Entertainment
Badass Millennial Series Everyone Pretended Was Just For Girls Now Streaming For Free
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
For geeks of a certain age, there’s a sublime, nostalgic pleasure in revisiting the cartoons of your childhood. Watching an episode or two is a powerful way to micro-dose those days when life was so simple, and the future was full of endless possibilities. Outside of anime, probably the most influential cartoon of my generation was The Powerpuff Girls, which transformed three little ladies into the ultimate superhero team of the ‘90s. With slick character designs, smooth animation, and hilariously tongue-in-cheek writing, this show effectively served as a watershed moment for American animation.
Over the years, there have been failed attempts to recapture the old magic, including a disappointing anime adaptation (Powerpuff Girls Z) and a (mercifully) canceled live-action show. Decades later, it seems like it might be impossible for any new series to capture the unique energy and attitude that made the earlier show so special. Fortunately, you can return to the glory days of this Emmy-winning animation at the touch of a button, because The Powerpuff Girls is now streaming for free on Tubi!
Catching Lightning In A Bottle
The Power Puff Girls was created by Craig McCracken, the visionary creator who had previously worked with fellow legendary animator Genndy Tartakovsky on Dexter’s Laboratory. Originally, McCracken conceived of a slightly more adult show. His crimefighting trio originally went by the name “The Whoopass Girls” in an old short, and they got their powers from a can of whoopass. Cartoon Network was interested in the show, but they required McCracken to change the name to the more family-friendly Powerpuff Girls.
During early screenings for his first short, test audiences (mostly comprised of preadolescent boys) really hated the show and hated the characters’ designs. Fortunately, McCracken (with encouragement from Cartoon Network exec Mike Lazzo) stuck to his guns, keeping the original look of the Powerpuff Girls. The show ultimately became a primetime hit for Cartoon Network, winning three Emmys and fully solidifying itself as a foundational part of Millennial pop culture.
Unforgettable Characters, Unforgettable Art
It’s a good thing that Craig McCracken kept the original look of our titular trio because the art style of The Powerpuff Girls is instantly iconic. At its heart, the art of this show provides a hilarious visual juxtaposition. With their wide eyes and expressive faces, the titular trio looks like they might be trying to sell Girl Scout cookies in an idyllic suburban community. Instead, they are superheroes who serve as the first, last, and only line of defense for Townsville, a bustling ‘berg that is always being attacked by everything from killer kaijus to snarling supervillains.
Fortunately, the design of Townsville is as bold and bright as the design of the Powerpuff Girls. It’s also filled with other stylishly designed characters, including the diminutive mayor and his Amazonian assistant, the mad monkey Mojo Jojo, and the Rowdy Ruff Boys, the Girls’ evil counterparts. Each character design is unique, giving the entire cartoon cast a vibrancy and vividness that brings them to life before they have even said a word.
From Broccoli To Beatles
Fortunately for fans, The Powerpuff Girls was more than just a pretty face. The show boasted some of the smartest writing in animation history, and episodes often subverted our expectations in the funniest possible way. For example, one episode has the girls refusing to eat broccoli. But when Townsville is invaded by broccoli aliens, the Powerpuff Girls eat their enemies, using cannibalism to drive away an extraterrestrial invasion. Another episode features a mime sucking color from the world who learns his lesson at the end, but this doesn’t keep the girls from beating him up and tossing him in jail.
The list goes on, really. My favorite “meta” episode is “Meet the Beat-Alls,” which has the Powerpuff Girls’ most infamous villains form a super group whose name is a reference to the Beatles. In fact, the whole episode is filled with winking nods to the most famous band in musical history. “Meet the Beat-Alls” may be the best example of the show’s greatest strength: that it provides all the colorful action and silly humor kids want while throwing in insanely clever writing that only their parents can really appreciate.
Take it from me: rewatching The Powerpuff Girls is effectively Chicken Soup for the Millennial Soul. Everyone who grew up watching this killer cartoon is overworked, underpaid, and trudging through life on nothing but caffeine and vibes. Returning to Townsville is a way of returning to a simpler time, reliving the best days of your childhood as you relive the glory days of American animation.
Plus, there’s no time like the present to share this awesome animation with your own children. Do you want to get them away from YouTube brain rot, or maybe you’re just sick of Bluey reruns? Fear not, fair reader: The Powerpuff Girls is only a click away. Even better, you can watch it for free on Tubi, proving once more that nostalgia is just about the only thing that hasn’t grown more expensive!
The Powerpuff Girls SCORE
Entertainment
Nicole Kidman’s R-Rated Satire On Netflix Is A Masterclass In Manipulation
By Robert Scucci
| Updated
After watching Nicole Kidman’s Before I Go To Sleep on Netflix a couple weeks ago, I needed something that didn’t completely waste her talent. My search led me to 1995’s To Die For, which has such a stacked cast you’d think I was exaggerating if you didn’t check IMDb or Wikipedia yourself. Going as pitch black as a Gus Van Sant comedy can get, To Die For showcases Joaquin Phoenix, Casey Affleck, Kurtwood Smith, Wayne Knight, Matt Dillon, and even David Cronenberg in a brief appearance.
It’s a fourth-wall-breaking film that works as a thriller, comedy, drama, and mockumentary all at once, rolled into a murder mystery centered on Nicole Kidman’s Suzanne Stone, a woman so obsessed with fame and fortune that she throws her entire life away when nobody around her sticks to the script.
Multiple Timelines Effortlessly Intersect
There are two narratives in To Die For that strip away any real sense of mystery from the premise. Through television interviews, we’re introduced to Suzanne Stone, who got off scot-free after her husband, Larry Maretto (Matt Dillon), was murdered. We know she’s involved, maybe even directly responsible, right off the rip, but that’s not what the film is interested in. Instead, we get a full character breakdown of Suzanne and her sociopathic commitment to becoming a TV star. We know Larry is dead, and we know she had something to do with it. The story then rewinds to show us how everything led up to those interviews, introducing everyone she crossed paths with along the way.
Desperate to become a world-famous TV correspondent, Suzanne grows resentful of her husband Larry, despite the fact that he gives up his band and focuses on work so he can support her dreams. The guy does a complete 180, even though he comes from a mob-connected family running multiple successful businesses. In other words, Larry was never a screwup, but he still buckles down when he falls in love with Suzanne because he wants the best for her. That contrast exists purely to show just how unhinged Suzanne is when it comes to chasing clout.
While Larry works his ass off, occasionally hinting that he’d like to start a family, Suzanne takes a job at WWEN, a local cable network, under the supervision of Ed Grant (Wayne Knight), who we learn through interviews is absolutely terrified of her. It’s one thing to be ambitious, but Suzanne is aggressively so, making most people rightfully suspicious of what she’s capable of, including Larry’s sister Janice (Illeana Douglas).
While working her way toward a weather girl position, Suzanne recruits naive high school students for a “Teens Speak Out” documentary she hopes will launch her career. She pulls in a troublemaker named Jimmy (Joaquin Phoenix), who immediately falls under her spell, along with Lydia (Alison Folland), who admires her, and Russell (Casey Affleck), who was basically forced to participate. With three teenagers eating out of the palm of her hand, Suzanne starts plotting how to get rid of Larry, who she believes is holding her back because he wants a traditional life she finds completely suffocating.
A Masterclass In Manipulation
If I had to compare Nicole Kidman’s Suzanne to anybody, it would be Reese Witherspoon’s Tracy Flick from Election. She’s beautiful, driven, and easily the most dangerous person you could cross paths with if you happen to be in her way of her goals. Suzanne’s ruthlessness is initially softened by how charming and driven she is when she makes her first impressions. When you apply that level of manipulation to a group of teenagers, it’s only a matter of time before they start doing exactly what you want. This dynamic comes to a head when Suzanne fully sinks her hooks into Jimmy.
But nobody here is innocent. Suzanne may be the mastermind who sets everything in motion, but everyone else is self-aware enough to know better. That’s where half the fun comes from. Jimmy might be infatuated, but he still makes his own choices. Suzanne sizes him up, offers him a version of the life he thinks he wants, and he goes along with it despite the consequences because he’s short-sighted and naive. It’s fascinating to watch because at any point, anyone in Suzanne’s orbit could have just said “nah” and walked away. But they don’t.
One of the more uniquely structured black comedies I’ve seen in a while, To Die For is equal parts morbid and hilarious. Every character is painfully short-sighted, and they all become worse versions of themselves the moment they fall for Suzanne’s tricks. And while you should hate Suzanne for being an objectively terrible person, you still end up rooting for her because she’s living life on her own terms, just in the most antisocial way possible.
To Die For is currently streaming on Netflix.
Entertainment
NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 19, 2026
Today’s Connections: Sports Edition will be a little easier if you love baseball.
As we’ve shared in previous hints stories, this is a 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.
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. The sports 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 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 before 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.
Mashable Top Stories
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:
Here are today’s Connections: Sports Edition categories
Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:
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Yellow: AL East Teams
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Green: First Words of Football Positions
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Blue: Premier League Managers
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Purple: Nicknames for the Dodgers Franchise, Over Time
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 #573 is…
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?
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AL East Teams — BLUE JAYS, ORIOLES, RAYS, YANKEES
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First Words of Football Positions — DEFENSIVE, RUNNING, TIGHT, WIDE
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Premier League Managers — EMERY, GUARDIOLA, MOYES, SLOT
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Nicknames for the Dodgers Franchise, Over Time — BRIDEGROOMS, DODGERS, ROBINS, SUPERBAS
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports 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 yesterday’s Connections.
Entertainment
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 19, 2026
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you have a sweet tooth.
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.
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.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
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.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
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.
Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today
Mashable Top Stories
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:
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Yellow: Lippy
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Green: Gowns
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Blue: Played in Vegas
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Purple: Sweet treats
Here are today’s Connections categories
Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:
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Yellow: Cheeky
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Green: Dress measurements
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Blue: Cards in Texas Hold ‘Em
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Purple: Last words of candy brands in the singular
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 #1043 is…
What is the answer to Connections today
-
Cheeky: ARCH, FRESH, SASSY, WISE
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Dress measurements: BUST, HIPS, LENGTH, WAIST
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Cards in Texas Hold ‘Em: FLOP, HOLE, RIVER, TURN
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Last words of candy brands in the singular: CAP, DUD, KID, MINT
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? 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 yesterday’s Connections.
'Underappreciated' Pistons open playoffs against Magic
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