The internet loves a comeback tour, but it adores one with puppet fleece and impeccable comedic timing. Case in point: The Muppet Show special, which returned to the Muppet Theatre on Feb. 4 for a one-night event on Disney+ and ABC — and promptly took over everyone’s feeds.

Seriously. I didn’t know I needed a Rizzo the Rat cover of The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” until I saw it, and now I don’t ever want to live in a world without it.

The Muppet Show originally ran from 1976 to 1981, pioneering the variety format with a blend of vaudeville silliness, celebrity guest spots, and backstage chaos anchored by Kermit the Frog’s perpetually frazzled calm. The new special revives that spirit with all the familiar faces, including Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, and Statler and Waldorf, along with a lineup of contemporary guests, from Maya Rudolph and Seth Rogen (who also serve as executive producers) to pop star Sabrina Carpenter.

But it’s the clips that have really sent fans and group chats into a frenzy, proof that the Muppets understand how to play the internet better than most human celebrities.

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Leading the pack is a truly unexpected cover: Rizzo belting out The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” on rat-infested streets. The contrast between the sleek, synth-pop hit and Rizzo’s nasally bravado is instant comedy, and social media has embraced it wholeheartedly.

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Then there’s Sabrina Carpenter’s performance of “Manchild,” which has been circulating widely for its playful integration into the Muppet universe. Rather than feeling like a standard guest slot, the performance leans into the show’s absurdity, letting Carpenter spar with the chaos around her — which includes a flock of chickens on backup vocals.

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And then there’s the press run. Kermit and Miss Piggy have been popping up together in interviews (including a hilarious episode of Vanity Fair‘s Lie Detector Test), bantering like a couple who’ve been married, divorced, remarried, and media-trained for decades. Their chemistry feels untouched by time.

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Long before algorithms and engagement metrics, Kermit and company mastered the art of attention. So, really, the Muppets were built for virality long before the concept of virality existed. The internet is just their latest stage.

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There’s no better way to pregame the Patriots vs. Seahawks game on Sunday than with a puppy palooza. The longest-running call-to-adoption television event is back in 2026 with Puppy Bowl XXII. This year’s event includes 150 dogs from 72 shelters across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the British Virgin Islands, which marks a new record.

The reigning champions, Team Fluff’s lineup includes Benito, a Siberian Husky-Chihuahua from Puerto Rico, Showgirl, a Chow Chow-Rottweiler, and Chappell Bone, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. They’ll take on Team Ruff, which includes Lobster Roll, a Bulldog-Border Collie, Brûlée, a Boston Terrier-French Bulldog, and Miso, an American Cattle Dog-Beagle, to get their paws on the “Lombarky” trophy. Prepare for adorable puppies, heartwarming adoption stories, and play-by-play commentary from sportscasters Steve Levy and Taylor Rooks. A special halftime exhibition game (new this year) with senior dogs on Team Oldies and Team Goldies will also surely tug at your heartstrings.

If you need some cozy and comforting content before the chaos of the Big Game, here’s what you need to know to watch the Puppy Bowl.

When is the 2026 Puppy Bowl?

Puppy Bowl XXII kicks things off on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. ET, making it the perfect pregame for the Big Game at 6:30 p.m. ET. A Puppy Combine pre-show will air just before the 22nd annual adoption awareness event at 1 p.m. ET.

How to watch Puppy Bowl XXII

Got cable? You can watch the 2026 Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet, TBS, or TruTV — take your pick. Those without cable have options as well. The event will simulcast on both HBO Max and Discovery+ streaming services. You can also opt for a live TV cable replacement service, which usually will give you a free trial. We’ve rounded up the best (and cheapest) ways to watch below.

Best way to watch without cable: Get a free 7-day trial to Discovery+

Hands down the best option to watch the Puppy Bowl without spending a cent is to sign up for a free seven-day trial to Discovery+, either through Discovery+ directly or as a Prime Video add-on. After your trial, it’ll cost you either $5.99 per month with ads or $9.99 per month without ads unless you cancel first.

Best way to watch the Puppy Bowl and Super Bowl live: Get a Hulu + Live TV free trial

If you want to watch both the 2026 Puppy Bowl and the football game, you’re going to need a live TV cable alternative. Fortunately, most options offer free trials — including Hulu + Live TV. While you’ll only get three days for free, you really only need it for Sunday, Feb. 8, so that’s plenty. Just be sure to cancel your subscription before the three-day trial ends, or else you’ll be charged full price — *gasp* $89.99 per month. Other options include YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream.

Best HBO Max deal for most people: Save 16% on HBO Max annual subscriptions

If you don’t qualify for the trials above, or if you just want to commit to HBO Max for more than the Puppy Bowl, we recommend signing up for the annual plan over the monthly plan. The HBO Max Basic plan with ads typically costs $10.99 per month, but if you pay for an entire year upfront, that price drops down to just $9.17. You’ll pay $109.99 total for the year, which saves you about 16% compared to paying each month.

Rather go ad-free? The annual HBO Max Standard or Premium plans will also save you about 16% over their monthly counterparts. The Standard tier costs either $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year (about $15.42 per month), while the Premium tier costs either $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year (about $19.17 per month). Both tiers unlock ad-free viewing, but the Premium tier also adds 4K Ultra HD video quality, Dolby Atmos immersive audio, and the ability to download more offline content.

Best way to get HBO Max for free: Switch to Cricket’s Supreme Unlimited plan

One of the best ways to get HBO Max for free in 2026 is to switch your phone plan to Cricket’s $60 per month Supreme Unlimited plan. It includes HBO Max Basic with ads for free — a $10.99 per month value. When you open up the HBO Max app or website, you’ll just select Cricket as your provider and use your credentials to log in.

Best HBO Max deal for students: Save 50% on HBO Max Basic with ads

College students can sign up for an entire year of HBO Max with ads for half price. Just verify your student status through UNiDAYS and use the unique discount code to drop the price from $10.99 to just $5.49 per month. After 12 months, the price will jump back up to the full $10.99 monthly fee unless you cancel.

Best HBO Max bundle deal: Get HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 42% off

The Disney+ bundle deal that includes Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max is one of the best deals in streaming. That lineup of streamers would usually cost you $34.97 per month if you paid separately for each, but you can bundle them for only $19.99. If you prefer to watch without ads, the bundle will run you $32.99 per month as opposed to $56.47. That’s up to 42% in savings for unlimited access to all three streaming libraries.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency markets are rebounding on Friday after hitting lows not seen in years.

As of publication, Bitcoin has since soared back over $70,300 following yesterday’s crash.

But is the worst really over? Or is the worst yet to come? Despite the recent rebound, one of the experts we talked to warned of further decreases to come.

In a statement provided to Mashable before today’s bounceback, early Bitcoin investor Michael Terpin foresaw an uptick in the market before another potential downturn.

“Most likely we will have a bounce back over $80k before the final plunge, exhausting weary ETF investors into capitulation, despite how oversold we are right now,” Terpin said. “It would be awesome if we could rip the band-aid off quickly and hit the bottom this week or month, but there is really strong buying resistance at $65k and $60k. If we lose that support, price could drop all the way to $45k.”

Other analysts have also predicted that Bitcoin could drop as low as $40k if the current market trends continue.

According to a CryptoQuant analysis, investors should still proceed with caution as crypto whales are currently very active and “account for a disproportionately large share of total deposits.”

“This behavior typically signals that whales are aggressively moving funds onto the exchange, a precursor often associated with heavy selling (dumping) or hedging activities,” the report says.

Head of Bitfire Research Allen Ding told Mashable in a statement that a rebound in the market is “likely to be constrained by the pace of institutional capital returning and the unwinding of market leverage risks.”

With big holders still actively selling, analysts say crypto prices could continue to fluctuate and even start to plunge once again.

The current price range, even after the rebound, also provides a challenge for Bitcoin miners. As CoinDesk reports, the current Bitcoin price is well under the average cost of $87,000 to mine a single Bitcoin. The outlet notes that this has traditionally been one of the signs of a bear market.