the way.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are what you'd hold at the front of a dark path.

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 Illumination.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for December 3

• Torch

• Candle

• Headlamp

• Lantern

• Flashlight

• Illumination

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 the latest Strands.

The Thanksgiving weekend has been dominated by news of President Joe Biden pardoning his son Hunter — who was due to face imminent sentencing for federal gun violations and tax charges — after saying repeatedly that he wouldn't do it. Needless to say, Jon Stewart had thoughts.

"Look man, the Democrats made this case an example of why Americans should believe in our system," the Daily Show host says in the monologue above. "And it's hard — Democrats have the tougher road of defending our institutions and systems as being flawed but still valuable; Republicans just run on blowing this shit up. But at every turn, Democrats keep getting caught creating a purity test for a system they can't seem to pass themselves."

Stewart goes on to run through some quick examples of this, from Biden having classified documents in his garage after condemning Donald Trump for doing something similar to Biden fist-bumping Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after condemning him over the killing of journalist Jamal Kashoggi.

"Rules, loopholes, and norms — the difference between the systems Democrats say they are revering and the one that they're using when they need to is why people think it's rigged," says Stewart. "Use the rules, use the loopholes, f*** the norms, but also use it to help the people. Not just those people related to you."

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, December 3, 2024:

AcrossPhysicians' degrees

• The answer is MDs.

Good name for a theology professor

• The answer is Faith.

Space-related prefix

• The answer is Astro.

Still in bed

• The answer is NotUp.

Garden figurine in a pointy hat

• The answer is Gnome.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 3 DownWorker with bricks and mortar

• The answer is Mason.

"Me, too!"

• The answer is Ditto.

Play, as a mandolin

• The answer is Strum.

One of two in a king cobra's mouth

• The answer is Fang.

Good name for an optimist

• The answer is Hope.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

Mining your own Spotify data is like accessing a musical window into your soul. What genre do you listen to the most? How obscure are your favorite artists? And, wait, you listened to "Alone" by Heart how many times!?

We've scoured the corners of the internet and collected our 13 favorite websites that analyze your Spotify data. So if you're the type of person who spends your days counting down to Spotify Wrapped or who regularly analyzes your listening habits to understand yourself better, you'll love these clever tools.

SEE ALSO: Got your Spotify Wrapped? Treat it like a shopping list.

A heads up that each of these websites requires you to log in to your Spotify and grant the website access to your Spotify data, and we've included directions at the bottom for how to remove each site's access once you've tried them out.

1. Stats for Spotify

Stats for Spotify is a classic Spotify data analyzer. It shows you your top tracks, artists, and genres organized by the previous four weeks, last six months, and all time. It also shows how your top tracks, artists, and genres have changed since the last time you used Stats for Spotify.

2. How Bad is Your Spotify

How Bad is Your Spotify is an AI tool that judges your music taste. It gained popularity in December 2020 for its snarky roasts of users' listening habits.

Don't judge me. Credit: Screenshot: How Bad Is Your Spotify 3. Instafest

Instafest generates a personalized music festival lineup of your most-listened artists on Spotify. The more you listen to an artist the larger their name will appear on your lineup. It was created by USC student Anshay Saboo. You can choose a festival based on your top artists from the past month, the past six months, or of all time. You can also switch up the aesthetics of the graphic, which is stylized to look like a festival poster. So, who are your headlining acts?

Who wouldn't buy a ticket. Credit: Screenshot: Instafest 4. Icebergify (aka the Spotify Iceberg)

Icebergify grabs the top 50 artists of your short-term, medium-term, and long-term listening trends and organizes them by their popularity or obscurity. If the artist is super popular (think Beyonce), they'll be at the tippy-top. But if you listen to a lot of Antichrist Siege Machine, they'll be closer to the bottom. The tool may also pull in musicians you haven't listened to in a few months, and if you don't listen to any artists in a certain level of popularity, the level will show up blank.

Three very brave staffers at Mashable (Christianna Silva, Crystal Bell, Tim Marcin) share their iceberg results. Credit: Credit: Screenshot / Icebergify / Christianna Silva, Crystal Bell, Tim Marcin 5. Obscurify

Like Icebergify, Obscurify tells you how obscure the music you listen to is compared to other Obscurify users. It'll also show you your top five obscure artists and will rate your music's happiness, danceability, and energy compared to other users.

6. Spotify Pie

"Bake your monthly genre pie" with this website created by UCLA student Darren Huang. Spotify Pie analyzes your Spotify listening and organizes it into a highly sharable pie chart of all the genres you've listened to in the last month. Below the chart, the website reveals your most-listened-to genres and your top artists of the month, too.

Credit: Spotify Pie Credit: Spotify Pie 7. Volt.fm

Volt.fm is a great tool for the music lovers who like to know all their stats. You can see your top artists, songs, and albums but also more nuanced data like number of players, most active hours for listening, and number of plays.

8. Discover Quickly

Discover Quickly sorts your playlists, top songs, and top artists by different criteria, like popularity and danceability. It also lists all of Spotify's wildly specific genres like "deep metalcore," "acid house," and "charred death." The tool will make you a playlist of that genre or can generate a playlist of songs of a random genre.

9. MusicScape

MusicScape generates a landscape based on the tracks you've recently listened to, taking their mood, mode, energy, and key into consideration to create something unique to your sonic palette.

What does your musicScape look like? Credit: Screenshot: musicscape 10. MusicTaste.Space

MusicTaste.Space is fun because it allows you to compare your listening with another Spotify user. Just send a friend the link on the homepage and it will show you all the overlap between your top songs and top artists.

11. Receiptify

Receiptify transforms your favorite songs into a cute little receipt of your musical taste. Choose your top tracks of the last month, last six months, or of all time.

Receiptify gives you an Insta Story ready list of your top songs. Credit: Screenshot: Receiptify 12. How NPRcore Are You

How NPRcore Are You analyzes how closely your music taste aligns with NPR music. Pick a time period and this tool will tell you what percent NPRcore you are or which of your top tracks and artists are most NPRcore.

13. Moodify

Moodify makes AI-generated playlists based on the mood of the song you're currently listening to.

How to unlink your Spotify

After you've had your fun poking around your data, you can easily unlink your account from each site by going to Spotify app settings and selecting "Remove Access."

Spotify users look forward to their Wrapped all year long. And for those who can hardly wait, don't fret: Spotify Wrapped 2024 is nearly here.

What is Spotify Wrapped?

Started in 2016, Spotify Wrapped is exactly what it sounds like: your year in Spotify, neatly wrapped up in a colorful — and uniquely shareable — interactive experience.

Spotify combs through your data and tells you your top artists, songs, albums, and more. For instance, you might find out you were in the Top 1 percent of Selena Gomez listeners. Spotify also creates a playlist of your Top 100 songs of the year.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Spotify Wrapped 2024 Tweet may have been deleted When will Spotify Wrapped be released in 2024?

The short answer: The exact date is a surprise. Spotify has never confirmed it, and let's face it — they probably never will. But we do know Spotify Wrapped will likely arrive quite soon.

It'll certainly come out the week after Thanksgiving. In 2023, it came out the Wednesday after Thanksgiving. So keep that in mind.

Tweet may have been deleted How to view your Spotify Wrapped

It's pretty simple to look at your Wrapped once it is released. All you have to do is open the app on your phone and click on the correct "Wrapped" icon. Typically speaking, it'll be a little button across a hard-to-miss banner. You can also go to the Wrapped section of the Spotify website.

And, of course, once you do view your Wrapped there's only one thing to do: share it with the internet, as has become obligatory.