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Reality TV has come a long way since MTV plopped a bunch of twentysomethings in an artsy loft, trained cameras on them, and left them to their own devices for a few months way back in 1992. Now our reality TV choices are seemingly limitless — from ruthless restaurateurs to fabulous, multitalented drag fantasies; from rich and ruthless housewives to hardcore survivalists living by their wits.
If any of that sounds like fun, you’re in good company! Hulu has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to reality TV. We’ve sifted through the digital dross to find you the best.
1. Bachelor Nation
Is he here for the right reasons? Credit: ABC
The Bachelor began way back in 2002 with a simple premise: Take one dude (Alex Michel) and a bevy of single ladies competing for his attentions — as signified by red roses doled out at the end of almost every episode — with the aforementioned dude eliminating women until he was left with the one he wanted to marry. Along the way, the ladies participated in challenging adventures, group dates, and sometimes embarrassing activities — all in the name of love (and social media infamy). The original show was spun off into The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise, among others, along with an entire media ecosystem devoted to scrutinizing Who’s Here for the Right Reasons. There’s plenty of behind-the-scenes drama, too. — Jenni Miller, Contributing Writer
How to watch:The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and Bachelor in Paradise are all available to stream on Hulu.
2. Catfish
Back in 2010, the Sundance documentary Catfish took viewers by storm as they watched a lovelorn suitor named Nev Schulman fall for a young woman he meets on Facebook only to have it all unravel when he discovers the truth about his virtual girlfriend. Even now, the movie is a stunner that leaves audiences wondering who was catfishing whom. Schulman took his newfound notoriety and put it to work under the auspices of helping others tricked by Internet paramours in this hypnotizing TV show. Watch for shocking truths about the people we think we know best, online or off. — J.M.
How to watch:Catfish is available to stream on Hulu.
SEE ALSO:
11 best true-crime docs about scammers, con artists, and deadly deceptions
3. Love Island (UK)
The Love Island franchise originated in the UK and has spawned little amorous archipelagoes in Denmark, France, Finland, and Australia, among other countries, where bikini-clad singletons mix and mingle in sexy climes. Unlike The Bachelor franchise, the emphasis is on “coupling up” and enjoying “a good craic,” hopefully with someone who is “fit” and tan with good teeth who is ideally “a bit of me” rather than rushing to the altar, which makes for a more laidback and somewhat less frenzied vibe. Plus, whoever the audience chooses as the best couple brings home a bushel of cold, hard cash on top of those sweet vacation tans. — J.M.
How to watch:Love Island (UK) is available to stream on Hulu.
4. Kitchen Nightmares
Credit: Granada / Optomen TV / A Smith Co. / Kobal / Shutterstock
Do you want to find out what all of those Gordon Ramsay memes are about? Of course you do! On Kitchen Nightmares, the famous chef uses his culinary expertise to help restaurateurs with struggling businesses — but sometimes these places are beyond help. Whether it’s the staff’s cooking techniques (or lack thereof), dated or downright dirty décor, interpersonal problems, financial mismanagement, or something else altogether going wrong at these restaurants, we can trust Ramsay’s vivid vocabulary to never fail us. — J.M.
If you enjoy his whole deal, there’s also Hotel Hell, MasterChef, and MasterChef Junior to keep you occupied!
How to watch:Kitchen Nightmares is available to stream on Hulu.
5. Hot Ones
It’s become inordinately difficult to get a fresh angle on the celebrity interview, but Sean Evans cracked the code with Hot Ones. To be fair, there aren’t that many famous folks who are game to try eating increasingly spicy chicken wings on camera while being interviewed… but the ones who are give good interview indeed. Hulu has the first four seasons of this insanely popular YouTube show, which includes everyone from Billie Eilish and the Jackass guys to none other than Guy Fieri getting into it. — J.M.
How to watch:Hot Ones is available to stream on Hulu.
6. Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore is a pop culture phenomenon, and if you haven’t acquainted yourself with this piece of recent history, it’s time to add it to your list. MTV’s hit show follows the ins and outs of eight friends vacationing in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. Things get crazy. Insults are thrown. Fights erupt. And the result is reality TV at its absolute finest, from the people that arguably made it what it is. There are one too many quotable lines from Jersey Shore, so buckle up for the wildest, tequila-infused ride imaginable. It’s trash TV, and it’s incredible. — Yasmeen Hamadeh, Freelance Contributor
How to watch: Jersey Shore is available to stream on Hulu.
7. Drag Me to Dinner
Credit: Jeong Park/Hulu
Drag AND dinner parties? Sign us up! Hosted by the one and only Murray Hill (Somebody Somewhere), Drag Me to Dinner pits two teams of drag queens against each other to throw the perfect drag dinner party. The criteria? All teams must stick to the theme, deliver a delicious feast, and do it all in drag, with top-notch entertainment to match. If that hasn’t already sold you, David Burtka, Neil Patrick Harris, Haneefah Wood, and the incomparable Bianca Del Rio all serve as judges, and things get oh, so wonderfully wacky and chaotically camp pretty quickly. — Y.H.
How to watch:Drag Me to Dinner is now streaming on Hulu.
8. America’s Next Top Model
Yes, it’s outdated. Yes, there’s a lot wrong with it. Yes, Tyra Banks put these girls to hell and back. But America’s Next Top Model unfortunately remains one of the most entertaining reality shows ever, as well a well-needed lesson in pop culture — if only for single-handedly launching a thousand memes. In the show, 14 aspiring models undergo a slew challenges to become America’s next top model and win a cash prize. The challenges are so ridiculous, like that forsaken runway with swinging pendulums, that you might as well be watching the show out of horror or bemusement. And in my book, that’s great reality TV. — Y.H.
How to watch:America’s Next Top Model is now streaming on Hulu.
9. Project Runway
For all the fashion aficionados, this one’s for you. Project Runway, which is now in its 20th season, follows a group of aspiring designers and stylists competing against each other to win a coveted cash prize (plus other perks) to help them launch their own line. Through a series of unique challenges, contestants are slowly eliminated by a panel of judges that includes some of the industry’s top designers. Be inspired by the art. Be inspired by the style. But be particularly inspired by all the backstabbing. — Y.H.
How to watch:Project Runway is now streaming on Hulu.
10. The Masked Singer
Yes, there’s a Muppets Night episode. Credit: Fox
This wildly popular singing competition show, which is based on the South Korean show King of Mask Singer, features a dizzying array of celebrities dressed up in costumes and belting out hits while judges Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy, Nicole Scherzinger, and Robin Thicke vote on the best performers and try to suss out which random celeb is dressed up as, like, a glittery beach ball or something. (We really cannot stress how surreal this show is.) Once the judges and audience members vote, the least-popular singer must reveal their identity. This goes on until the last episode, where the last celeb standing is presented with The Golden Mask. While the judges and audience members are given clues about who’s behind the mask, the behind-the-scenes security measures make the Oscars look low-key. — J.M.
How to watch: The Masked Singer is available to stream on Hulu.
11. MasterChef Junior
These little kiddos would put The Bear‘s entire kitchen to shame. In MasterChef Junior, a group of young chefs, aged eight to thirteen, compete in a series of challenges where their dishes are judged by none other than Gordon Ramsay himself. But worry not! In this show, Ramsay is actually nice! And he’s so good with the kids! Part of what makes MasterChef Junior particularly entertaining is seeing a different side to the irascible chef, which is delightfully paired with all the sheer talent exuding from its young contestants. While these kids are out here making an amuse-bouche, we’re struggling with cereal. — Y.H.
How to watch:MasterChef Junior is now streaming on Hulu.
12. Survivor
To some extent, reality TV is all about watching other people do things we’d rather not and then criticizing how they conduct themselves, and Survivor is the greatest example of that impulse. This extraordinarily popular long-running series drops competitors off in a remote location somewhere in the world where they’re left to team up and scramble for food, shelter, and other everyday necessities, as well as compete in challenges that may require anything from eating bugs to holding onto a buoy for almost 12 hours. The winner gets one million dollars, eternal bragging rights, and countless bug bites and tummy aches. There are 34 seasons of Survivor currently available on Hulu! — J.M.
How to watch:Survivor is available to stream on Hulu.
13. RuPaul’s Drag Race
RuPaul and Debbie Reynolds being legends Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
It’s hard to remember a world before RuPaul brought drag into America’s living room with this effervescent show that melds creative competitions with performances and behind-the-scenes revelations, in addition to a fabulous stable of judges and guest stars. It made RuPaul a media mogul and turned its winning drag queens into household names, along with inspiring international spin-offs and Drag Race All-Stars. While there has been some controversy around Drag Race and its creator over the years, not to mention some of its contestants, it’s impossible to deny its imprint on the cultural landscape. — J.M.
How to watch:RuPaul’s Drag Race is available to stream on Hulu.
14. Alone
This is a reality show from the History channel, which gives it a whiff of authenticity. (Plus, it seems to be less salacious than, say, Naked or Afraid, which invites titillation just by the title. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.) Competitors chronicle their day-to-day life as they try to survive by themselves in extreme environments like Patagonia, Mongolia, and the Arctic, with a minimum of supplies or interference from the outside world. Naturally, they can tap out at any time, but the winner could pocket anywhere from $500k to a cool one million smackeroos in the seventh season. In addition to cash and considerable bragging rights, the winner of the eighth season also came home with a cool hat he made himself from a deer he killed — after he ate its heart, of course. — J.M.
How to watch:Alone is available to stream on Hulu.
15. Forged in Fire
This delightfully baroque competition series pits amateur bladesmiths with oft-extraordinary facial hair and tattoos against one another as they forge a variety of knives, swords, and other cutting implements, based on the various stipulations of each challenge. Not only is this a wildly dangerous hobby that requires lots of equipment and supplies, it also requires a ton of historical knowledge, artistry, and general steeliness of spirit. The most satisfying part of the show is when the judges test the implements against a variety of objects (including animal carcasses, which are then typically donated). When Doug Marcaida says, “It will cut!” it’s better than a handshake from Paul Hollywood. — J.M.
How to watch:Forged in Fire is available to stream on Hulu.
16. The Kardashians
Credit: Courtesy of Hulu
Is The Kardashians as scandalous as Keeping Up With the Kardashians? Not really. But does the show still deliver unforgettable Kardashian moments we all hate to admit we love? Yes, it does. Whether you’ve missed watching Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe shake their salad bowls or Kris Jenner rallying the girls for a family meeting to discuss a PR crisis, The Kardashians is an elevated look into America’s royal family at their absolute best — and worst. Come for all the drama, and stay for the iconic nasal fry. — Y.H.
How to watch: The Kardashians is available to stream on Hulu.
17. Shark Tank
In Shark Tank, entrepreneurs get to pitch their budding small businesses to a bunch of high-powered tycoons like Mark Cuban, who can then choose to invest or negotiate further, as the case may be. There’s nothing like watching a deal being hashed out — the free samples, the wheedling, the peacocking and snark — and then, finally, the decision that renders someone a millionaire or just some guy with a failed dream. It’s ruthless. It’s brutal. It’s callous capitalism. If the venture capitalism of it all seems off-putting, worry not, because Shark Tank is equal parts hilarious drama and financial fluff — a 10/10 binge experience in every way. — Y.H.
How to watch: Shark Tank is available to stream on Hulu.
18. Secrets & Sisterhood: The Sozahdahs
Credit: Courtesy of Hulu
If you miss the old-school Kardashian days, Secrets & Sisterhood: The Sozahdahs is sure to fill up that family drama-shaped void in your life. The reality show follows 10 Muslim American sisters (Yes, there’s 10 of them!), as they navigate their love lives and career amidst cultural expectations and conflicting identities. While there are some heartfelt moments in Secrets & Sisterhood, the show finds its true brilliance in how MESSY these girls can get. Expect explosive fights in each episode, drunk shenanigans, and so, so many secrets. Have your popcorn ready for this one. — Y.H.
How to watch: Secrets & Sisterhood: The Sozahdahs is now streaming on Hulu.
19. Hoarders
Like its name suggests, A&E’s Hoarders looks into the lives of people who are compulsive hoarders and have, over the years, accumulated a house full of stuff. Each episode follows an intervention process for at least two participants, and things get intense. This award-winning show walks a fine line between exploitation and entertainment, as hoarding is classified in the DSM as a disorder that’s part of the obsessive-compulsive spectrum. Problematic as it may be, the show’s portrayal of extreme expressions of human behavior has proven irresistible to viewers, even after being cancelled and renewed in various iterations. — Y.H.
How to watch: Hoarders is available to stream on Hulu.
20. Married at First Sight
You get what you signed up for with Married at First Sight, which reverses the standard dating order and has couples tying up the knot first, leaving the whole getting-to-know-you bit second. Watch as two complete strangers get paired up and then finally meet each other — on their wedding day. With the most awkward honeymoons ever under its belt, Married at First Sight is weirdly wild and is an easy binge for any evening. — Y.H.
How to watch: Married at First Sight is available to stream on Hulu.
UPDATE: Aug. 17, 2023, 1:00 p.m. EDT This post has been updated to reflect current streaming options.
Marin Ireland is poised for a big year. Earlier this summer, she brought a tooth-gritting intensity to her role in The Boogeyman, adapted from the Stephen King short story of the same name. As we head into the second half of the year, the two buzzy Sundance 2023 selections she appears in already have prime release dates and distributors.
In the sultry thriller Eileen, she delivers a riveting monologue opposite leading ladies Anne Hathaway and Thomasin McKenzie, which has already gotten her award season buzz. In Birth/Rebirth, she is the leading lady, alongside co-star Judy Reyes, in a menacingly maternal spin on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.
After dozens of movies and TV appearances over the past 20 years, and witnessing friends and colleagues break through, 2023 could be her moment — but she isn’t worried either way.
“I’m trying very hard to just be focusing exclusively on the gratitude,” Ireland said in an interview with Mashable conducted ahead of the SAG/AFTRA strike. “I genuinely feel how beautiful those experiences were, and how lucky I feel just for those experiences, and to try not to get my expectations up.”
Months after The Boogeyman scored at the box office and with critics, Birth/Rebirth is coming to theaters for a late-summer dose of harrowing horror. Co-written and directed by Laura Moss, the film follows a chilly and socially awkward coroner named Rose (Ireland) whose mad scientist-like experiments to raise the dead entangle her with an outspoken and maternal nurse named Celia (Judy Reyes). Fate — and science fiction — bring them together, but something stranger makes them friends.
Marin Ireland and Judy Reyes found their chemistry ahead of shooting Birth/Rebirth.
Credit: Shudder
“The rehearsals were so helpful,” Ireland said of finding the connection between these two very different characters, “because you can kind of theorize about it all you want. And then once you’re in the room with the other person, it’s like the alchemy — the sort of chemical relationship you have with each other in a room — suddenly, I didn’t have to think about what that might be anymore, because Judy is so warm, and also such a force and so funny.”
The plot is the stuff of life and death: two mothers working in envelope-pushing medicine to keep a resurrected child alive. The tone of the film is darkly hilarious, relishing the offbeat, buddy-comedy vibe that develops between two horror heroines forced to make increasingly grim choices.
“It made so much sense to me that they’re both mothers in the story in different ways,” Ireland said, referring to Celia being the resurrected child’s biological mother while Rose is her mother like Dr. Frankenstein is to his monster. This distinction in the kinds of mothers they are made for dynamic discoveries in rehearsals. “There were times when I felt like a teenager to [Judy] as a mother, you know what I mean? And there are also ways like we were odd-coupling it a little bit…that kind of evolved organically. In the room, you really understand why [we rehearse and] the value of that, because it just starts to make its own chemical sense.”
For her part, Ireland was “thrilled” to step into the role of Rose. “I don’t generate stuff myself,” the actress explained, “so I always get really excited by something I could never have imagined. This was like, the best ever version of that.”
“It already lights me up when [a role] is not just like ‘the girlfriend’ or ‘the wife’ or ‘the mom’ or whatever,” Ireland said, alluding to the thankless sidekick parts that actresses are too often offered. “So, already, it wasn’t going to be that. It was like, something that I could never have imagined is the thing that thrills me the most.”
After checking out Moss’s short films online — she particularly warmed to the humor of “Porn Without Sex,” which features the cheesy setups of porn narratives without the typical next step — Ireland met with Moss over Zoom to discuss the movie. From there, she felt confident in signing on to play Rose. But as the film deals with death, gore, miscarriages, and more ob-gyn matters in a willfully uncomfortable way, Ireland anticipated challenges in shooting.
“I don’t do well with gore and bloody stuff myself,” Ireland admitted, noting she shies away from horror movies in her free time. “So, I was a little nervous about a lot of the autopsy stuff and all of the miscarriage stuff. The miscarriage stuff scared me.”
On set, however, she found that “things didn’t bother me that I expected. The autopsy stuff was easy peasy. Pretty fun, because [the props and visual effects were] made so beautifully. And it just, like, looked so cool. That stuff was all incredible.”
As she’d predicted, the scene following the miscarriage was emotionally difficult, as she carried out the grisly details of clean-up, feigning Rose’s apathy while suppressing her own distress. One thing that hadn’t scared her on the page became a challenge on the day of filming: the self-insemination scene.
Marin Ireland reveals the most harrowing scene she shot in Birth/Rebirth.
Credit: Shudder
In Birth/Rebirth, Rose procures semen in an unconventional way, then injects it into herself to spur a pregnancy to create the biological materials demanded by her experiments. The scene itself is modestly shot, and yet it’s such a deeply private moment that it is hard to watch — kind of like spying on someone’s most secret self.
“Even though you didn’t even see [anything] and [the injection] wasn’t going into my actual body, that was really hard,” Ireland said. “For me, that was actually probably the hardest thing I shot. Even though it wasn’t going into my body, like having to sort of imagine injecting myself with someone else’s — that was really difficult… It definitely snuck up on me.”
Making Birth/Rebirth forced Marin Ireland to relate to her controversial character.
Credit: Shudder
“I felt like I was taking a big swing as an actor,” she said of her work in Birth/Rebirth, “so I felt nervous a lot more after shooting scenes. I really had to trust Laura. I kept asking, ‘You got to tell me, because I’m just trying stuff. I’m doing what I hear and see in my head, right?”’
Moss and Ireland used the metaphor of a dial as shorthand for how to pinpoint where Rose — who has extreme difficulty interacting with others — would be in her emotional range. “We talked the dial — like how much she’s engaging, and how much she’s on overload, and how much she just can’t, and all of that stuff. It was a big swing for me. It was new territory, in a lot of ways.”
In the film, Rose makes decisions that are sure to have audiences shocked and awed. While Ireland correctly anticipated the joy she’d have in sinking her teeth into such a provocative character, she also found herself relating to Rose’s plight. Not in the unethical medical stuff, but in that both she and Rose signed onto to a project, thinking they understood what it would demand of them, and learning on the fly the new challenges that would arise.
“It was actually a simpler way to relate to her,” Ireland said of the experience. “Laura and I talked about that.” Chiefly, however, Ireland found empathy for Rose by thinking of her as a child. “It’s thinking of her as someone who parented herself,” she explained, “and then just wanted to have this one thing and wanted to be able to do it right, and do it well, and not mess it up…Like, [her] inner child was really running the show.”
Relishing in finding the character is how Ireland has learned to cope with an industry that can be unpredictable and in which actors have so little power. Speaking with the possibility of the actor’s strike looming — but not yet announced — she said, “I always expect to get cut out of movies, or that they’ll never actually come out, or whatever it is. And I try really hard to enjoy the process of making them and to just be grateful for that moment. And to think of it as my own sort of evolution as an artist and ‘What is this giving me in this moment?'”
With the theatrical releases of both Birth/Rebirth and Eileen ahead of her, she reflected, “I was just really grateful that they were both really beautiful artistic experiences,” adding, “I’m trying to just focus on that and not get my expectations too high. And at the same time, I feel really proud of my work. I can stand behind it 1,000%. And that’s really rare. That’s a big deal.”
The website looks like something that a generative AI system dreamed up: Lockheed Martin Apparel, where you can get streetwear-style jeans and oversized tees bearing the logo of a defense contractor accused of aiding war criminals.
But the clothes are real, at least in South Korea. The streetwear line has stirred up interest on X after a user posted a screenshot from the company’s site.
Tweet may have been deleted
We reached out to Lockheed Martin to clarify its relationship with the apparel brand. The company responded that it would look into the request but did not provide any more information by the time of publication.
However, it’s possible that the global security and aerospace company licensed its name, logo, and likeness to a South Korean company that is now using it to sell clothes.
This practice is fairly common in South Korea, where Jeep, National Geographic, and even defunct airline Pan Am have been reimagined as streetwear brands with their own brick-and-mortar stores. In the States, we might find this concept a bit odd — I certainly do. But these borrowed-brand clothing lines are extremely popular in South Korea in a way that seems indiscriminate of their origin. Even CNN has gotten the streetwear treatment.
I originally assumed that South Koreans might be unaware of the work and reputation of the Lockheed Martin brand, but it turns out that the company is a major player in the country’s defense market. Perhaps, then, the allure for South Koreans is wearing a foreign language and bold graphics on their person, in the same way that some Americans get tattoos of Chinese symbols even though they don’t speak Mandarin.
Designs from Pan Am South Korea. Credit: Pan Am South Korea
Reddit
Then there is the question of why Lockheed Martin would allow its name and logo to be licensed in this way. The company has an official store, where you can get its logo printed on a North Face fleece or on Carhartt overalls.
But the South Korean brand, ironically, does a better job of promoting the company. One shirt currently for sale on the streetwear site includes in its design Lockheed Martin’s values: “Do What’s Right, Respect Others, and Perform with Excellence.” It then lists the address of the company’s Bethesda, Maryland headquarters.
Good to know that the military-industrial complex propaganda machine is alive and well.
If Quordle is a little too challenging today, you’ve come to the right place for hints. There aren’t just hints here, but the whole Quordle solution. Scroll to the bottom of this page, and there it is. But are you sure you need all four answers? Maybe you just need a strategy guide. Either way, scroll down, and you’ll get what you need.
What is Quordle?
Quordle is a five-letter word guessing game similar to Wordle, except each guess applies letters to four words at the same time. You get nine guesses instead of six to correctly guess all four words. It looks like playing four Wordle games at the same time, and that is essentially what it is. But it’s not nearly as intimidating as it sounds.
Is Quordle harder than Wordle?
Yes, though not diabolically so.
Where did Quordle come from?
Amid the Wordle boom of late 2021 and early 2022, when everyone was learning to love free, in-browser, once-a-day word guessing games, creator Freddie Meyer says he took inspiration from one of the first big Wordle variations, Dordle — the one where you essentially play two Wordles at once. He took things up a notch, and released Quordle on January 30. Meyer’s creation was covered in The Guardian six days later, and now, according to Meyer, it attracts millions of daily users. Today, Meyer earns modest revenue from Patreon, where dedicated Quordle fans can donate to keep their favorite puzzle game running.
How is Quordle pronounced?
“Kwordle.” It should rhyme with “Wordle,” and definitely should not be pronounced exactly like “curdle.”
Is Quordle strategy different from Wordle?
Yes and no.
Your starting strategy should be the same as with Wordle. In fact, if you have a favorite Wordle opening word, there’s no reason to change that here. We suggest something rich in vowels, featuring common letters like C, R, and N. But you do you.
After your first guess, however, you’ll notice things getting out of control if you play Quordle exactly like Wordle.
What should I do in Quordle that I don’t do in Wordle?
Solving a Wordle puzzle can famously come down to a series of single letter-change variations. If you’ve narrowed it down to “-IGHT,” you could guess “MIGHT” “NIGHT” “LIGHT” and “SIGHT” and one of those will probably be the solution — though this is also a famous way to end up losing in Wordle, particularly if you play on “hard mode.” In Quordle, however, this sort of single-letter winnowing is a deadly trap, and it hints at the important strategic difference between Wordle and Quordle: In Quordle, you can’t afford to waste guesses unless you’re eliminating as many letters as possible at all times.
Guessing a completely random word that you already know isn’t the solution, just to eliminate three or four possible letters you haven’t tried yet, is thought of as a desperate, latch-ditch move in Wordle. In Quordle, however, it’s a normal part of the player’s strategic toolset.
Is there a way to get the answer faster?
In my experience Quordle can be a slow game, sometimes dragging out longer than it would take to play Wordle four times. But a sort of blunt-force guessing approach can speed things up. The following strategy also works with Wordle if you only want the solution, and don’t care about having the fewest possible guesses:
Try starting with a series of words that puts all the vowels (including Y) on the board, along with some other common letters. We’ve had good luck with the three words: “NOTES,” “ACRID,” and “LUMPY.” YouTuber DougMansLand suggests four words: “CANOE,” “SKIRT,” “PLUMB,” and “FUDGY.”
Most of the alphabet is now eliminated, and you’ll only have the ability to make one or two wrong guesses if you use this strategy. But in most cases you’ll have all the information you need to guess the remaining words without any wrong guesses.
If strategy isn’t helping, and you’re still stumped, here are some hints:
Are there any double or triple letters in today’s Quordle words?
Two words have twice-occurring letters. One is a double letter.
Are any rare letters being used in today’s Quordle like Q or Z?
Elon Musk is by far the most followed user on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, which he acquired in October of last year. With more than 153 million followers at the time of publication, Musk’s account @ElonMusk is basically a microcosm of the platform as a whole.
So, who are Musk’s followers in relation to the platform? How active are they? How often do they post? Are they consuming a lot of creator content on X? Do they subscribe to Musk’s subscription plan, X Premium, formerly known as Twitter Blue? Are Musk’s followers real?
Mashable has reviewed new data collected by third-party researcher Travis Brown, who compiled basic account information on all of Musk’s more than 153 million followers via a meticulous process that respected X’s rate limit parameters.
SEE ALSO:
Elon Musk’s creator monetization program fails to convince many to pay for X Premium
What we found is…concerning.
Who are Elon Musk’s X followers?
The most pressing question for the majority of people is likely whether Musk’s followers are fake. Inactive is the better word to use here as it more aptly describes what the data shows. And a lot of Musk’s followers have traits that would lead people to ascertain that they are not actually using the site.
Of the 153,209,283 X accounts following Musk at the time the data was collected, around 42 percent of Musk’s followers, or more than 65.3 million users, have zero followers on their own account. Just over 72 percent, or nearly 112 million, of these users following Musk have less than 10 followers on their account.
When it comes to content creation on the platform, more than 62.5 million Musk followers have zero tweets. This would include users who have deleted all of their tweets by the time this data was collected over the past few weeks as well as accounts that have never before tweeted. More than 100 million Musk followers have less than 10 tweets posted to their account.
Another very interesting detail from Musk’s follower data is exactly when his followers created their accounts. Musk completed his acquisition of Twitter on October 27, 2022. Out of all of Musk’s current followers, more than 25 percent, or 38.9 million, were created on or after that date.
The average number of followers for all 153 million accounts following Musk is just around 187. However, Brown tells Mashable that the follower “distributions are so skewed” that the averages aren’t “very meaningful” here.
The median number of followers for all 153 million accounts following Musk is just one (1) single follower.
Are Musk’s followers fake?
All of the above data points could signal fake accounts, describe users who are inactive, or even “lurkers” — users who exclusively consume content. It’s likely a combination of all three. However, there are a few further stats that point more to the former two types of users.
Over the years, many real X users have found there are certain attributes that point to an account most likely being fake or a bot. For example, if an account uses the default avatar or the auto-generated username that usually includes a string of numbers, there’s a good chance you haven’t come across a real, active user.
Just around 25 percent of all of Musk’s followers, or more than 38 million, use the default profile image that X provides for newly registered accounts. More than 40 percent of Musk’s followers, or just under 50 million, have 4 or more numbers in their @ handle on X.
Furthermore, more than 43.8 million Musk followers follow less than 10 users in total via their X account. Around 13.5 million users only followed one single account, @ElonMusk, at the time the data was collected.
An X Premium (aka Twitter Blue) revelation
One last data point of note is just how many of Musk’s followers subscribe to X Premium, Musk’s $8 per month paid subscription service formerly known as Twitter Blue. Musk has routinely promoted the product from his account, focusing on the premium features that come with it like the verification badge or monetization eligibility. A subscription to X Premium has often been associated with personal support for Musk himself by the platform’s users.
However, according to this latest collection of @ElonMusk follower data, only around 453,000 Musk followers or 0.3 percent subscribe to X Premium. Mashable reported earlier this week that there were around 830,000 X Premium subscribers in total based on another data set compiled by Brown.
Rather than using workarounds, Brown works within X’s boundaries — such as the site’s API — to collect X Premium data, and says he fully respected the platform’s rate limits when collecting X Premium data. This limitation, he explained, led to a delay. Due to these rate limits, Brown’s data does not include the most recent batch of more than 200,000 accounts that followed Musk. In addition, more than 39,000 accounts collected have since self-deactivated. Just under 6,000 Musk followers had been suspended by the platform at the time of publication.
Musk has recently claimed that X now has more than 540 million “monthly users.” If accurate, that means more than 25 percent of accounts on the platform follow Musk. And if those numbers are inflated, it means that even a larger percentage of the entire platform follows Musk. With a huge swath of Musk’s 153 million followers not using the platform or perhaps not real, it seems a good portion of X’s overall user base may not be so active either.
Whynter ARC-14S 14,000 BTU dual hose portable air conditioner
$329.99 at Amazon (Save $270)
BEST WINDOW UNIT
Frigidaire FFRA051WAE window-mounted air conditioner
$124.99 at Amazon (Save $54.01)
Don’t let the heat get to you. Stave off searing temperatures by investing in an affordable AC unit from Amazon. As of August 18, the retailer is offering some excellent deals on portable AC and window units so you can chill out in the best way possible while surviving the last few weeks of summer.
Find brands like Black+Decker, Whynter, and Frigidaire on sale for up to 53% off. If you’ve been sweating bullets since temperatures started rising, it’s a good time to go ahead and invest. Snag one today before this sale turns cold.
Best portable AC
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Credit: Black+Decker
Our pick: Black+Decker 8,000 BTU portable air conditioner
$239.99 at Amazon (save $267)
Why we like it
The Black+Decker 8,000 BTU portable air conditioner is designed to cool down up to 350 square feet, which makes it the ideal option for anyone living in a small space. It’s lightweight and easy to carry, and can be controlled via remote. You can see what kind of temperature you’re dealing with on the LED display at the top of the unit, and when it’s time to clean up, you can simply slide out the AC filter to give it a good scrub-down. It may be small, but it offers some mighty powerful airflow.
The Whynter ARC-14S 14,000 BTU dual hose portable air conditioner is your best bet for keeping larger spaces in your home cool. It can chill areas up to 500 square feet, so it’s deal for placing in a bedroom or a shared area in your house. It boasts 14,000 BTUs of power, so you’ll go from sizzling to shivering (if you want) in no time. With three different operating modes and a sleek, modern exterior, you’ll be in AC heaven as you bask in this unit’s superior output. Ahhh, comfort at last.
Best window unit
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Credit: Frigidaire
Our pick: Frigidaire FFRA051WAE window-mounted air conditioner
$124.99 at Amazon (save $54.01)
Why we like it
The Frigidaire FFRA051WAE window-mounted air conditioner is a great pick for anyone who prefers a window unit. Sometimes you just don’t have room for a portable AC, or it doesn’t jibe with your decor. This Frigidaire option has 5,000 BTUs under the hood, so place it by your bed or in an area that’s difficult to chill in your home and you’ll be lounging in that sweet, cool air in no time.
More air conditioner deals at Amazon:
Frigidaire FHPC082AC1 portable air conditioner — $199$349 (save $150)
Elon Musk promised on Friday that he’d kill off the block feature from X, the website formerly known as Twitter. If the immediate reaction is any clue, it would prove an unpopular change.
Musk went on a reply spree Friday, commenting back to both random posts and posts directed at him. He responded to a tweet about blocking vs. muting with the promise to kill off the block feature entirely.
“Block is going to be deleted as a ‘feature’, except for DMs,” Musk wrote. “It makes no sense.”
Tweet may have been deleted
The claim from Musk was wildly unpopular, even among the folks who paid for blue checks, who are typically staunch fans of the X/Twitter owner.
“Block creates a safe border. I block the vicious people and the spammers,” one wrote. “I’ve had to block people who were trying to find out where I live and find out about my children,” wrote another with the handle @libertarianmama.
Another posted that a meme indicating this was one rare instance liberals and conservatives agreed: getting rid of the block is awful. Even the typically pro-Musk account “X News Daily” posted that it was “going too far” and that blocking has “an important role to combat harassment, trolls and spam.” Again, these are all blue check users, indicating they’re happily paying X and Musk to use the site.
It’s unclear why Musk would remove the block function beyond pandering to the idea of “free speech.” In the replies he indicated you’d still be able to mute users and block them from DMing, but not actually block them altogether.
To be clear, Musk often promises things and isn’t always keen to follow through. The cage match with Mark Zuckerberg is one high profile example. So it remains to be seen if blocking is ultimately removed. But if it is, it seems no one will be happy.
TL;DR: Classy, long-lasting kitchen items are always a smart investment for your home, and no heritage cookware is more sought-after than Le Creuset. If you’ve been eyeing this bougie cookware, then we’ve got good news: Wayfair is offering a Buy 3, Get 20% off deal on select Le Creuset items as of August 18.
Overview
Best Cast Iron Skillet
Our pick: Signature Cast Iron Skillet
$140 at Wayfair (Save $34 (with purchase of 3 items))
Best Tea Kettle
Our pick: Enamel on Steel 1.25 Liter Demi Kettle
$83.95 at Wayfair (Save $16.79)
Best French Press
Our pick: Stoneware 4.25 Cup French Press
$68 at Wayfair (Save $16.95)
If you enjoy cooking, then you’ll need to stock up on sturdy kitchenware that will last for years. This week, Wayfair is offering a Buy 3, Get 20% off Le Creuset items, and this sale is the perfect opportunity to buy a whole set of Le Creuset cookware and serveware for your abode. If you already own a Le Creuset Dutch Oven, then you can round out your collection with tea kettles, sauce pans, plates, and more. And if you don’t have that famous Dutch oven yet, it’s also included in the Wayfair Le Creuset sale.
Remember: to take advantage of the sale prices listed below, you’ll need to add three qualifying items to your cart. Once you do, the discount should be applied automatically.
Now, read on to find the best Le Creuset deals of the week.
Best Cast Iron Skillet
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Credit: Le Creuset
Our pick: Signature Cast Iron Skillet
$140 at Wayfair (save $34)
Why we like it
Cast-iron skillets are known for their even heat distribution, which makes it easier to whip up delectable dishes every time. This Le Creuset signature cast iron skillet is nonstick, dishwasher and oven-safe, and includes no PFOAs or PTFEs. The $140 sale price is for 9-inch size pans, but there are a total of four sizes and multiple colors to choose from so you can get the right skillet for your needs. Thanks to its chip-resistant exterior, you can be confident that this kitchen essential will keep you experimenting in the kitchen for decades to come.
Best Tea Kettle
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Credit: Le Creuset
Our pick: Enamel on Steel 1.25-Liter Demi Kettle
$83.95 at Wayfair (save $16.79)
Why we like it
This picture-perfect tea kettle is as sturdy as it is adorable. Made with enamel on steel, its construction encourages water to heat quickly so you can get on with your day. With a capacity of 1.25 liters, you’ll be able to boil enough water for meal prep or tea-time guests. Safely transport this tea kettle using the heatproof handle. Plus, thanks to its porcelain exterior, you’ll have a rust-free demi kettle that doesn’t absorb flavors and resists dings from wear and tear. Simply wash it with soapy water once it cools down and enjoy your tea.
Best French Press
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Credit: Le Creuset
Our pick: Stoneware 4.25-Cup French Press
$68 at Wayfair (save $16.95)
Why we like it
If you love coffee or loose-leaf tea, the Le Creuset 4.25-Cup French Press will be a great asset to your kitchen. Its stoneware exterior was built to last and resists dings, scratches, and other signs of usual wear and tear. Designed with the best stoneware craftsmanship in the industry, this French press is dishwasher-safe and can withstand metal utensils, the microwave, oven heat, and even the inside of a freezer.
I hate to do this to you, but I have to remind you of something seared into my brain: those hideous, expensive monkey drawings.
Bored Ape NFTs.
These tiny little creatures have popped back into the news cycle because, in a shocking turn of events, the guys who bought the NFTs are not happy with their purchases. A group of investors are suing a whole lot of people over an auction and promotion of the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs after the prices dropped, CNN reported.
According to CNN, the plaintiffs are suing 30 defendants, including Sotheby’s Holdings Inc and some of the celebrities that endorsed the NFTS because the auction house “misleadingly promoted” the collectibles.
“Sotheby’s representations that the undisclosed buyer was a ‘traditional’ collector had misleadingly created the impression that the market for BAYC NFTs had crossed over to a mainstream audience,” the lawsuit claimed, according to ArsTechnica. The plaintiffs argued that the investors bought the NFTs “with a reasonable expectation of profit from owning them.” They say they did not see this profit.
SEE ALSO:
Bored Ape NFT holders seek…something, anything to do with their Bored Apes
Currently, the cheapest Bored Ape NFT you can buy on OpenSea will cost you roughly $43,000. At the peak of the NFT hype cycle, one of these NFTs would cost you well into the six figures.
ArsTechnica reported that the investors first sued Bored Ape creator Yuga Labs, four company executives, and a bunch of celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Hart, Snoop Dogg, Serena Williams, Madonna, Jimmy Fallon, Steph Curry, and Justin Bieber in December 2022. They added Sotheby’s as a defendant on August 4.
Sotheby’s told CNN in a statement that “the allegations in this suit are baseless, and Sotheby’s is prepared to vigorously defend itself.” A spokesperson for Yuga Labs gave the news outlets a similar statement denying wrongdoing.
The investors want more than $5 million in damages.
