Entertainment
Where To Start Watching Home Improvement
By Robert Scucci
| Published
It’s the year 2026, and I just know we’re all asking ourselves the same question, desperate for an answer: “Where do I start watching Home Improvement?” It’s one of the greatest sitcoms to come out of the ‘90s, and if you take the advice from Google’s brilliant AI Overview, the answer you’ll get is “Season 1, Episode 1.” But here’s the thing about sitcoms, especially ones from the 1990s: they don’t always hit their stride right away, so a pilot episode runs the risk of being the worst version of a show you might actually love (looking at you, Seinfeld!).
Whenever I’m talking shop about such a pressing matter (read: talking about TV to nobody in particular), I keep circling back to one episode that’s quintessential viewing, and the most solid entry point to the series: Season 3, Episode 8, “Be True To Your Tool.”
Why “Be True To Your Tool” Is Elite
For newcomers, “Be True to Your Tool” is a perfect Home Improvement episode because the core cast is firing on all cylinders, and we’re not bogged down by a ton of side characters. Every core character gets their moment to shine, there’s a clear antagonist and moral dilemma, and it takes place during that sweet spot where the Taylor boys are still boys.
Mark (Taran Noah Smith) hadn’t yet gotten caught stealing, Randy (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) is still seasons away from his cancer scare (that would air in a heartwrenching Season 5 episode that debuted right before The Diet Mug Rootbeer Dana Carvey Show), and Brad (Zachery Ty Bryan) hasn’t gotten in trouble for smoking pot yet. They’re all old enough to have distinct personalities and crack wise, but not so old that they can’t still make the kind of incredibly stupid decisions that cements the series as a wholesome family sitcom packed with teachable moments.
We get Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor (Tim Allen) at his most introspective this early in the run, and it’s perfectly offset by Brad, Randy, and Mark getting into the kind of mischief any parent could relate to. Jill (Patricia Richardson) and Wilson (Earl Hindman) are reliably the voices of reason, and Al “No Pithy Nickname in This Episode” Borland (Richard Karn) is the perfect little sycophant caught between his livelihood and his loyalty to Tim. In other words, it’s a perfect episode from a series known for dropping multiple bangers per season.
“I’ll Never Walk Away From A Tool In Need”
So, what’s “Be True to Your Tool” about? I’m so glad you asked.
After wrapping up an episode of Tool Time, Tim and Al are approached by Wes Davidson (Joel Polis), the new president of Binford Tools. Tim and Wes have an adversarial relationship because Tim used to be Binford’s top salesman, making him the perfect pitchman for a public access show that exists to sell Binford Tools. Salty about never being number one, Wes walks around like a bigshot because he’s now Tim’s boss, and he thinks he can throw his weight around and force everybody to bend to his will.
The new Binford tool about to come off the production line, the 6100 (why are they all called the 6100?) reciprocal saw, is an inferior product, and Tim and Al both know it. Tim refuses to promote the tool on his show, claiming it’s his responsibility to do right by his audience, and he’s met with the worst kind of ultimatum from Wes: promote the tool or resign from Tool Time.
This is the worst possible moral dilemma for Tim at this point in the show’s run. As accident-prone as he is throughout the series, he truly knows his stuff, and he’s right to be concerned about attaching his name and reputation to a tool made with inferior, plastic parts. His devotion to home improvement (title drop fully intended) is why he knows the difference between a spline shank and a two-flute, and Wes does not. Matters only get worse when Wes threatens Tim’s livelihood, implying he’ll be demoted back to a traveling salesman instead of spending time with his family, which he worked so hard to attain.
If Tim’s not careful the next time he goes on air, he and Al could both be out of a job, but the two agree they can’t in good conscience promote the tool on their show.
Boys Will Be Boys
Meanwhile, a frazzled Jill, juggling parental duties while trying to secure her Master’s Degree in Psychology, comes home to learn that Brad, Randy, and Mark cleaned out the cupboards and fridge, prompting an emergency grocery store run. Jill’s stretched to the max, and Tim is preoccupied with Tool Time, so she gives the boys money and a shopping list she wants followed by the letter. Naturally, they game the system so they can save money and spend the difference on junk food.
They purchase nothing but scratch-and-dent boxes and canned goods without labels. Leaning into the ongoing joke that Jill is a terrible cook, Tim and the boys joke that it doesn’t really matter if the cans contain succotash or dog food, which shows how locked in this family is. They can rip on each other at a high level without anybody taking it too personally, and it adds a healthy amount of levity to Tim’s predicament with Wes.
Everybody Is Fully Locked In
“Be True to Your Tool” offers every single thing you could possibly love about Home Improvement, serving up easy-to-digest moments that highlight every principal character’s quirks. When Tim and Al confront their boss at Binford headquarters, Tim gets in trouble for sitting at Wes’ desk and openly mocking him, while Al, a nervous wreck about the impending exchange, asks for chamomile tea to soothe his jangled nerves, only to gently cancel his request when Tim storms out.
Tim asks his infinitely wise next-door neighbor, Wilson, how to handle the situation, and Wilson compares it to the life and times of Greek General Pyrrhus, who fought so hard for what he believed in that he lost everything. Famously botching Wilson’s advice, as Tim Taylor is known to do, he admits he doesn’t want to end up with a “Pyrex victory,” but somehow uses the wrong formula to arrive at the right answer when it’s game time and he has to make a decision.
Al, loyal to Tim but understandably worried about his own future, eventually comes to his senses and belts out the legendary line, “I’ll never walk away from a tool in need.” By the time the dust settles, Tim comes up with a solution that works for everybody; one that allows him to continue his tenure on Tool Time, stick it to his boss in the most publicly humiliating way possible, and hold Binford accountable for maintaining high standards because that’s what customers deserve.
It’s a perfect episode of Home Improvement, and everybody’s truly in their element. At this point in the series, the continuity is still relatively loose, and you can enjoy standalone episodes without worrying about some of the more nuanced storylines that show up later in the run. It’s Tim, Jill, their three boys, Al, and Wilson doing most of the heavy lifting, while Wes being a total corner-office chode who only cares about golf makes the stakes incredibly clear.
Tim is rallying against the enshittification of Binford tools, pushing back against cost-cutting and inferior products, and his unwillingness to budge, even if it threatens his family’s security, should feel especially relevant today, when everything costs more and works less.
At the end of the day, Home Improvement is just a silly little sitcom about an accident-prone TV host and his booksmart wife trying to raise their three boys. But if you’re looking for an episode with substance that doesn’t get too heavy like some of the later-season entries, “Be True to Your Tool” is essential viewing.
As of this writing, you can stream Home Improvement on Hulu, Disney+, and Netflix.
Entertainment
NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 20, 2026
Today’s Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know collegiate sports.
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.
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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:
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Yellow: Baseball nicknames
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Green: Cyclist clothing
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Blue: Geographically specific
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Purple: Same word, different meanings
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: New York Yankees, informally
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Green: Tour de France jerseys
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Blue: Locations of Big 12 Schools
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Purple: What “boot” might mean
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 #635 is…
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?
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New York Yankees, informally: BRONX BOMBERS, EVIL EMPIRE, PINSTRIPES, YANKS
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Tour de France jerseys: GREEN, POLKA DOT, WHITE, YELLOW
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Locations of Big 12 schools: BOULDER, FORT WORTH, MANHATTAN, WACO
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What “boot” might mean: CLEAT, EJECT, KICK, MISHANDLE
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 the latest Connections.
Entertainment
NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for June 20, 2026
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.
Here are the clues and answers to NYT’s The Mini for Saturday, June 20, 2026:
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Across
The “I” of TGIF
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
“Psych!”
Batman villain played by Aaron Eckhart in “The Dark Knight”
Repressive governments
Folding art
Opposite direction of NNW
Streaming issue caused by slow wi-fi
Raggedy ___ (doll)
Down
Icebreakers, e.g.
“The Two ___” (second installment of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy)
Cigar, informally
Presidential candidate Harris
2026 #1 album for Drake
Word after “interior” or “intelligent”
Kind of tree that the Buddha is said to have meditated under
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
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.
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Entertainment
NYT Pips hints, answers for June 20, 2026
Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.
Released in August 2025, 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 on to 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 with 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.
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:
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Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
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Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
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Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
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Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
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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.
Easy difficulty hints, answers for June 20 Pips
Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed horizontally.
Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically; 0-3, placed horizontally.
Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.
Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed vertically.
Medium difficulty hints, answers for June 20 Pips
Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 3-3, placed vertically.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally.
Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.
Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.
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Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.
Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed horizontally.
Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 6-0, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.
Hard difficulty hints, answers for June 20 Pips
Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 3-2, placed horizontally.
Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally.
Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically; 0-6, placed horizontally.
Number (11): Everything in this space must add up to 11. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed vertically.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically; 1-4, placed vertically.
Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally.
Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed vertically.
Less Than (7): Everything in this space must be less than 7. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.
Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.
Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 1-2, placed vertically.
Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.
Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally.
Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally.
Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.
Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.
Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 3-6, placed vertically.
Greater Than (10): Everything in this space must be greater than 10. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 6-1, placed horizontally.
Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 6-1, 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.
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