Feed aggregator

TL;DR: Live stream Gauff vs. Fernandez in the 2025 Australian Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

If anyone can stop Aryna Sabalenka from winning another Australian Open, it's probably Coco Gauff. The American faces Fernandez in the third round of the competition.

If you want to watch Gauff vs. Fernandez in the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Gauff vs. Fernandez for free

The 2025 Australian Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now, including Gauff vs. Fernandez.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, 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 Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 Australian Open 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 Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch the 2025 Australian Open for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can live stream Gauff vs. Fernandez without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch the Australian Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live tennis on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Gauff vs. Fernandez in the 2025 Australian Open for free with ExpressVPN.

The Los Angeles Clippers are members of the Western Conference in the NBA. The franchise was founded in 1970 as the Buffalo Braves. They rebranded as the San Diego Clippers in 1978, before moving to Los Angeles in 1984. The team has won just three division titles. The Clippers have never won a conference title, and they have never won a championship.

The team dons a number of jerseys in navy blue, ember red, Pacific blue, and silver. The Clippers mascot is Chuck the Condor.

How to live stream the Los Angeles Clippers

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. The NBA does have its own streaming service, the NBA League Pass, which is $16.99 per month. However, you can also stream NBA TV through most providers, including YouTube TV, Sling TV, and Fubo.

These are the best services for live streaming the Los Angeles Clippers this season:

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV Fubo TV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

Where do the Los Angeles Clippers play?

The Clippers play at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, which is located in Inglewood. But, that's new for the 2024-25 season. The Clippers shared Staples Center with the Los Angeles Lakers, which was eventually rebranded to crypto.com Arena.

Construction started on Intuit Dome in September 2021. The dome opened its doors in August 2024.

The Intuit Dome seats 18,000 for basketball games.

Who is the head coach for the Clippers?

The head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers is Tyronn Lue.

Lue played college basketball for Nebraska, before being drafted by the Denver Nuggets as a point guard. He went on to play for eight different NBA teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Hawks, and Dallas Mavericks. Lue helped the Lakers win two championships in 2000 and 2001. He retired in 2009 after playing a season with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Lue took his first coaching job as an assistant with the Boston Celtics two years after his retirement. He would also serve as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers before he was promoted to head coach of the Cavs in 2014. His time spent coaching in Cleveland is significant, because Lue helped lead the Cavs to their first and only NBA Championship. He left the Cavs to be an assistant coach for the Clippers again, where he was promoted to head coach in 2020.

Who is on the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2024-25 season?

The Los Angeles Clippers roster includes several big names, including James Harden and Kawhi Leonard.

Harden averages 24.1 points per game, while Leonard averages 20 points per game. They are the team leaders among the starting five.

The rest of the starting five includes Kris Dunn, Norman Powell, and Ivica Zubac.

How did the Clippers perform in 2023/24?

In the 2023-24 season, the Clippers finished with a 51-31 record overall. Los Angeles ended the regular season in fourth place in the Western Conference. They had a 25-16 record at home, and a 26-15 record on the road.

The Clippers were eliminated in the first round of the 2023-24 NBA playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks. They lost the series 4-2.

The New York Knicks are members of the Eastern Conference in the NBA. The franchise was founded in 1946 as one of the original eight teams. The team has won two championships, four conference titles, and eight division titles.

The team dons a number of jerseys in royal blue, orange, silver, black, and white. The Knicks are one of only four NBA teams that do not have a mascot.

How to live stream the New York Knicks

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. The NBA does have its own streaming service, the NBA League Pass, which is $16.99 per month. However, you can also stream NBA TV through most providers, including YouTube TV, Sling TV, and Fubo.

These are the best services for live streaming the New York Knicks this season:

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV Fubo TV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

Where do the New York Knicks play?

The Knicks play at the Madison Square Garden in New York, which they share with the NHL's New York Rangers. It's located in midtown Manhattan, between Seventh and Eighth avenue from 31st to 33rd street. Construction on the current Madison Square Garden started in 1964. The arena opened its doors in 1968. But several versions of the Square existed before then, dating back to 1890. It cost $123 million to build in 1969, which is roughly $1 billion now. The arena has also undergone nearly $2 billion in renovations over the years.

As a basketball arena, Madison Square Garden seats 19,812 people.

Who is the head coach for the Knicks?

The head coach of the New York Knicks is Tom Thibodeau.

Thibodeau, affectionately nicknamed Thibs, played college basketball at Salem State College, where he joined the staff as an assistant coach after graduation. He was promoted to head coach in 1984, before leaving to be an assistant at Harvard. Thibodeau eventually took on several assistant coaching positions in the NBA. He landed his first NBA head coaching position in 2010 with the Chicago Bulls.

Thibs coached the Bulls for five years, before moving on to the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he coached for 3 years. He was hired by the Knicks in 2020.

Who is on the New York Knicks in the 2024-25 season?

The New York Knicks roster includes several big names, including Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges.

Towns averages 23.1 points per game, while Bridges averages 14.5 points per game. They are the team leaders among the starting five. The rest of the starting five includes Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Precious Achiuwa.

How did the Knicks perform in 2023/24?

In the 2023-24 season, the Knicks finished with a 50-32 record overall. New York ended the regular season in second place in the Eastern Conference. They had a 27-14 record at home, and a 23-18 record on the road.

The Knicks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2023-24 NBA playoffs, four games to one. New York was defeated in Game 7 of the Conference Semifinals by the Indiana Pacers.

The Boston Celtics are members of the Eastern Conference in the NBA. The franchise was founded in 1946 as one of the original eight teams. The team has won 18 championships, 11 conference titles, and 34 division titles.

The team dons a number of jerseys in green, white, black, gold, and brown. They have one mascot, named Lucky the Leprechaun.

How to live stream the Boston Celtics

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the NBA without cable or satellite TV. The NBA does have its own streaming service, the NBA League Pass, which is $16.99 per month. However, you can also stream NBA TV through most providers, including YouTube TV, Sling TV, and Fubo.

These are the best services for live streaming the Boston Celtics this season:

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: Fubo TV Fubo TV Pro Plan Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network. 

Most live sports: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV $49.99/month for your first two months (save $46) Get Deal

YouTube TV's base plan is $49.99 per month for two months for new subscribers ($72.99 per month regularly). The base plan includes over 100 live TV channels, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBA TV.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Orange Plan Get Deal

Sling TV suggests the streamer's Orange Plan for the game, which costs $20 for the first month and $40 monthly after that.

Sling TV’s sports channels feature ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBA TV, NBC, NFL Network, and SEC Network.

Where do the Boston Celtics play?

The Celtics play at the TD Garden in Boston, which they share with the NHL's Boston Bruins. It's located in the heart of Boston, directly above the MBTA's North Station. Construction on TD Garden started in 1993. The arena opened its doors in 1995. It cost $160 million to build.

As a basketball arena, TD Garden seats 19,156 people.

Who is the head coach for the Celtics?

The head coach of the Boston Celtics is Joe Mazzulla.

Mazzulla played college basketball for West Virginia University as a point guard. He went undrafted in 2011, which is when he started his coaching career at a Division II school. Mazzulla later joined the Celtics as an assistant coach in 2019, before being named the interim head coach in the 2022-23 season.

In just his second year leading the Celtics, the team won 64 games and an NBA championship. He is only 36 years old, and earned the title of the youngest coach to reach 200 wins since Bill Russell in 1969.

Who is on the Boston Celtics in the 2024-25 season?

The Boston Celtics roster includes several big names, including stars like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Green, and Derrick White.

Tatum averages 27.8 points per game, while Brown is averaging 24.1 points per game. They are the team leaders.

How did the Celtics perform in 2023/24?

In the 2023-24 season, the Celtics finished with a 64-18 record overall. Boston ended the regular season in first place in the Eastern Conference. They had a 37-4 record at home, and a 27-14 record on the road.

The Celtics defeated the Miami Heat, four games to one, in the first round of the NBA playoffs in the 2023-24 season. Boston then defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-1. The Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers to reach the NBA Finals, where they defeated the Dallas Mavericks, 4-1.

The Boston Celtics were the NBA Finals champions.

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

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Hired by sports teams

• Green: Hockey teams

• Blue: Teams in Florida, but not in Miami

• Purple: Different types of cards

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

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

• Yellow: Members of a staff

• Green: NHL teams with singular nicknames

• Blue: Orlando teams

• Purple: _____ card

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 #115 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Members of a staff - COACH, MANAGER, SCOUT, TRAINER

• NHL teams with singular nicknames - AVALANCHE, KRAKEN, LIGHTNING, UTAH HOCKEY CLUB

• Orlando teams - MAGIC, ORLANDO CITY, PRIDE, UCF

• _______ card - LINEUP, TRADING, WILD, YELLOW

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

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

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

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

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 16 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 16 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Bar association

These words are ordered by the 21 and up crowd.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are something you would get in a bar.

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 Cocktails.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for January 16

• Cosmopolitan

• Zombie

• Martini

• Sidecar

• Stinger

• Cocktails

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 yesterday's Strands.

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for January 16 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: An exchange of goods and services

• Green: Objects fixed onto a vertical surface

• Blue: Espionage

• Purple: Involves a rat

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

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

• Yellow: Buying and Selling

• Green: Installed on a Wall

• Blue: Spy

• Purple: ___Rat

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 #585 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Buying and Selling: BUSINESS, COMMERCE, MARKET, TRADE

• Installed on a Wall: BASEBOARD, OUTLET, SCONCE, SWITCH

• Spy: AGENT, ASSET, MOLE, PLANT

• ___Rat: GYM, MALL, PACK, RUG

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 16

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.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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 today: Hints and answers for January 16 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's The Mini crossword answers for January 16, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Hard rock, sparks.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.

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...

FLINT.

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 16

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 yesterday's Wordle.

From surreal Music Dance Experiences to the rooms full of baby goats, Severance is a wonderfully weird show. But nothing in the show comes close to out-weirding the waffle party.

SEE ALSO: I went to the 'Severance' pop-up in Grand Central Station. It was wild.

The waffle party is the reward Lumon gives to the Refiner of the Quarter. Dylan (Zach Cherry) wins this honor as part of the Innies' plan to escape Lumon in Season 1. To receive the reward, he goes to the replica of Kier Eagan's house in the Perpetuity Wing, eats a stack of waffles, and is then treated to a suggestive dance from a quartet dressed as the Four Tempers: Woe, Dread, Frolic, and Malice. The message is clear: The waffle party isn't just a food-based incentive — it's a sex-based one, too.

Ben Stiller and Adam Scott revisited the waffle party in the Jan. 15 episode of The Severance Podcast with Ben Stiller & Adam Scott, along with podcast guest John Turturro. For Stiller, the waffle party — one of many Lumon terms coined by Severance creator and showrunner Dan Erickson — was "kind of an inflection point."

"It's almost one of the first questions we had to answer that we'd put out there," Stiller said. "You could just be thinking forever, 'What is a waffle party?' But we had to somehow show it."

The question then became, how far could Severance go with the waffle party? How could they establish its risqué nature without alienating the audience?

SEE ALSO: 'Severance' Season 2 may already be the best show of the year: Review

Part of the answer involved the show's stylized depiction of the waffle party, which included choreography by Tara Rodriguez (who also helped craft the Music Dance Experience in Severance's "Defiant Jazz" episode) and masks sculpted by Penko Platikanov.

One of those masks was a Kier Eagan mask, which Dylan wears while lying on a replica of Eagan's bed. That mask in particular stood out to Stiller upon rewatch.

"I hadn't watched [episode] 8 for a while, and for a second I had forgotten that Dylan had the Kier Eagan mask waiting for him on the bed," Stiller said. "Not having watched it for a couple of years... We really went for it in terms of the weirdness of this whole ritual."

The actual shoot for the waffle party took place in Yonkers, New York, in a house that is part of the Hudson River Museum. It was the last scene shot in the Kier Eagan replica house, with Stiller estimating they filmed it at around one or two o'clock in the morning. (They were under pressure to get everything done, because The Gilded Age would be filming there the next day.)

Scott, already wrapped, stayed behind to watch the waffle party take place. "It was incredible," he said. "[The dancers] were so on point. It was really impressive."

For Scott and Turturro, the waffle party took on extra meaning as an incentive for their Innies.

"Since the entire place and the entire culture of Lumon is devoid of any affection or anything that is even anywhere sex, but these are feelings that all of [the Innies] probably have and don't understand, this is the ultimate reward," Scott said.

"If you're starved for any kind of connection, rituals take on a stronger resonance," added Turturro.

Severance Season 2 premieres Jan. 17 on Apple TV+, with a new episode every week.

Listeners of The Severance Podcast with Ben Stiller & Adam Scott were treated to an unexpected story about Stanley Kubrick, courtesy of podcast guest Turturro.

In the podcast's Jan. 15 episode, during which Stiller, Scott, and Turturro discussed Severance Season 1, episode 8, "What's for Dinner?," Turturro mentioned that the series had a "Kubrickian approach" to it.

SEE ALSO: I went to the 'Severance' pop-up in Grand Central Station. It was wild.

He added: "I never worked with Kubrick. I almost worked with Kubrick, but I didn't say the right thing to Stanley."

Turns out, Kubrick wrote the part of Nick Nightingale, which later went to Todd Field (Tár), for Turturro.

Turturro recalled that during his and Kubrick's two-hour conversation about the film, Kubrick said he thought Turturro was a "really wonderful actor."

"I was embarrassed, and I said, 'Thank you,' and he said, 'Well, you are,'" Turturro said. And I said, 'Well, I can't walk around my house telling my wife that I'm a wonderful actor, because she'll hit me with a frying pan.'"

SEE ALSO: Ben Stiller jokingly addresses his 'Severance' Season 1 cameo in the official 'Severance' podcast

The best (and silliest) part of the story comes when Kubrick asks Turturro how to send him the script. "I said, 'You could FedEx it to me,' and he said, 'What if you're not home?'" Turturro recalled. "I said, 'My FedEx man throws it over my gate. I know him, his name is Ray.' And he said, 'That's unbelievable. Mine doesn't do that.'

"I said, 'Well, do you talk to your FedEx man?'" Turturro continued. "He said, 'No, I don't know his name.'"

FedEx talk aside, Kubrick ended up passing on Turturro, as he worried that he might have other projects or conflicts over the next not one but two years. (Taking over 15 months to film, Eyes Wide Shut currently holds the Guinness World Record for longest continuous film shoot.)

"I would have been replaced, probably," Turturro told Stiller and Scott. "A lot of people were replaced. But I wanted to see what that experience of the 100-take thing was."

He closed out the story by bringing it back to Severance, saying, "So when I was on this show, that kept coming into my brain. I never really told you, but I was thinking, 'You know what? This is better anyway. I'm better off being here.'"

"The one decision that I ever made that could compare favorably to Stanley Kubrick is that I hired you," Stiller joked.

Severance Season 2 premieres Jan. 17 on Apple TV+, with a new episode every week.

Ben Stiller isn't just a director and executive producer of Severance — he also had an uncredited voiceover cameo back in Season 1.

SEE ALSO: I went to the 'Severance' pop-up in Grand Central Station. It was wild.

In a 2022 interview with ET Online, Severance stars Britt Lower and Dichen Lachman confirmed that Stiller voiced the animated version of Lumon founder Kier Eagan that congratulates Helly (Lower) for reaching quota in Season 1, episode 8, "What's for Dinner?"

Stiller, for his part, has been more coy about his secret role in the show, telling What to Watch, "I don't know if we've ever confirmed that I'm the voice of Kier Eagan; Lumon employee agreements are very airtight!"

SEE ALSO: 'Severance' Season 2 may already be the best show of the year: Review

But on the Jan. 15 episode of The Severance Podcast with Ben Stiller & Adam Scott, Stiller jokingly addressed his cameo again. He, along with co-host Scott and episode guest John Turturro, play the clip of animated Kier Eagan thanking Helly.

"In refining your macrodata file, you have brought glory to this company, and to me, Kier Eagan. I — I love you," Kier says, before flying off into the sunset.

As soon as the clip finishes playing, Scott immediately prompts Stiller about his cameo. "So, Ben," he said. "That voice sounds familiar."

"Some guy..." added Turturro.

Stiller laughed it off, joking, "This is some actor that they hired to do the voice for the congratulatory animated video. Obviously an out-of-work actor who needed the gig… A guy who got a couple of callbacks for Severance but couldn't get in."

Later in the episode, Stiller praised Marc Geller, who plays live-action Kier Eagan. "He's so much a part of the show, and so committed to the show," he said. "He's just great."

Turturro agreed, adding: "I'm in the show and I saw [him] and I thought, 'No wonder [Irving] was a believer."

Severance Season 2 premieres Jan. 17 on Apple TV+, with a new episode every week.

Broadening out from its text-only beginnings and just days before millions may lose access to their beloved video app TikTok, Substack has announced it's adding a sitewide live streaming option for all users.

The new video tool is an expansion of an earlier "bestseller"-only feature, which offered platform-based live streaming options to its top contributors, referred to as "publishers." Now, any contributor with at least 10 free subscribers can go live. Once the live stream is over, publishers will be sent an audio recording of the live stream and AI-generated clips to share on their pages, the platform writes.

SEE ALSO: TikTok might go for a total shutdown in the US on Sunday

Substack — one of the most popular personal publishing and newsletter platforms with more than 35 million active subscriptions — has been overhauling its offerings after a subscriber-hitting content moderation fiasco revealed the platform was hosting numerous alt-right and neo-Nazi blogs. This came only a few months after Substack found itself at the center of a public feud with X CEO Elon Musk, who accused the platform of downloading Twitter data outside of its API terms and then blocked external Substack links from appearing on the site. Substack later introduced Notes, a scrolling recommendations feed that some noted looked similar to the social media platform it was feuding with.

Over the last year, the website announced it would be adding a chat function to connect writers directly to their subscribers, and later added a paywall feature that allowed publishers to cordon off conversation access to paid followers only. A few months later, Substack brought integrated video options to the subscriber chat function, enabling writers (now, more like creators) to send pre-recorded clips directly to readers. In the fall, the platform announced an even wider video offering with a test run of its live stream tools.

Many online are seeking out new video-based platforms as the countdown to a total TikTok shutdown nears zero, and, seeking to capitalize on the same popularity that's skyrocketed TikTok's users over its eight years, social platforms have pivoted to more integrated video features.

On its 100th launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted two lunar landers into space early Wednesday morning. 

The pair are two separate spacecraft from two different customers — one made by Texas-based Firefly Aerospace for NASA, the other by private Japanese company ispace. About an hour into the flight, the rocket released them to continue their long solo journeys to the moon.

SpaceX shared videos of each deployment on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter and owned by the rocket company's founder, Elon Musk. Both can be watched below.

SEE ALSO: NASA leader doubts Elon Musk will push Trump to axe moon rocket A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Jan. 15, carrying two moon landers to space. Credit: SpaceX

Firefly's Blue Ghost lander, originally scheduled to lift off in late 2024, is on its maiden voyage. The uncrewed spacecraft is expected to travel for 45 days before trying to touch down in early March. Its flight is the first NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services mission of the year. 

The program has invested $2.6 billion in contracts with vendors from the private sector to help deliver instruments to the moon and send back crucial data. Blue Ghost is carrying 10 experiments for the space agency. NASA wants to see a regular cadence of moon missions to prepare for astronaut-led Artemis expeditions in 2027 or later.

Ispace's new Hakuto-R mission is the company's second attempt to get on the moon, after its first uncrewed lander ran out of fuel and crashed on the lunar surface in April 2023. Ispace's new Resilience lander, a partnership with Japan's space agency JAXA, is taking a longer route to the moon to save on fuel, arriving about four to five months from now. This time the spacecraft is bringing a tiny rover smaller than a toddler's Big Wheel to collect soil for research.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Landing on the moon remains onerous. The moon's exosphere provides virtually no drag to slow a spacecraft down as it approaches the ground. Furthermore, there are no GPS systems on the moon to help guide a craft to its landing spot. Engineers have to compensate for that from 239,000 miles away.

Only five nations — the former Soviet Union, United States, China, India, and most recently Japan — have managed to land on the moon without wrecking beyond recognition. So far just one company, Intuitive Machines, has made the journey all the way through lunar touchdown. Its craft landed sideways near the moon's south pole in February 2024, still managing to operate from its awkward position.

If the latest spacecraft succeed, each will spend two weeks running experiments on the lunar surface before powering down for the brutally cold lunar night. Not much can survive the -270 degrees Fahrenheit brought on by darkness — not even robots. 

Are you in hell or just billionaire row at Donald Trump's 2024 inauguration? Impossible to tell.

Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, and annoying fanboys' Elon Musk will all be attending Trump's Monday inauguration, an official told NBC News. They'll all be seated together on the platform alongside some of the president-elect's cabinet members.

Musk, who will lead the new "Department of Government Efficiency" alongside Vivek Ramaswamy, said on his platform, X, that he's "honored" to be attending. Bezos and Zuckerberg have yet to make any public statements.

SEE ALSO: Trump inauguration livestream: How to watch, who is attending, and when his presidential powers go into effect

This shouldn't come as a complete surprise. Tech execs have long relied on politicians to move their policies forward, and, while their relationship has been contentious with Trump, they pledged a significant amount of money in support of his administration. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund, as did Meta and Amazon. Google CEO Sundar Pichai met with Trump and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff said he was "turning the page" with the president elect. Famously, Musk has been simping over the president-elect for months.

Beyond monetary donations, Musk endorsed Trump for president in July. Zuckerberg aligned his content moderation policies to a more Republican take, along with lifting hate speech prohibitions, getting rid of DEI initiatives, removing tampons from men's bathrooms in Meta offices, and deleting trans and nonbinary themes on its Messenger app. Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post, decided the newspaper wouldn't endorse a presidential candidate, despite the opinion staff members who wanted to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris.

They're kissing the ring.

"It's just a recognition that there's not much to be gained in outspoken opposition, but perhaps there is something to be gained by being very clear about your support and hope that Trump does well," Margaret O'Mara, a Silicon Valley historian at the University of Washington, told NPR of the industry's take on Trump.

Tweet may have been deleted

We don't know exactly why Michelle Obama has decided to skip, but if she saw that guest list, I have a hunch.

With a TikTok ban looming in the United States and the app’s future unknown, now might be a good time to save your work while you can.

Adult content, including AI-generated nudes, remains banned on Facebook and Instagram, despite recent policy changes at Meta.

However, that hasn't stopped "nudify" apps — platforms that create nonconsensual AI-generated nudes of celebrities and influencers — from advertising on Meta's platforms. And those ads have been extremely successful for at least one service called Crush AI.

According to a new report from 404Media, as originally reported in Alexios Mantzarlis' Faked Up newsletter, the Crush AI modifier app receives the vast majority of its traffic from Meta platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. According to Similarweb's data, last month Crush AI received more than a quarter of a million visits to its service — and roughly 90 percent of that traffic was from Meta's platforms.

SEE ALSO: 8 ways Mark Zuckerberg changed Meta ahead of Trump’s inauguration

Crush AI makes it quite clear what the purpose of its service is in its advertisements. The company's ads include photos of real-life individuals like Instagram influencer and model Mikayla Demaiter and OnlyFans creator Sophie Rain. The ads boast that users can "upload a photo" and "erase anyone's clothes."

While Meta has attempted to crack down on these ads, Crush AI has discovered a very simple workaround. Crush AI creates fake profile pages using AI-generated profile pictures and runs new ads using those pages. The ads promote different domain names that then redirect to Crush AI when clicked.

Mashable has previously reported on other deepfakes and AI platforms that utilize Meta's advertising platform to generate traffic and revenue from AI-generated adult content. These ads are strictly against Meta's policies, and the company often removes them once it becomes aware of specific advertisements.

SEE ALSO: Facebook cracks down on celebrity deepfake scams after $43 million in losses for Australians

However, as 404Media previously reported, Meta appears to have different standards for ad moderation. Policy-breaking content published by users as Facebook or Instagram posts will often be automatically detected by Meta and subsequently removed. Yet, that same content will not be detected when uploaded to Meta's advertising platform.

Over the past year, Meta has rolled out new tools and policies to prevent harmful online behavior such as sextortion. But Crush AI's ads are an example of how Meta's platforms are being weaponized to promote the very behavior that Meta says it wants to protect its young users from.

SAVE 35%: As of Jan. 15, you can get 35% off select skincare devices at Solawave, plus a free gift on orders $150+.

Opens in a new window Credit: Solawave Eye Recovery Pro Kit + free gift $157.95 at Solawave
$243.00 Save $85.05 Get Deal

In my 20s, I never really cared about skincare. It was more of an afterthought in the summer after getting a nasty sunburn, or a quick swipe of face wipes before bed. Now that I’m 30, though, I’ve become painfully aware of the importance of a good skincare routine. Whether you’ve also come to a recent realization that your skin deserves a little extra TLC or you've been diligently caring for your complexion for years, I found a deal that’d make even the wealthiest of Instagram influencers do a double take.

For a limited time, you can get up to 35% off select skincare devices at Solawave. And, if you spend $150, you’ll get a free Brilliant Facial Sonic Cleansing Brush with your purchase — an $89 value. And, yes, this discount applies to the oh-so-coveted 4-in-1 Skincare Wand Kit, which is on sale for $134.56 right now.

SEE ALSO: We tried the celeb-favorite Solawave skincare wand

While there’s no best way to get the free gift, the best bang for your buck is to go with the Eye Recovery Pro Kit for $157.95, which saves you 35% off the original $243 price. This red light eye mask is FDA-cleared and clinically proven to smooth crow’s feet, depuff eye bags, and visibly even skin tone in just three minutes a day.

YouTuber GamersNexus has filed a lawsuit against Honey and PayPal for the alleged affiliate commission scam.

On Tuesday, GamersNexus posted a video on its YouTube channel announcing legal action it's taking against Honey's parent company PayPal. The Youtuber is suing for wrongful business practices by "manipulating last-click attribution to ensure that they hijack content creators’ affiliate commissions," said the legal complaint filed by consumer protection law firm Cotchett, Pitre, and McCarthy.

SEE ALSO: Get ready for these scams in 2025

The lawsuit follows a December investigation from another YouTuber MegaLag who exposed Honey, the browser extension that applies coupons at checkout, of "scamming" YouTubers out of affiliate commissions by replacing their cookie tracking with Honey's right before users make a purchase. The scheme exploits a practice called last-click attribution which gives referral credit to the last affiliate cookie that was clicked on before a purchase.

Users with Honey, which pays popular YouTubers like GamersNexus to promote its product, are prompted to click its browser popup to search for coupons upon checkout. If a user decides to buy something through the YouTuber's site, instead of earning an affiliate commission by recommending and referring a customer to the product site, MegaLag found that Honey was replacing those affiliate cookies with their own when prompting customers to check for coupons.

GamersNexus is leading a class-action lawsuit, filed on Jan. 3, "on behalf of those affected by the actions of what we believe are anti-consumer behaviors that harm not only reviewers but consumers directly," said Steve Burke, Gamers Nexus founder. Burke also said that payment from the court decision or as a settlement will be donated to consumer rights organizations like Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) and Archive.org.

LegalEagle, another popular YouTube channel is also suing Honey. "This case is about asserting our right to control the use of our content and pushing back against unauthorized practices," said the LegalEagle lawsuit website. "Honey’s exploitation of promotional codes and links directly affects our earnings."

In GN's detailing on its own lawsuit, Burke said that theirs and LegalEagle's are separate complaints, but that they might combine at some point.

SAVE $59.94: Prime members can grab a black pair of Echo Buds for $49.99 and get 6 months of free access to Amazon Music Unlimited, which saves you a total of $59.94.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Buds (black) $49.99 at Amazon
$109.93 Save $59.94 Prime members get 6 months of free Amazon Music Unlimited (new subscribers) Get Deal

Life is not cheap these days, which means when we see the word "free," we're all ears. Amazon is currently offering us a deal that's quite impressive if you're interested in a new pair of earbuds (and streaming music for free).

As of Jan. 15, a black pair of Echo Buds costs $49.99 and comes with 6 months of free access to Amazon Music Unlimited. Typically, the service costs $9.99 per month, which means you'll save a total of $54.94. To cash in on this offer, you'll need to be a new subscriber to Amazon Music Unlimited and a Prime member.

When it comes to affordable earbuds, you have plenty of options, but only one pair comes with the benefit of six months of ad-free music. The Amazon Echo Buds (2023 release) use 12 mm drivers to give you clear and crisp sound quality, which will sound even better when you stream music for free.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

The design of the Echo Buds involves a semi-in-ear fit so you'll still be able to hear the world around you, which is really great if you'll be wearing these while commuting to work or while working from home.

Today's deal for Prime members gives new subscribers six months of free access to Amazon Music Unlimited, which typically costs $9.99 per month. Overall, this deal means you'll save $54.94 on the service by purchasing the Echo Buds for just $49.99. In other words, it's less expensive to buy the Echo Buds and then get six months of Amazon Music Unlimited than it is to straight pay for six months of Amazon Music Unlimited. Your subscription to the music service will automatically be set to renew each month, but you're free to cancel at any time.

The Amazon Music Unlimited library contains over 100 million songs that are all ad-free and available on-demand. You're given free reign to skip any songs you please, too. Plus, it comes with access to a massive catalogue of audiobooks from Audible and plenty of ad-free podcasts.

If you're in the mood for a win-win situation, grab a black pair of Echo Buds and cash in free access to Amazon Music Unlimited for six months. That means you'll be set until the beginning of summer with free tunes, audiobooks, and podcasts.

In the market for a new laptop? These great Asus models are on sale now at Best Buy:

Best Buy Asus Laptop Deals Best Asus Laptop Deal Asus TUF 15.6-inch Gaming Laptop (Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, 1TB SSD) $949.99 (Save $450) Get Deal Best Asus Copilot+ Laptop Deal Asus Vivobook S 14 14-inch OLED Laptop with Copilot+ (Intel Core Ultra 5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $599.99 (Save $350) Get Deal Best Budget Asus Laptop Deal Asus Zenbook 14 OLED 14-inch Laptop (Intel Core Ultra 5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $449.99 (Save $350) Get Deal

Whether your daily driver is showing its age or you just want to grab something new and shiny, getting a new laptop is always exciting. It's even more exciting when you can get one at a great price.

Right now, Best Buy is offering savings on select Asus laptops right now, ranging from portable gaming powerhouses to reliable hardware for remote work or getting things done on the go. You can save up to $450 right now during the sale on some seriously great pieces of tech.

We've lined out some of our favorite laptops that you can snag right now, so if you're ready to drop some cash on some new tech, be sure to pounce on the model that strikes your fancy.

Best Asus laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Asus TUF 15.6-inch Gaming Laptop (Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, 1TB SSD) $949.99 at Best Buy
$1,399.99 Save $450.00 Get Deal Why we like it

This gaming laptop is a luxurious pick that's no slouch under the hood, with an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card to help you jump into just about any game you could want to play at home or on the go. It sports a large 15.6-inch display at 1920x1080 full HD resolution with a 144Hz refresh rate, so you're getting a crisp, great-looking screen to go with all that gaming (or watching your favorite shows and TV) you're going to do. It's also extremely lightweight at just 4.85 lbs and 0.89 inches thin. It's perfectly portable and rugged at that, so if you're looking to get your game on while away from home, this is the way to do it.

Best Asus Copilot+ laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Asus Vivobook S 14 14-inch OLED Laptop with Copilot+ (Intel Core Ultra 5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $599.99 at Best Buy
$949.99 Save $350.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're looking for a Copilot-enhanced laptop, this Vivobook option packs a processor that's ready to help you realize your AI dreams. In addition to a 14-inch OLED screen, it boasts an Intel Core Ultra 5 Series 2 processor with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD all in a lightweight, slim package so you can handle any creative asks or AI-assisted missives with ease. Best of all, it won't drain your entire wallet to pick this laptop up — and you'll still get the kind of performance usually only seen in the upper pricing tiers for laptops like this one.

Best budget Asus laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Asus Zenbook 14 OLED 14-inch Laptop (Intel Core Ultra 5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $449.99 at Best Buy
$799.99 Save $350.00 Get Deal Why we like it

This mid-market laptop is on sale for a great price, but don't let that fool you into thinking it isn't capable of juggling all the tasks you need it to. It comes with an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor under the hood with 8GB of RAM, so not only is it well worth the price for daily use for work or play, but it's also a touchscreen model that lets you toss the mouse and get up close and personal. The 14-inch touch screen offers gorgeous 4K quality and crisp visuals, and all in a package that's less than $500. You truly can't beat that.