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As an actor, Bradley Cooper can be exciting and explosive because he refuses to take himself all that seriously. In critically heralded films like Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, even Guardians of the Galaxy, where he voiced Rocket Raccoon, he gamely plays the fool, egotistical, wrathful, and/or uncouth. Yet as a filmmaker, Cooper is tediously serious, even when making the divorce-centered comedy Is This Thing On? 

Curiously, Cooper doesn't star in his latest, as he did in past directorial efforts A Star is Born (2018), and Maestro. Instead, he cast himself as the silliest character in his latest directorial effort, while Will Arnett, who co-wrote the screenplay with Cooper and Mark Chappell (See How They Run), headlines alongside Laura Dern. 

Together, they play a middle-aged couple navigating the end of their 20-year marriage. But don't expect the fireworks of the troubled couples from his last two directorial efforts. Instead, these two have a mutual split that's more aching than angry. To cope, the soon-to-be ex-husband turns his pain into a new hobby: stand-up comedy. Yet the results aren't all that funny or profound. 

Is This Thing On? feels old-school in a bad way.  Laura Dern and Will Arnett with director Bradley Cooper on the set of "Is This Thing On?" Credit: Jason McDonald / Searchlight Pictures

Relying on cliches and a premise done recently and very well by The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Is This Thing On? feels like a lost film from the late 2010s, when joking about dad bods was remotely fresh. Arnett stars as Alex Novak, who by day wears a suit for the sort of job the movie doesn't care about, and by night is stumbling into comedy clubs in New York city, looking for an open mic. Does he have dreams of doing stand-up professionally? Nope. It's more that tired meme: Men will do anything except go to therapy. 

So, Alex goes up on stage and starts talking about his life, his wife Tess (Dern), and his penis, in search of — what — attention? Absolution? I'm not sure even he knows. Scoring a few laughs thrills Alex, but he seems even more grateful for the community of comics (most of them women and people of color) who immediately embrace him and offer pointers. Because a realm where straight white guys really need a helping hand is stand-up comedy, right? 

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Where Midge Maisel's journey was about becoming great at stand-up, Alex's story is never about going pro, or even getting particularly good. Neither is it about becoming a member of the comic community so ready to embrace him. Instead, Is This Thing On? is a tedious, navel-gazing tale of a mediocre man doing the very least and feeling sort of bad about it. But hey, a female character who exists only to mock and fuck Alex says he's a "good" person. So, there's that. 

Bradley Cooper loves a broken man and the strong woman who takes his bullshit.  Laura Dern and Will Arnett play husband and wife in "Is This Thing On?" Credit: Jason McDonald / Searchlight Pictures

Admittedly, I've never been much for Cooper's movies. A Star Is Born was a remake after a remake, but at least its dusty, toxic romance gave us a sensational Lady Gaga performance. As for Maestro, Cooper threw himself into mastering the intricacies of conducting an orchestra, but co-wrote and directed a Leonard Bernstein movie that was fueled by biphobic stereotypes, like that bisexual people are irrepressibly lusty and can't (or won't) commit to a monogamous relationship. Both films in tone and aesthetic pine for Hollywood's Golden Age of big stars and big drama, but in doing so, drag dated ideas along with them. Set today, Is This Thing On? is less egregious on these points, but not when it comes to the tiresome gender roles of a messy man and the incredible woman who loves him. In this case, it's taken to a comical extreme. Alex is an amateur comic; his wife is a former Olympian volleyball player. 

Alex is often gruff and rumpled, looking very much the part of a man on the brink of divorce. The close-ups employed in Matthew Libatique's cinematography are practically suffocating, and repeatedly go directly into the protagonist's eyeline. So, whether he's tripping into a punchline or speaking sincerely to Tess, Alex is looking right at the camera, directly addressing the audience, perhaps asking us to love or at least see him. 

However, it's unclear how self-aware Is This Thing On? is about Alex's emotional state. Sure, as the movie goes on, he begins to own his mistakes in the past, but less so in the present. He and Tess have two young sons together. And over the course of the movie, Alex — who has moved out of the family home — acts more like a guest than a parent. When a birthday party is thrown at their house, he arrives late with no gift or anything in hand. When it's time to clean up, Libatique's frame shows other partygoers gathering absurd amounts of streamers that have been scattered around the lawn, while Alex chats with his flighty friend Balls, a deluded actor played by Bradley Cooper.

Is This Thing On? isn't funny, but its supporting players have their moments.  Will Arnett and Bradley Cooper play friends in "Is This Thing On?" Credit: Jason McDonald / Searchlight Pictures

To reiterate: Alex is not all that funny as a stand-up, in part because he tells tired jokes about dad bods and in part because he goes all Joker on occasion, turning his self-loathing on his audience. However, there's something brave and refreshing in suggesting someone can be into the performing arts as a hobby without being good at it, much less being successful. Cooper's character drives this point home, as he's the kind of New York actor who has been in the business for decades but has never broken through. 

Entering with a pratfall that sprawls him out on the floor, spilling a full quart of milk for a splashy punchline, Balls is ever-convinced he's on the brink of his moment. With a wide smile and chaotic charisma, he waxes poetic about the joys of being an understudy or cowhand #4. And though this makes him a clown within Alex's story, his final scene suggests he's found the key to happiness, and isn't bothered by other people's ideas of success. He's a goofball, but aspirational. 

Elsewhere, Christine Ebersole is hilarious as Alex's pestering mother. Though only in the film briefly, she makes the most of every moment, nailing that backhanded mom humor that cuts and spurs cackles. Her intense energy plays well off of Arnett's low-key grumbling, as does Dern's hard-forged warmth. The film's tension becomes the will-they-won't-they of Tess and Alex's relationship, asking if this is really the end or not. Dern, flowing from charmed to impatient to furious and back again, carries a lot of the movie's emotional weight. However, the film never commits to her enough to make this a two-hander. So, in the supporting role of the wife/could-be ex-wife, she's left to have emotional breakthroughs not on the Comedy Cellar stage, but on the phone with friends or family. Perhaps this is meant to show how one-sided their marriage had become, Tess left alone at home, calling out for help. But I suspect I'm giving Cooper too much credit there. 

In the end, I lost patience with this movie about a man who is remarkable in no particular way. Is This Thing On? is like its hero, unremarkable. The humor occasionally hits, but more often doesn't. Though the narrative around divorce here is refreshingly lacking in the sort of cliched Kramer vs. Kramer or Marriage Story vitriol, its open-hearted exploration of a marriage on the rocks never seems to recognize the strangling gender norms at its core. The performances are solid from the supporting cast, including former pro footballer Peyton Manning and a smattering of actual stand-ups — like Chloe Radcliffe, Jordan Jensen, and Reggie Conquest. Then there's Arnett, who post-BoJack Horseman seems cozy in the role of a lost middle-aged loser seeking validation through performance. But ultimately, I wasn't rooting for this marriage to work out or fall apart. I was just waiting for someone to flash the light and bring this exasperating set to an end. 

Is This Thing On? is now in theaters.

UPDATE: Jan. 8, 2026, 4:50 p.m. EST This review was first published on Oct. 10, 2025, as part of Mashable's coverage of the 2025 NYFF. It has been updated to reflect the movie's theatrical release.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 9, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for January 9, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 9 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (6): Everything in this space must be greater than 6. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 9 Pips

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically.

Number (17): Everything in this space must add up to 17. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (14): Everything in this space must add up to 14. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed horizontally.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this space must be greater than 1. The answer is 5-2, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 9 Pips

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 6-4, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this red space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed vertically; 2-3, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this yellow space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 2-3, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally.

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

Like fellow late show hosts Stephen Colbert, Ronny Chieng, and Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel has addressed ICE's fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Speaking with a sombre, quiet fury, the late show host forewent his typical jokes to impress upon his audience the true gravity of the situation, and to ridicule the Trump administration for its attempts to justify the killing.

"Terrible things happen every day," said Kimmel. "Sad things happen, tragedies, cruelty, injustice, et cetera. And in most situations, it's just a bad part of life. But what do you do when something terrible happens and a big group of people, including those who are running our country, tells you it didn't? They tell you you're not seeing what you clearly see. Are you supposed to just accept it and move on?"

SEE ALSO: Stephen Colbert condemns the Trump administration's reaction to ICE shooting

Kimmel urged viewers to watch the video of the ICE shooting which has been circulating on social media, stating that it's important that people know what is happening in order to prevent it from happening again. He also vocally criticised President Donald Trump and his supporters for attempting to convince people that Good, who had just dropped her six-year-old-child off at school, had attempted to run down ICE officers as part of a left-wing terrorist movement.

"There used to be a baseline of truth that doesn't seem to exist any more," said Kimmel. "There used to be a baseline of decency…. Those days are gone. Maybe not forever. Hopefully not forever, but for now they're gone...."

"This woman, this unarmed mama — a devout Christian, by the way — who had no criminal record, driving a Honda Pilot trying to get away from armed men in masks in the snow, masked men who are screaming at her. We're to believe this woman was a terrorist committing a terrorist act? And the fact that ICE shot through her windshield three times, that was her fault?

"The ICE officer was, as [U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security] Kristi Noem put it, 'following his training,' which, how stupid do you think we are? That is not just an insult to Renee Good. That's an insult to every law enforcement officer everywhere. They're not trained to do that. Again, I encourage you to watch the video for yourself. 

"And by the way, I know it isn't easy to work in law enforcement. I get that people make mistakes in the heat of a situation, but don't try to tell me that went by the book. Apologise, investigate, let justice be served. I find it hard to believe that even people who love Donald Trump would go along with this, but I guess they do."

Are you still being rudely awoken by the grating screech of an alarm clock in the morning? Ditch the din and put this smart home gadgetry to good use to make waking up a gentler and more pleasant experience.

When executive mandates shift away from building for the future toward hitting short-term targets, long-term priorities can suffer. As a leader, you’re often caught in the middle, tasked with executing myopic decisions that could jeopardize future competitiveness. Here’s how to protect what matters while operating within current constraints.  Translate long-term impact into short-term proof. Executives act on what they can measure. Use metrics such […]

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TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 T20 World Cup for free on ICC.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are so many incredible sporting events taking place in 2026. Fans can look forward to the Winter Olympics, World Cup, and so much more this year. And cricket fans really don't need to wait long for arguably the biggest showpiece event on the calendar: the 2026 T20 World Cup.

The best international T20 teams are heading to India and Sri Lanks to compete for the top prize. You can expect the likes of India, Australia, South Africa, and England to be there at the business end of this competition. Those are the favorites, but don't count out hosts Sri Lanka. Their passionate support could propel them into the knockout rounds.

If you want to watch the 2026 T20 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the T20 World Cup?

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup is a Twenty20 International cricket tournament organised by the International Cricket Council. The event is generally held every two years. India are the defending champions.

In 2026, 20 teams will compete in 55 matches across five venues. The 20 qualifying teams are divided into four groups of five. In the group stage, each team will play four matches in a round-robin format, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the Super 8 stage. At this point, teams will be placed into two groups of four, and will play three matches. The top two teams in each group will advance to the knockout stage.

When is the 2026 T20 World Cup?

The 2026 T20 World Cup is the 10th edition of the competition, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. This year's event takes place from Feb. 7 to March 8.

How to watch the 2026 T20 World Cup for free

The 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup is available to live stream for free on ICC.TV.

This free live stream on ICC.TV is only available in select regions (see full list of territories here), but anyone can live stream the T20 Cricket World Cup for free with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with free access. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can live stream on ICC.TV from anywhere in the world.

Access free T20 Cricket World Cup live streams by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access

4. Visit ICC.TV

5. Watch the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ICC.TV?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ICC.TV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 T20 World Cup for free on ICC.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are so many incredible sporting events taking place in 2026. Fans can look forward to the Winter Olympics, World Cup, and so much more this year. And cricket fans really don't need to wait long for arguably the biggest showpiece event on the calendar: the 2026 T20 World Cup.

The best international T20 teams are heading to India and Sri Lanks to compete for the top prize. You can expect the likes of India, Australia, South Africa, and England to be there at the business end of this competition. Those are the favorites, but don't count out hosts Sri Lanka. Their passionate support could propel them into the knockout rounds.

If you want to watch the 2026 T20 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the T20 World Cup?

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup is a Twenty20 International cricket tournament organised by the International Cricket Council. The event is generally held every two years. India are the defending champions.

In 2026, 20 teams will compete in 55 matches across five venues. The 20 qualifying teams are divided into four groups of five. In the group stage, each team will play four matches in a round-robin format, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the Super 8 stage. At this point, teams will be placed into two groups of four, and will play three matches. The top two teams in each group will advance to the knockout stage.

When is the 2026 T20 World Cup?

The 2026 T20 World Cup is the 10th edition of the competition, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. This year's event takes place from Feb. 7 to March 8.

How to watch the 2026 T20 World Cup for free

The 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup is available to live stream for free on ICC.TV.

This free live stream on ICC.TV is only available in select regions (see full list of territories here), but anyone can live stream the T20 Cricket World Cup for free with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with free access. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can live stream on ICC.TV from anywhere in the world.

Access free T20 Cricket World Cup live streams by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access

4. Visit ICC.TV

5. Watch the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ICC.TV?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ICC.TV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Can any team catch up and compete with Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga? It's not looking likely, but Borussia Dortmund are leading the race for second place. Next they face off against Eintracht Frankfurt, a team that could move up into the top five with a win here. We're expecting a huge matchup between two exciting sides.

If you want to watch Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund?

Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga kicks off at 7:30 p.m. GMT on Jan. 9. This fixture takes place at the Deutsche Bank Park.

How to watch Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund for free

Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the Bundesliga before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga for free with ExpressVPN.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Part of a married couple.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

GROOM

Hurdle Word 2 hint

The sound a basketball makes in the net.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 9, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SWISH

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Fancy.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 9 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 9, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

JAZZY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Abundantly.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for January 8 Hurdle Word 4 answer

AMPLY

Final Hurdle hint

A slogan.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

MOTTO

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

We're nearly at the Third Quarter, which means the Moon is almost half gone from sight. This will be the second-to-last phase before we reach the New Moon, where it will disappear from sight completely.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Friday, Jan. 9, the Moon phase is Waning Gibbous. According to NASA's Daily Moon Guide, 61% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.

You don't need any visual aids to spot features on the Moon's surface, with just your naked eye you'll be able to catch a glimpse of the Mares Imbrium and Vaporum, as well as the Aristarchus Plateau. If you do have visual aids, binoculars will help you see the Grimaldi Basin, Apennine Mountains, and the Mare Humorum, and a telescope will bring the Apollo 14 landing spot, Schiller Crater, and Rima Ariadaeus into view.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will be on Feb. 1. The last full moon was on Jan. 3.

What are Moon phases?

NASA explains that the Moon takes about 29.5 days to complete a full orbit, a period known as the lunar cycle. As it moves around Earth, the Moon goes through a series of distinct phases. While the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, the sunlight hitting it changes depending on its position in orbit. This is why the Moon can appear fully lit, partially lit, or completely dark at different times. The lunar cycle includes eight main phases:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're good with direction.

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 January 9, 2026 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: Same-colored

• Green: A pickle

• Blue: Famous musicians

• Purple: Found on a compass

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Things that are red

• Green: Used in metaphors for precarious situations

• Blue: Musical artists minus starting numbers

• Purple: Cardinal directions with first letter changed

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 #943 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Things that are red: 3 BALL, CARDINAL, HEART EMOJI, SOLO CUP

• Used in metaphors for precarious situations: 8 BALL, DEEP END, LIMB, THIN ICE

• Musical artists minus starting numbers: 6 MAFIA, CHAINZ, DIRECTION, NON BLONDES

• Cardinal directions with first letter changed: COUTH, FORTH, LEST, OAST

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 January 9, 2026

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 love wildlife.

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 January 9, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 9, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: For cubs fans

The words are related to animals.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe large, furry mammals.

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 Bears in Mind.

NYT Strands word list for January 9

• Polar

• Grizzly

• Panda

• Black

• Brown

• Spectacled

• Bears in Mind

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 have a lucky number.

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 January 9, 2026 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 January 9, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Before nine.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter E.

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...

EIGHT

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 January 9, 2026

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.

What a year it's been for The Pitt! The new HBO Max series, starring and produced by ER alum Noah Wyle, not only became a hit with critics and audiences, but also scored five Emmy wins, two Golden Globe nominations, and three Critics Choice Awards. And now this top-notch hospital drama series is back with Season 2.

Judging by HBO Max's "Top 10 Series Today" ranking on their app, lots of fans have been rewatching Season 1 in anticipation for the second season. The Pitt's been near number two all week, topped only by the internet's newest obsession Heated Rivalry.

Credit: HBO Max

But in case you don't have the time (or emotional bandwidth) to revisit all 15 Season 1 episodes of The Pitt, we're recapping everything you need to know.

How long has passed between Season 1 and Season 2 of The Pitt?

About 10 months has passed between seasons, with Season 2 taking place on July 4. Like last season, each episode of The Pitt Season 2 will be one hour in a day shift at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. This Independence Day setting means that on top of the everyday emergencies coming into the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, you can also expect fireworks-related mishaps and other summer heat shenanigans.

But fret not! Attending physician Dr. Robby (Wyle) is working the day shift. He's re-teaming with a bunch of familiar faces from Season 1, including doctors Samira Mohan (Supriya Ganesh), Cassie McKay (Fiona Dourif), Mel King (Taylor Dearden), Trinity Santos (Isa Briones), and Dennis "Huckleberry" Whitaker (Gerran Howell), and student doctor Victoria "Crash" Javadi (Shabana Azeez). And their ability to pull together in the face of a crisis has been so satisfying in a world gone mad that The Pitt fans have described the show "competency porn."

Where's Dr. Collins? Noah Wyle and Tracy Ifeachor lean on each other in "The Pitt," Season 1. Credit: John Johnson / HBO

In Season 1, Tracy Ifeachor played Dr. Heather Collins, a former flame of Dr. Robby's who suffered a miscarriage during her shift. From there, she understandably clocked out early, missing the flood of patients coming for the PittFest massacre. And she won't be seen in Season 2, as Deadline reported last July that Ifeachor would not be returning.

Does Dana come back? Katherine LaNasa as Dana in "The Pitt," Season 2. Credit: Warrick Page / HBO Max

Yes! Last season the charge nurse (Katherine LaNasa) with a heart of a gold and Yinzer accent threatened to quit her job after being attacked by a furious patient. Thankfully, Dana is back.

LeNasa won an Emmy and a Critics' Choice Award for her riveting performance in Season 1, so showrunner R. Scott Gemmill would be mad to write her off. And her return is good news for The Pitt, its fans, and Dr. Robby, who is the heart of the show, but also ever on the verge of bursting. Strong yet sensitive, sometimes raging but always resilient, it's impossible to imagine this place, or this show, without Dana.

Where has Dr. Langdon been? Brandon Mendez Homer and Patrick Ball in "The Pitt," Season 2. Credit: Warrick Page / HBO Max

In Season 2's premiere, The Pitt fans will see Dr. Langdon (Patrick Ball) return after some time away, as demanded by his behavior in Season 1.

At the start of that shift, Langdon was a respected (albeit arrogant) senior resident, entrusted to introduce second-year resident Mel King to the ways of The Pitt. However, as the shift goes on, he blows up at wannabe maverick Santos, sparking a lecture from Dr. Robby. Then, Santos shares her suspicions that Langdon is stealing benzodiazepines. When Robby confirms this, he is furious and sends Langdon home. However, when Langdon hears about the shooting at PittFest, he returns to help however he can. Robby reluctantly allowed it.

Now in Season 2, he's back and not the cocky bastard we remember. With a sheepish demeanor, in episode 1, Langdon returns from 10 months of "rehab and counseling." Some of the nurses welcome him warmly, while Mel is so elated she almost hugs him in front of everyone. But Robby is less enthused, relegating the returning resident to triage and otherwise trying to avoid him.

Santos is still calling Javadi "Crash"? Shabana Azeez, Isa Briones, Gerran Howell, and Noah Wyle in "The Pitt," Season 2. Credit: Warrick Page / HBO Max

Yep. Within hours of meeting each other in Season 1, Santos had saddled her fellow student doctors with unwanted nicknames. Whitaker was mocked for being a farm boy with "Huckleberry," and Javadi was dubbed "Crash" for passing out during a particularly grisly medical moment. But by the end of Season 1, Javadi proved herself by making it through one hell of a first day, considering the PittFest carnage. She went out for drinks with coworkers in the park (don't tell her mom!) while Santos showed her softer side to Whitaker.

After being a jagoff to her peers all day, she discovered that Whitaker was unhoused and squatting in a closed section of the hospital. She offered him a room at her apartment for free. This was the most kind thing we'd seen her do yet, so there was the possibility Santos would be less of a bully in Season 2. But while Langdon is showing a newfound humility in this season, Santos is as cocky and cavalierly insulting as ever. She's still hyping herself up in front of superiors and undercutting her colleagues with snarky humor and antagonistic monikers. But even in this first episode, we're getting a better idea of why she's so determined to let no one get close.

Wait, where is Dr. Robby going? Noah Wyle as Dr. Robby in "The Pitt." Credit: Warrick Page / HBO Max

Instead of walking to work, as we saw at the start of last season, Dr. Robby rides a motorcycle to the ER. Last season, Dr. Jack Abbott (Shawn Hatosy) did recommend to his stressed friend that a hobby might help him cope with hard days at the hospital. So, the three-month sabbatical Robby promises he's starting at the end of this shift will be a long-distance motorcyle ride far beyond Pittsburgh's iconic yellow bridges to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.

"It's an aboriginal UNESCO World Heritage Site in Alberta," Robby tells Langdon. "I've never seen the Badlands."

According to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump's website, it's a place "that preserves and interprets over 6,000 years of Plains Buffalo culture. Through vast landscapes, exhibits, and diverse programming, learn about the cultural significance of this cliff to the Plains People."

So was Langdon right when he called this trip a "spirit quest?" We'll see.

Who is Louie? Gerran Howell, Lucas Iverson, and Ernest Harden Jr. in "The Pitt." Credit: Warrick Page / HBO Max

While most of the returning cast from The Pitt's first season plays doctors, nurses, or other hospital staff, Ernest Harden Jr. played the lovable alcoholic Louie Cloverfield. Like Earl (Hansford Prince), who liked sandwiches but not egg salad, and Myrna (Jeanette Tondino O'Connor), who liked calling Dr. Robby "fruitcake," Louie is a bit of a regular around this ER. Like Norm from Cheers, except everyone keeps telling him to drink less.

In Season 1, Louie came to the ER twice in 24 hours with issues related to his heavy drinking. Langdon had prescribed him "benzos" to ease alcohol withdrawal, but pocketed several of the pills for his own use. In this new episode for Season 2, the pair are reunited, as Louie comes in with a swollen belly and an infected tooth. Langdon takes the opportunity to come clean, offering a sincere and unvarnished apology. While Louis is shocked, he offers forgiveness. And as was true last time, he may be suffering from his symptoms, but he's a ray of sunshine to all who cross his path.

The Pitt Season 2 premieres Jan. 8 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO Max, with new episodes each Thursday.

There are plenty of things with screens in them that don’t need screens, and now you can add handbags to that list. Created by Richard Peuty, Infinity is a high-end French purse that embeds an OLED display directly into its leather body, turning what is traditionally a static fashion accessory into a glowing, animated statement piece. I saw it up close at CES, where it immediately stood out as one of the show’s more delightfully unnecessary ideas.

SEE ALSO: The weirdest, wildest tech we saw at CES 2026

While the Infinity's entry-level Kickstarter tiers start at around $800, the top-end Atelier Edition surpasses $9,000, placing it firmly in the luxury handbag category. That highest tier is less about value and more about exclusivity, with limited production and hand-assembly in France. Such craftsmanship is where Infinity clearly wants to justify itself. The bag is made from full-grain leather sourced and assembled in Europe, with an emphasis on longevity and repairability rather than fast fashion. Peuty positions the OLED panel as something that allows the bag to evolve over time, rather than be replaced, adapting to trends digitally while the physical object remains the same.

Visually, Infinity appears to be a structured, high-end leather handbag at first glance. The OLED panel is flush with the front, framed by clean stitching and metal hardware, so the tech doesn’t overpower the design.

The display can be changed on your phone through the Infinity app. Credit: Chance Townsend / Mashable

The OLED panel sits beneath a textured protective layer designed to feel like leather rather than glass, so you never feel as though you’re touching a screen. The bag supports wireless charging, offers six to eight hours of continuous display time, and connects over Bluetooth Low Energy. The idea is that the technology disappears until you want it, leaving the craftsmanship to do most of the talking.

It’s undeniably a little ridiculous, but it’s also very intentional. It’s aiming at buyers who already spend thousands on handbags and want something no one else at dinner has.

Streaming deals to watch the NFL playoffs in 2026, at a glance: Prime Video $8.99 per month (save $6 compared to full Prime membership) Get Deal Fox One + ESPN Unlimited bundle $39.99 per month (save $9.99 per month) Get Deal Peacock Premium annual plan $109.99 per year (save $21.89) Get Deal Paramount+ Essential annual plan $59.99 per year (until Jan. 15) (save $35.89) Get Deal YouTube TV 21-day free trial, then $59.99 per month for 2 months (save $23 per month) Get Deal

The most unhinged part of the NFL season is here. That's right — it's playoffs time, baby.

Whether your team is in or out, you're probably wondering what kind of streaming madness the NFL has in store for this postseason. The good news is there are no more out of market games to confuse and frustrate viewers. The bad news is if you don't have cable (or a cable replacement), you're going to need a bunch of streaming services. Fear not; I've done the annoying research for you already. It's better than wallowing in self pity because my team didn't make the playoffs (I'm a Ravens fan — IYKYK).

Here are all the details you need to watch the NFL playoffs in 2026, including the tentative schedule, which streaming services you need, which ones offer free trials, and the best streaming deals to save you some money.

What is the 2026 NFL postseason schedule?Wild Card Round

Saturday, Jan. 10

• Rams at Panthers at 4:30 p.m. ET — Fox (stream on Fox One)

• Packers at Bears at 8 p.m. ET — Prime Video

Sunday, Jan. 11

• Bills at Jaguars at 1 p.m. ET — CBS (stream on Paramount+)

• 49ers at Eagles at 4:30 p.m. ET  — Fox (stream on Fox One)

• Chargers at Patriots at 8 p.m. ET — NBC (stream on Peacock)

Monday, Jan. 12

• Texans at Steelers at 8 p.m. ET — ESPN / ABC (stream on ESPN Unlimited)

Divisional Round

The Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos are the No. 1 seeds in their respective divisions, so they earned a first-round bye. In the Divisional Round, the lowest seed remaining in the AFC after the Wild Card weekend will play Denver for a spot in the AFC Championship. The lowest remaining seed in the NFC will face off against Seattle for a spot in the NFC Championship. These games are TBD, but will fall on Jan. 17 and 18.

Saturday, Jan. 17

• AFC or NFC divisional matchup, 4:30 p.m. ET — TBD

• AFC or NFC divisional matchup, 8 p.m. ET — TBD

Sunday, Jan. 18

• AFC or NFC divisional matchup, 3 p.m. ET — TBD

• AFC or NFC divisional matchup, 6:30 p.m. ET — TBD

Championship Round

Sunday, Jan. 25

• AFC Championship at 3:00 p.m. ET — CBS (stream on Paramount+)

• NFC Championship at 6:30 p.m. ET — Fox (stream on Fox One)

Super Bowl

Sunday, Feb. 8

• 2026 Super Bowl at 6:30 p.m. ET — NBC (stream on Peacock)

Which streaming services do you need?

If you don't have cable or a digital antenna (more on this below), you'll need quite a few streaming subscriptions to watch the playoffs. It should come as no surprise, considering how many different channels and subscriptions were required to watch the regular season. The good news is you can easily sign up for a single month of each service and then cancel if you don't want to keep paying. Plus, some even offer free trials.

You'll need Fox, NBC, CBS, and ESPN/ABC networks to watch every postseason game, plus Prime Video. Fortunately, all of these channels have streaming counterparts for folks without cable.

For the NFL 2026 playoffs, you'll need the following streaming services:

• Fox One

• Prime Video

• Peacock

• Paramount+

• ESPN Unlimited

Another option, albeit an expensive one, is to sign up for a live TV cable replacement service, like YouTube TV or Fubo, which includes all of the networks you'll need to watch live games (except Prime Video). The monthly cost for these services is higher than paying for all five of the streamers above, but most come with free trials. If you've never signed up for YouTube TV before, for example, you'll get a 21-day free trial. That gets you all the way through the Championship Round. You'd still need to pay separately for a Prime Video subscription for a wildcard game, but this is your best bet to watch the most games for the cheapest price.

Live TV cable replacement options:

• YouTube TV (carries Fox, NBC, CBS, ABC, ESPN)

• Fubo (carries Fox, CBS, ABC, ESPN)

• DirecTV Stream (carries ABC, ESPN, NBC, CBS, Fox in select markets)

• Sling Orange & Blue (carries ESPN, Fox, ABC, and NBC in select markets)

• Hulu + Live TV (carries ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC)

Which streaming services offer free trials?

Of the streaming services and cable replacement options above, here's a breakdown of which ones offer free trials and how long those trials last. Just remember, these trials are only available to new users in most cases (and sometimes returning users).

• Fox One — free 7-day trial

• Prime Video — free 30-day trial

• Paramount+ — free 7-day trial (through Jan. 15)

• YouTube TV — free 21-day trial

• Fubo — free 5-day trial

• DirecTV Stream — free 5-day trial

• Hulu + Live TV — free 3-day trial

Are there any streaming deals for the NFL playoffs?

If you've already exhausted most of the free trial options, fret not. There are some options to save money on select streaming services in time for the playoffs. We've rounded up the best streaming deals for each service below.

Fox One streaming deals

Fox One and ESPN bundle

Opens in a new window Credit: ESPN / Fox One Fox One and ESPN Unlimited bundle $39.99/month (save $9.99/month) Get Deal

Save $10 and kill two birds with one stone by signing up for the ESPN Unlimited and Fox One bundle. You'll get both streamers for just $39.99 per month (rather than $49.98), which will unlock access to three games in the wild card round, likely a game or two in the divisional round, as well as the NFC championship game.

Fox One annual plan

Opens in a new window Credit: Fox One Fox One annual plan $199.99/year (save $39.89) Get Deal

Another way to save on Fox One is by signing up for the entire year upfront for $199.99. Paying monthly adds up to $239.88 across 12 months, so you'll end up saving nearly $40 with an annual plan.

Prime Video streaming deals

Prime Video only

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Prime Video only $8.99/month (save $6/month compared to Prime subscription) Get Deal

If you don't care about being a Prime member, you can save yourself $6 per month by signing up for Prime Video only. You won't get the perks of being a member (like free shipping and Prime Day access), but if you only want to stream sports and other content, this is your best bet.

Of course, Amazon makes it unnecessarily complicated to sign up for Prime Video on its own. When you go to sign up for a subscription, be sure to select the option to "see more plans" or "change plans." Then, navigate to the option for Prime Video on its own. You can still cancel whenever you want, just as you would a full Prime membership.

More Prime Video deals:

• Save 22% on an Amazon Prime annual membership

• Students save $7.50 per month with Prime for Young Adults

Peacock streaming deals

Peacock annual subscription

Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock annual subscription $109.99/year (save $21.89) Get Deal

The best Peacock deal for most people on any given day (when Peacock isn't running any sort of special) is the annual subscription plan. You'll get 12 months for the price of 10 when you pay upfront for the whole year. While a monthly subscription with ads usually costs $10.99 per month, that price drops to $9.17 per month with the annual plan. Live sports include ads regardless of which tier you choose, so you might as well opt for the cheaper Peacock Premium plan for the playoffs. A Peacock subscription grants you access to not only a game during wild card weekend, but also the Super Bowl itself.

More Peacock deals:

• Free Peacock Premium for eligible Xfinity customers

• Free Peacock Premium for Instacart+ subscribers

• Free Peacock Premium for Walmart+ subscribers

• Students save $8/month on one year of Peacock Premium

• First responders, medical professionals, military personnel, and teachers save $7/month on Peacock Premium

Paramount+ streaming deals

Paramount+ Essential annual subscription

Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ Essential annual subscription $59.99/year (save $35.89) Get Deal

Paramount+ is still one of the cheapest streaming services at just $7.99 per month with ads, but the price is about to jump to $8.99 per month come Jan. 15. In order to lock in a deal, we suggest signing up for the annual subscription before that price hike takes place. You'll get an entire year of streaming for only $59.99, which breaks down to just $5 per month. You'll get access to a few different playoff games, including the AFC Championship game, as well as in-network AFC games throughout the regular season.

More Paramount+ deals:

• Students save 50% on Paramount+ (any plan) for 12 months

• Save 17% on Paramount+ Premium annual plan (no ads)

ESPN Unlimited streaming deals

See Fox One bundle above.

ESPN Unlimited annual subscription

Opens in a new window Credit: ESPN ESPN Unlimited annual subscription $299.99/year (save $59.89) Get Deal

If you're a huge sports fan, you can save about $60 by signing up for a full year of ESPN Unlimited instead of paying monthly. It'll cost you $299.99 in total, which breaks down to only $24.99 per month instead of $29.99.

Another way to watch the NFL playoffs

Want to avoid signing up for a million streaming services just to watch the playoffs? I highly recommend getting a digital antenna. I have this cheap one from Amazon, and I'm able to access ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox live for free — no streaming subscription required. Just be sure to check how far the range is for whichever antenna you choose, as well as how far you are from your local broadcast towers. If you're in that range, you should be able to watch live TV for free. Of course, you'll still need that pesky Prime Video subscription, but for the other networks, you're golden.

This weekend, I decided to embark on an international getaway with three shows on Amazon Prime Video, and you’re coming with me. We’re headed around the world with a witty comedy and a dark sci-fi mystery-thriller, then it’s game-on back in the States, psychologically speaking.

TL;DR: Make nice with PDFs forever thanks to this lifetime license to PDF Converter and Editor for just $23.99 (reg. $99.99) with code CONVERT until Jan. 11.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acethinker PDF Converter & Editor: Lifetime License $23.99
$99.99 Save $76   Get Deal

Tired of constantly running into problems with PDFs? There’s now an app ready to help — PDF Converter and Editor. This app provides everything you need to deal with PDFs in just a few taps.

Right now, you can secure a lifetime subscription to PDF Converter and Editor for just $23.99 (reg. $99.99) with code CONVERT until Jan. 11.

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From signing a document to filling out a form, we encounter PDFs pretty regularly in our daily lives. Since they’re not going anywhere anytime soon, it’s time we learn to live with them. That’s where PDF Converter and Editor comes in, offering an easy way to deal with these frustrating files.

When you need to edit a PDF, just pull up this app. It lets you merge, split, rotate, or delete pages as needed. You can also use OCR to edit and extract text, add notes, stamps, text, or a customizable watermark.

PDF Converter and Editor not only lets you work with these files, but it also lets you convert them to another format in just a few taps, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, text, HTML, PNG, and JPG files.

If you have a file in another format that needs to be a PDF, you can easily convert a Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or image file to a PDF. When you convert your files, you don’t have to worry about sacrificing the quality. The original layouts, images, and hyperlinks will all be preserved.

Get this lifetime license to PDF Converter and Editor for just $23.99 (reg. $99.99) with code CONVERT until Jan. 11.

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Now that we’re a week into 2026, it’s time to take a look at some more homelab projects to try out this weekend. Instead of complex and complicated projects, I’m focusing more on getting organized and setting myself up for a successful year from the start, so here are three projects to work on over the next few days.

I want to learn something when I watch a documentary or docuseries, but I don't want it to feel like I'm cramming for an exam. Entertaining while enlightening are two traits I look for in a doc, and I think this weekend's Prime Video picks hit that nail right on the head.