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Today’s NYT Connections Sports Edition puzzle deals with teams from the DMV, places hockey left a mark, examples of the NATO alphabet, and football offensive players with little experience.

Get excited—there’s another New York Times game to add to your daily routine! Those of us word game addicts who already play Wordle, Connections, Strands and the Mini Crossword now have Connections Sports Edition to add to the mix.

So, if you’re looking for some hints and answers for today’s Connections Sports Edition on Sunday, September 20, 2026, you’ve come to the right place.

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Today’s NYT Connections Sports Puzzle for Saturday, September 19, 2026 / New York Times

The New York Times

What Is Connections Sports Edition?

Connections Sports Edition is just like the regular Connections word puzzle, in that it’s a game that resets at 12 a.m. EST each day and has 16 different words listed. It’s up to you to figure out each group of four words that belong to a certain category, with four categories in total.

This new version is sports-specific, however, as a partnership between The New York Times and The Athletic.

As the NYT site instructs, for Connections Sports Edition, you “group sports terms that share a common thread.”

Related: The 26 Funniest NYT Connections Game Memes You’ll Appreciate if You Do This Daily Word Puzzle

Hints for Today’s Connections Sports Edition Categories on September 20, 2026

Here are some hints about the four categories to help you figure out the word groupings.

• Yellow: Free State orgs.
• Green: Like the Trashers or the Coyotes.
• Blue: Green offensive players.
• Purple: Whisky, tango, foxtrot.

Here Are Today’s Connections Sports Edition Categories

OK, time for a second hint…we’ll give you the actual categories now. Spoilers below!

• Yellow: MARYLAND TEAMS
• Green: FORMER NHL CITIES
• Blue: NFL ROOKIE WRS
• Purple: SPORTS TERMS IN THE NATO PHONETIC ALPHABET

If you’re looking for the answers, no worries—we’ve got them below. So, don’t scroll any further if you don’t want to see the solutions!

The answers to today’s Connections Sports Edition #726 are coming up next.

Related: 15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day

What Are the Answers to Connections Sports Edition Today?

• MARYLAND TEAMS: MIDSHIPMEN, ORIOLES, RAVENS, TERRAPINS
• FORMER NHL CITIES: ATLANTA, HARTFORD, PHOENIX, QUEBEC CITY
• NFL ROOKIE WRS: BOSTON, LEMON, TATE, TYSON
• SPORTS TERMS IN THE NATO PHONETIC ALPHABET: GOLF, UNIFORM, VICTOR, YANKEE

Don’t worry if you didn’t get them this time—we’ve all been there.

Up next, catch up on the answers to recent Wordle puzzles.

Related: Ninja Trolls This Fan-Favorite Ceramic Cookware Brand With Newest Drop That Shoppers Say Is ‘Too Good to Be True’

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You know an antique piece of jewelry when you see it. They’re made from the finest materials and often feature one commanding centerpiece stone. While nothing can replace something that’s passed down for generations, there’s room in every jewelry box for a pair of Floral Stone Huggie Earrings from Anthropologie.

Right now, you can snag a pair in your choice of four colors for just $30, down from its usual $44 during the limited-time Anthropologie fall savings event. Their vintage inspiration shines through cleanly, from the brilliant faceted stone at the heart of the design to the halo of individually set round stones that together suggest a subtle flower motif. A substantial metallic frame lends the piece an almost antique look. 

Floral Stone Huggie Earrings, $30 (were $44) at Anthropologie

Courtesy of Anthropologie

Shop at Anthropologie

Each option is luminous. The opal version is the most neutral of the group, yet still catches the eye with its ethereal palette. Neutral adds a pop of soft blush to your lobes, while the rose version shines in a more electrifying shade of pink. Sapphire brims with regal beauty and will catch the eye from any angle with its dramatic appearance.

The earrings are set in 14-karat gold-plated brass, a beautiful complement to the 10 cubic zirconia droplets surrounding the rich center stone. With a simple French hook closure, they’re also very easy to slip on and off. At a compact 0.5 by 0.5 inches, they exude exactly the kind of delicate minimalism that makes them suitable for everyday wear.

This small-scale silhouette works in their favor — anything larger might feel overwhelming. Because they’re petite, though, the focus stays on their old-world beauty and heirloom-inspired aesthetic. You can wear them to make ordinary jeans and T-shirts feel more special, but just as easily add them to an office-ready look or a special date-night dress.

With gifting season just months away, this is also a great time to begin considering what to give the VIPs in your life. This elegant pair could be just the thing for the fashion lover who has everything, who appreciates something a little bit off the beaten path, or who can’t resist pieces with a bit of retro influence.

Shop More Deals

• Corded Crystal Pendant Necklace, $11 (was $48) at Anthropologie
• Twisted Crystal Ring, $20 (was $32) at Anthropologie
• Beaded Chicklet Stretch Bracelet, $25 (was $38) at Anthropologie

Related: Anthropologie’s ‘Pretty’ Coastal-Chic Necklaces Are Effortlessly Stylish and Start at Just $30 

Whether you’re treating someone else or yourself, though, you don’t want to miss out on the chance to pick up a pair on sale. Shop the Floral Stone Huggie Earrings while they’re marked down at Anthropologie in your preferred color!

Don’t miss future deals! Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team’s curated selection of discounts and sales, twice a week.

To solve today’s NYT Strands puzzle, you might have to hype yourself up.

Move over, Wordle, Connections, Connections Sports Edition, and Mini Crossword—there’s a new NYT word game in town! The New York Times‘ recent game, “Strands,” is becoming increasingly popular as another daily activity fans can find on the NYT website and app.

With daily themes and “spangrams” to discover, this is the latest addictive game to cross off your to-do list before a new one pops up 24 hours later.

We’ll cover exactly how to play Strands, hints for today’s Spangram, and all of the answers for Strands #931 on Sunday, September 20.

How to Play Strands

The New York Times

According to the New York Times, here’s exactly how to play Strands:

Find theme words to fill the board.

• Theme words stay highlighted in blue when found.
• Drag or tap letters to create words. If tapping, double-tap the last letter to submit.
• Theme words fill the board entirely. No theme words overlap.

Find the “spangram.”

• The spangram describes the puzzle’s theme and touches two opposite sides of the board. It may be two words.
• The spangram highlights in yellow when found.
• An example spangram with corresponding theme words: PEAR, FRUIT, BANANA, APPLE, etc.

Need a hint?

• Find non-theme words to get hints.
• For every three non-theme words you find, you earn a hint.
• Hints show the letters of a theme word. If there is already an active hint on the board, a hint will show that word’s letter order.

What Is Today’s Strands Hint for the Theme: “Putting on airs“

If that doesn’t help, here’s a hint for today’s Strands game: Hoity-toity.

What Are Today’s NYT Strands Hints?

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

In today’s puzzle, there are eight theme words to find (including the spangram). Here are the first two letters for each word:

• PO
• FL
• BO
• BR
• ST
• BL
• GL
• GR (SPANGRAM)

NYT Strands Spangram Hint: Is It Vertical or Horizontal?

Today’s Spangram is a mix of vertical and diagonal.

NYT Strands Spangram Answer for September 20

Today’s Spangram answer for today’s NYT ‘Strands’ Hints, Spangram, and Answers for Sunday, September 20, 2026, is GRANDIOSITY.

What Are Today’s NYT Strands Answers, Word List for Sunday, September 20?

• POSTURE
• FLEX
• BOAST
• BRAG
• STRUT
• BLUSTER
• GLOAT
• SPANGRAM: GRANDIOSITY

Related: Ninja Trolls This Fan-Favorite Ceramic Cookware Brand With Newest Drop That Shoppers Say Is ‘Too Good to Be True’

You like her detective novels. You really, really like them.

Agatha Christie inspired generations of novelists, and more recent ones have often been compared to the renowned writer. One such bestselling author is Barbara Mertz, though the name may not sound too familiar…

That’s because she wrote under not one, but two different pen names over the span of decades. In Britain, she was perhaps best known as Elizabeth Peters, who brought to life a whopping 38 crime novels, per The Guardian. Nineteen of these centered on a beloved heroine known as Amelia Peabody, as fans well know.

Each book in the series is a stand-alone mystery which can be read without previous knowledge, Goodreads reports. However, the characters age throughout the series, and events in previous books — including spoilers concerning some of the main characters — are referenced in later books.

Here’s Goodreads’ synopsis in part of book 1, Crocodile on the Sandbank: “Amelia Peabody, that indomitable product of the Victorian age, embarks on her debut Egyptian adventure armed with unshakable self-confidence, a journal to record her thoughts, and, of course, a sturdy umbrella. On her way to Cairo, Amelia rescues young Evelyn Barton-Forbes, who has been abandoned by her scoundrel lover. Together the two women sail up the Nile to an archeological site run by the Emerson brothers-the irascible but dashing Radcliffe and the amiable Walter. Soon their little party is increased by one — one mummy that is, and a singularly lively example of the species.”

Mertz, who died in 2013 at age 85, also wrote as Barbara Michaels as well as her own name. Born and brought up in Illinois, she earned her Ph.D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago.

Mertz was named Grand Master at the inaugural Anthony Awards in 1986 and Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America at the Edgar Awards in 1998. She lived in a historic farmhouse in Frederick, western Maryland until her death.

There’s no question that Kate Bush is one of the most unique and groundbreaking musicians of all time, so it shouldn’t be too surprising for anyone to learn that the iconic singer and composer made history on the charts.

Bush, who was 15 years old when Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour discovered her, became the first female solo artist to have an album debut on the U.K. Albums Chart at No. 1 when she released her third studio album, Never for Ever, on Sept. 20 in 1980, according to Classic Rock. It was also the first album (that wasn’t a compilation) by a British female solo artist to hit No. 1 in the U.K., as well as Bush’s first chart-topping album.

Never for Ever represented a “turning point” for Bush, as Rolling Stone pointed out in a piece ranking it #48 on a list of “The 80 Greatest Albums of 1980.”

“She got deeply into her synthesizers, using the brand-new Fairlight CMI sampler to open new vistas for her songwriting. Never for Ever showed how much her imagination thrived on this level of control — it led to her next two albums, The Dreaming and Hounds of Love, arguably her two best. ‘Breathing’ is her dark fantasy of an unborn baby contemplating the threat of nuclear war, wondering if she should linger in the womb longer; ‘The Infant Kiss’ is a ghost story where Bush plays a Victorian governess in a haunted house.”

Commercially, the biggest hit from Never for Ever was the song “Babooshka,” released as a single on June 27, 1980. It peaked at #5 on the U.K. chart, where it spent 10 weeks overall; in Australia, it went all the way to #2 and stayed there for three weeks.

As Bush once explained on Australian TV, “Babooshka” tells the tale of a wife who challenges her husband’s fidelity by sending him “scented letters” from another, imaginary woman. Alas, the husband becomes so obsessed with the nonexistent admirer that the marriage falls apart.

Related: How Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour Turned This 15-Year-Old ‘Schoolgirl’ Into a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee

Interestingly enough, the song was somewhat erroneously titled. Bush explained later that she didn’t realize the Russian word for grandmother was “babushka” and was actually thinking of the traditional Russian stacking doll known as a “matryoshka.” To make the sound of breaking glass at the end of the track, Bush smashed some actual crockery at Abbey Road studios and recorded the noise for a sample. (She later sent chocolates to the studio’s kitchen staff as an apology.)

Bush, who famously took inspiration from great works of literature, also cited the traditional English folk song “Sovay” as an inspiration for “Babooshka.” As she told Interview in 2011, “very few” of her songs “really have any sort of autobiographical content,” though she acknowledged that “whatever is going on in your life when you’re writing has to somehow seep into your work.”

“And maybe if my songs feel personal, that’s very nice. I like that. I take that as a great compliment,” she continued. “But I think what is great is that if anything that I do is interesting to somebody else, then I really don’t think it matters at all what I had originally intended. If people like the song, or they can draw some feeling from it, then I’m really happy about that. Quite often, lyrics get misunderstood — and I never mind that either. I guess what all artists want is for their work to touch someone or for it to be thought provoking.”

Bush certainly got what she wanted, as generations of fans would agree.

Related: 1988 Ballad, Written for Heartbreaking ’80s Movie Scene, Became a Timeless Anthem of Hope

Today’s New York Times Connections puzzle features a little bit of everything, including references to alluring fanged people, exports from Bluegrass country, things similar to a dinner plate and activities that require you to stand on something.

There’s nothing quite as exhilarating as the feeling of completing the daily New York Times Wordle, Strands, Mini Crossword and Connections Sports Edition word games in one fell swoop. But sometimes that can be easier said than done. If you need help with today’s Connections puzzle, keep reading.

Spoilers ahead! We’ve warned you. We mean it. Read no further until you really want some clues or you’ve completely given up and want the answers ASAP. Get ready for all of today’s NYT ‘Connections’ hints and answers for #1197 on Sunday, September 20, 2026.

Today’s NYT Connections Puzzle for Sunday, September 20, 2026 / New York Times

The New York Times

If you’ve been having trouble with any of the connections or words in Sunday’s puzzle, you’re not alone, and these hints should definitely help you out. Plus, I’ll reveal the answers further down.

Related: The 26 Funniest NYT Connections Game Memes You’ll Appreciate if You Do This Daily Word Puzzle

Hints About Today’s NYT Connections Categories on Sunday, September 20

1. Like a frisbee.
2. 15th state exports.
3. Blood suckers.
4. Ride the wave.

Related: 300 Trivia Questions and Answers to Jumpstart Your Fun Game Night

Ready for the answers? Scroll below this image (the image that represents your very appreciated patience!).

iStock

Today’s Connections Game Answers for Sunday, September 20:

1. ROUND FLAT THINGS: BLU-RAY, COASTER, SAND DOLLAR, TORTILLA
2. ASSOCIATED WITH KENTUCKY: BLUEGRASS, BOURBON, DERBY, FRIED CHICKEN
3. VAMPIRE MOVIES: BLADE, NEAR DARK, SINNERS, TWILIGHT
4. ___BOARDS YOU RIDE ON: HOVER, SKATE, SNOW, SURF

How’d you do?

Up Next:

– 15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day
– Hints, Clues and Answers to the NYT’s ‘Mini Crossword’ Puzzle

Did You Miss a Few Days? Let’s Catch You Up With Recent Connections Answers

Related: Ninja Trolls This Fan-Favorite Ceramic Cookware Brand With Newest Drop That Shoppers Say Is ‘Too Good to Be True’

Today’s NYT Wordle answer is so positively illuminating.

But the day just isn’t complete until I’ve solved all of the free word games from the New York Times, including Connections, Connections Sports Edition, Strands, and Mini Crossword. If you’re stuck on today’s Wordle answer, we’re here to help—but beware of spoilers for Wordle #1919s ahead.

Let’s start with a few hints.

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How many vowels are in today’s Wordle?

There are two vowels in today’s five-letter word.

What kind of letter does today’s Wordle start with?

Today’s Wordle begins with a consonant.

Are there any double letters?

There are no double letters in today’s Wordle.

Can you give another hint about today’s Wordle?

A hint for today’s Wordle: Illuminated in the past.

OK, that’s it for hints—I don’t want to totally give it away before revealing the answer!

Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours

We’ll have the answer below this friendly reminder of how to play the game.

SPOILERS BELOW—do not scroll any further if you don’t want the answer revealed.

The New York Times

Today’s Wordle Answer for #1919 on Sunday, September 20, 2026.

Today’s Wordle answer on Sunday, September 20, 2026, is SHONE.

-If you missed it, catch up with the answer to yesterday’s Wordle.

Related: Every 5 Letter Word Wordle Hasn’t Used Yet (Updated Daily)

HBO has been dominant at the Emmys since it was first allowed to enter in 1998, and it finished in second place for total number of wins in 2026. Out of the 21 wins, Task’s Tom Pelphrey won for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. That helped to open a conversation about whether the crime drama could see more wins in 2028.

To be eligible for the 2028 Emmys, the series would need to drop episodes before May 2027. That could be possible with a push, but based on current statements about the filming window, it’s unlikely.

HBO boss Casey Bloys offered an update on Task Season 2’s filming schedule. He told Deadline that filming is about halfway through. That wouldn’t tell you much about when it could wrap without knowing when filming started, of course. Filming started in July 2026, so if it’s halfway through, production should wrap before the end of 2026.

So far, it looks like that is on track, so what about that Emmy eligibility window? That would be a negative. Bloys doesn’t expect Task Season 2 to be part of the June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027, Emmy eligibility cycle. He pointed out that The Pitt, The Gilded Age, White Lotus, The Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, I Love LA, and Rooster are all likely to be part of that window.

After production is a long post-production phase. This often takes as long as filming does, so it’s looking like post-production will wrap around the end of spring, and that pushes a release into the summer at the earliest. HBO has started to release shows at specific times of the year, with House of the Dragon usually between June and August every two years and The Pitt always in January of each year. Task Season 1 premiered in September 2025, so a September 2027 release window makes the most sense.

The second season is set to cross paths with Mare of Easttown, putting the two Brad Ingelsby shows in the same universe. Julianne Nicholson will return as Lori Ross, having her work with Mark Ruffalo’s Tom Brandis as they tackle a case that may involve corrupt DEA agents. Other than that, little is known about the storyline, but more is sure to arrive sometime next year as a release date gets closer.

Take a breath, clear your mind, and consider this your tarot card horoscope message for the day ahead. The card pulled for September 20, 2026, is the Eight of Pentacles, a reminder that the small things you’re doing consistently are adding up, even if you can’t see the finished result yet.

Your Tarot Message for September 20, 2026: Eight of Pentacles

The Eight of Pentacles is the card of practice, patience, and getting better through repetition. It isn’t necessarily about one huge breakthrough. It’s about showing up, learning from what isn’t working, and continuing to refine your craft. That makes it a fitting card for a day when the astrological forecast tempts you to focus on how far you still have to go. With the Moon in Capricorn and Sun in Virgo, the dominance of Earth sign energy can make us tough critics.

Instead, focus on what you’ve already built. The Eight of Pentacles asks you to take your work seriously without becoming consumed by perfection. You don’t need to master everything today. You just need to keep putting in the effort.

If you’ve been wondering whether your hard work is actually paying off, the universe suggests you may need to give yourself more credit for how far you’ve already come. Although mundane, repetition will lead to the results you seek. Skills are getting stronger. A routine is becoming easier. A project is slowly taking shape. Don’t dismiss impressive progress simply because it isn’t dramatic, miraculous, or immediate.

Today’s tarot message is simple: keep going! The work you’re doing now matters, even before anyone else externally can see the results.

Tarot Advice for September 20, 2026

• Choose one thing you want to improve and give it your full attention.
• You don’t have to overhaul your entire life. You don’t need a perfect plan. Put your energy into the task in front of you and let consistency do what it does best.
• The Eight of Pentacles reminds you that mastery is built one small effort at a time.

UP NEXT:

Kat Dennings, one of the lead stars of the hit CBS sitcom 2 Broke Girls, has a sweet and hilarious way of celebrating the show’s 15th anniversary.

Years after the TV series officially ended, the actress looked back on her time on the popular sitcom with a heartfelt yet cheeky message.

In an Instagram post, Dennings took a trip down memory lane as she shared photos of herself and co-star Beth Behrs, reminiscing about the show that brought the two actresses together.

Moreover, she jokingly reflected on her experience making 2 Broke Girls while channeling her character’s signature wit in a sarcastic yet affectionate anniversary message.

“2 Broke Girls premiered 15 years ago today! Beth and I both left with PTSD but also money, so that’s nice! Love you @bethbehrs,” the caption reads.

Season four of 2 Broke Girls with cast members Jennifer Coolidge, Jonathan Kite, Kat Dennings, Beth Behrs, Garrett Morris and Matthew Moy.

Randee St. Nicholas/CBS via Getty Images

The funny message caught fans’ attention, with some saying they missed the show while others called for a possible revival.

“Still one of my all-time favorite shows, still think they should do a revival and call it 2 Rich Girls and Caroline teaches Max how to be rich because Max taught Caroline to be broke,” one wrote.

View this post on Instagram

“MOVIE WHEN!? = TWO RICH GIRLS” a follower said.

“We need a Reboot / special / movie (whatever you guys can, honestly) ASAP!” a commenter added.

Fans also shared how 2 Broke Girls became a “comfort show” for them, praising the sitcom for its entertaining and lighthearted nature.

“One of my all-time favorite comfort shows. So funny,” one remarked.

“I’ve been rewatching lately; it’s my comfort show, and the show and you two are iconiccccc,” a fan echoed.

The series officially premiered on September 19, 2011. The CBS show introduced the unlikely friendship between Max Black, a sharp-witted and fiercely independent waitress played by Dennings, and Caroline Channing, a formerly wealthy socialite portrayed by Behrs.

Despite their different financial backgrounds, they share one goal of starting their own cupcake business.

2 Broke Girls ran for six seasons and a total of 138 episodes before ending in 2017.

Besides the undeniable chemistry between the two lead stars, supporting cast members such as Jennifer Coolidge, Jonathan Kite, Garrett Morris and Matthew Moy that brought additional humor and personality to the sitcom.

Moreover, 2 Broke Girls featured several celebrity guest appearances, including Kim Kardashian, Martha Stewart and Lindsay Lohan, among others, adding to the show’s memorable lineup of guest stars. 

Related: ‘2 Broke Girls’ Star Stuns With Her Appearance Nearly 15 Years After Show Premiere

Rose Friedman, an editor who helped define NPR’s arts and culture coverage for a decade and a half, died Sept. 17 at her home in New York City. She was 38. NPR confirmed she died of cancer.

Friedman joined NPR in 2010 as an editorial assistant in her early 20s and worked her way up to editor and reporter on the Society & Culture desk. She became best known as a co-creator of Books We Love, the network’s beloved annual reading guide, which grew out of a project originally called the Book Concierge. More recently, she helped lead NPR’s America 250 series. In 2020, she served as NPR’s lead reporter covering the sexual assault trial of former movie executive Harvey Weinstein, and in 2018 she shared a National Headliner Award for a feature on the #MeToo movement.

Colleagues remembered her as both rigorous and warm. “What a gifted, delightful, brilliant, deeply kind person,” said novelist Meg Wolitzer, who worked with Friedman on several NPR features. Theo Balcomb, a former NPR supervising editor now at The Atlantic, said Friedman “had a strong sense of purpose” and always prioritized accuracy over buzz.

Friedman grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, and studied labor history at Macalester College, where her dissertation on worker solidarity won the Barbara Wertheimer Prize. That passion followed her to NPR, where she served as a SAG-AFTRA shop steward and helped push the company to expand its paid parental leave, something she reportedly considered one of her proudest achievements.

Outside of work, friends described her as an enthusiastic traveler and adventurous eater. “No one lives in the moment more than Rose,” said her friend Natalie Winston, recalling a hospital recovery that somehow turned into a trip for dumplings and a ferry ride to Ikea.

Friedman is survived by her partner, Andrew Anastasi, their two children, her parents Carolyn and Jerry Friedman, and her sisters Sophie and Nina.

Ed Sheeran broke down in tears Saturday night, opening his Philadelphia show with a teary apology to fans after a week that saw his entire opening lineup walk off his Loop Tour amid other setbacks. The Lincoln Financial Field concert was pushed back from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. as the fallout continued to unfold.

“I’ve had to take and make difficult decisions, and I am making mistakes,” Sheeran told the crowd. “I’m so, so sorry. I don’t want to disappoint fans.” He said he’d wanted his shows to be about “unity, not division,” before addressing the controversy directly for the first time: “This is a humanitarian issue. I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore.”

The chaos began when Macklemore was dropped as Sheeran’s support act after making pro-Palestinian remarks onstage. Macklemore later said Sheeran told him that Robert Kraft, the Kraft Group CEO who owns Gillette Stadium, had personally called to bar him from performing at the venue. Sheeran maintained the call was the promoter’s decision and that he wouldn’t be drawn into public debate over the war, before Aaron Rowe, Beoga, Lukas Graham and Finneas all withdrew from the tour in the days that followed.

As backlash grew, Macklemore pledged to donate $1 million from his earnings on the tour to organizations aiding Palestinians and challenged Kraft to match it. Both Kraft and Sheeran responded by each pledging $2 million of their own toward humanitarian relief.

The tension spilled outside the venue Saturday, where protesters gathered holding “Free Palestine” signs and chanting for a ceasefire, according to TMZ. Sheeran told the crowd that performing solo, without his openers, was still “completely central to who I am” and part of honoring his commitment to fans.

He’s next scheduled to perform Sept. 25, at Gillette Stadium, the venue Kraft owns.

Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

You’re sitting on the couch and just ordered takeout — but there’s nowhere to put your food or beverage. That’s where a sleek side table comes in. You want the piece of furniture to elevate your space while also being functional, which is why we’re turning to Drew Barrymore’s home collection at Walmart. The budget-friendly home items include this Beautiful Mae End Table, which is $10 off right now.

The furniture originally cost $94, but has been reduced to just $84. You can shop for it in a stunning cherry-wood finish or in a painted navy hue named the starry night finish. One shopper said that they “love the ‘70s style” of this table, which makes it perfect for retro and bohemian style homes. The cherry colorway is also a great option for modern, mid-century, and cottagecore style homes since it looks so luxurious, but still creates that warm feeling. 

Beautiful Mae End Table, $84 (was $94) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

The furniture is 18 inches wide, 18 inches long, and 24.3 inches tall, which is fairly standard for a side table, so it’s especially great for smaller living spaces. Put it next to your sofa, accent chair, or bed for extra storage space. “It’s wide and roomy enough for drinks and a plate of food,” one shopper wrote. Plus, it’ll add dimension to your room since it looks like a cool sculptural piece. The table only weighs 22 pounds, so you can easily maneuver it on your own. 

The rounded end table features three open shelves that are perfect for displaying decor items, such as picture frames, books, and lamps. It supports up to 100 pounds, so the options for decoration (especially with the fall and Halloween season coming up) are truly endless. You will have to put it together when it arrives at your doorstep, but one reviewer said that it assembles “like a dream” and only takes around 10 minutes. 

Customers also described the “stylish” furniture as “sturdy” because it’s made entirely of wood. Make sure to wipe it with a damp cloth when you clean it — avoiding harsh chemicals — to ensure it keeps quality over time. Shoppers further cited the material as “beautiful,” “smooth,” and “glossy,” so it should last you quite a while. 

Shop More Deals 

• Lofka 3-Piece Patio Furniture Set, $70 (was $120) at Walmart
• Anygrew Casual Cardigan, $12 (was $22) at Walmart
• Prettygarden Summer Midi Satin Skirt, $30 (was $46) at Walmart

One customer even placed the end table in their office, making it a great option for those who work from home, too. It’s one of those pieces that all of your friends and family will be asking about. Shop this gorgeous Drew Barrymore table now, while it’s $10 off at Walmart! 

Related: Walmart’s $17 Vintage-Inspired Scalloped Crystal Table Lamp Turns Your Home Into a Parisian Cafe

Don’t miss future deals! Sign up for Parade Picks to receive our commerce team’s curated selection of discounts and sales, twice a week.

Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

West-facing rooms can become uncomfortably hot in the afternoon, especially during summer. Direct sunlight also creates glare on televisions and computer screens and exposes furniture, flooring and window treatments to ultraviolet radiation. If you’re replacing windows in one of these rooms, the glass package deserves as much attention as the frame and window style.

The best replacement windows for west-facing rooms typically use low-emissivity (low-E) glass with a low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) to limit afternoon solar heat. Low-E coatings reduce heat gain, while a lower SHGC limits the amount of solar heat entering through the glass. The right combination depends on your climate, shading and how much natural light you want to preserve.

If afternoon heat or glare is already making a room uncomfortable, a professional window consultation from Renewal by Andersen can identify glass options suited to your home’s orientation and climate.

What are the best replacement windows for west-facing rooms?

The best replacement windows for west-facing rooms have glass designed to limit solar heat gain without unnecessarily sacrificing daylight. Look for low-E glass and compare the window’s SHGC and visible transmittance ratings. In hot or sunny conditions, lower SHGC generally means less solar heat enters the room.

West-facing windows deserve special attention because they receive strong afternoon sunlight when outdoor temperatures are often already high. Energy Star specifically recommends low-SHGC windows or shading for east- and west-facing windows.

Why West-Facing Windows Can Overheat a Room

A window does more than provide a view. Sunlight passing through the glass carries solar energy into the home. The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient measures how much of that solar energy a window transmits. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat enters.

That makes SHGC one of the most useful numbers to examine when comparing replacement windows for a sunny room.

Window rating

What it measures

What to look for in a west-facing room

SHGC

Solar heat transmitted through the window

Lower values generally reduce afternoon heat gain

U-factor

How well the window insulates

Lower values provide greater insulation

VT

Visible light transmitted through the glass

Higher values provide more daylight

Air Leakage

Air passing through joints in the window

Lower values indicate less air leakage

These ratings should be considered together rather than selecting a window based on one number alone. Energy Star notes that window performance requirements vary by climate zone.

How does low-E glass reduce heat from the afternoon sun?

Low-E glass uses a thin coating that controls radiant heat transfer through the window. Depending on the coating, low-E glass can reduce solar heat gain while improving the window’s insulating performance.

The U.S. Department of Energy notes that low-E coatings are among the features used to reduce thermal transmittance and lower a window’s U-factor. The DOE also identifies low-E coatings and tints as features that affect SHGC.

Not every low-E package performs identically. Some coatings are designed to admit more solar heat, while low-solar-gain products are designed to restrict it. That distinction is especially relevant when selecting glass for a west-facing room.

Renewal by Andersen offers several high-performance glass configurations. Its Low-E4® glass is designed to reflect heat during summer and retain indoor heat during winter, while SmartSun™ glass is designed to reduce harsh UV exposure while controlling solar heat.

Renewal by Andersen also describes Low-E4® Sun Glass as a subtly tinted option intended for hot, dry climates with little shade or cloud cover.

Related: Best Windows for a Noisy Street: How To Choose Glass That Blocks Sound

Should you choose tinted glass for a west-facing room?

Tinted or solar-control glass can be useful when a room receives intense direct sunlight, but tint alone should not determine the purchase. The window’s complete performance package, including SHGC and VT, gives you a better picture of how the glass will perform.

A darker tint can reduce visible light, along with solar energy. If the room needs strong daylight, a homeowner may prefer a higher-performance low-E coating that controls solar heat without making the glass noticeably dark.

Renewal by Andersen says its SmartSun™ glass blocks up to 95 percent of harmful UV rays, while its Low-E4® glass blocks 84 percent. The company also says SmartSun glass is designed for situations where an air conditioner struggles with sunlight streaming through the windows.

Those features can be useful in a west-facing living room, home office or bedroom where afternoon sun creates both heat and glare.

Related: Are Premium Replacement Windows Worth the Extra 40%? What You Actually Get

What else should you consider when replacing sunny windows? Start With the Whole Window, Not Just the Glass

Glass is important, but the frame, sash, seals and installation also affect performance. The DOE notes that window performance should be evaluated as a whole, including the glazing, frame and spacers.

A poorly fitted replacement window can undermine the performance of otherwise high-quality glass. Renewal by Andersen states that its replacement windows are measured for the home’s individual openings and custom-manufactured to fit.

Consider Exterior Shading

Windows aren’t the only way to control solar heat. Exterior shading can reduce sunlight before it reaches the glass. Energy Star specifically recommends that east- and west-facing windows have a low SHGC or be shaded, with west-facing windows receiving particular attention because they receive late-day summer sun.

Trees, overhangs, exterior shades and other shading strategies can therefore complement high-performance replacement windows.

Account for Your Climate

A window specification that works well in a hot climate isn’t automatically the best choice everywhere. In colder climates, solar heat entering through some windows can provide useful passive heat during the heating season. Energy Star bases window requirements on climate zone rather than recommending one universal configuration.

Your home’s orientation, existing shading and heating and cooling needs should all be considered before selecting a glass package.

If one or more west-facing rooms are consistently too hot, a window professional from Renewal by Andersen can evaluate the existing openings and discuss glass options based on your home’s conditions.

New Windows From Renewal by Andersen

Renewal by Andersen

Professional window replacement from Renewal by Andersen can help you save money on your utility bills.

Get a Quote Now

Is upgrading west-facing windows worth it?

Replacing windows can address more than one problem at the same time. The right glass can reduce unwanted solar heat, improve insulation and reduce UV exposure while preserving the natural light and views homeowners want from large west-facing windows.

For homeowners replacing old single-pane windows, Energy Star estimates that certified replacement windows can lower household heating and cooling costs by an average of up to 13 percent nationwide. Actual results vary with the existing windows, climate and home.

The goal is to select a window with performance ratings suited to the room’s sun exposure and your local climate.

If your west-facing rooms become painfully hot every afternoon, glare interferes with screens or your furnishings are exposed to intense sunlight, schedule a free consultation and quote with Renewal by Andersen to evaluate replacement-window options for the space.

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword answers focus on everything from very specific words used to illustrate a point and a riddle or two, to SNL mainstays and Canadian geography.

Working on the daily Connections, Connections Sports Edition, Wordle, and Strands is a whole ritual for many of us. And we can’t forget about the NYT’s The Mini Crossword, too!

Although the NYT is known for “The Crossword,” a larger puzzle for paid subscribers, The Mini has quite the fan following as well. This particular game resets at 10 p.m., unlike some of the others that start over at midnight.

So, if you’re working on today’s Mini Crossword on Sunday, September 20, and need some help (I’ve been there), get ready to read the clues and solutions for each line. We have them separated into hints first for both “Across” and “Down” words, followed by “Across Answers” and “Down Answers,” so be careful if you want to avoid spoilers as you scroll!

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Hints for NYT’s The Mini Crossword on Sunday, September 20, 2026

Here are additional clues for each of the words in today’s Mini Crossword.

NYT Mini Across Hints

1 Across: Running joke — HINT: Ends with the letter “G”

4 Across: Shade of brown that becomes a shade of gold if you change its first letter to an “A” — HINT: Ends with the letter “R”

6 Across: State that shares the same first and last letters with MOOSE, appropriately — HINT: Starts with the letter “M”

7 Across: Joined teams (with) — HINT: Ends with the letter “D”

8 Across: “___ Misérables” — HINT: Starts with the letter “S”

Related: 16 Games Like Wordle To Give You Your Word Game Fix More Than Once Every 24 Hours

NYT Mini Down Hints

1 Down: App with an envelope logo — HINT: Starts with the letter “G”

2 Down: Withstand — HINT: Ends with the letter “E”

3 Down: Things that might make your hair curl? — HINT: Starts with the letter “G”

4 Down: Sounds of hesitation — HINT: Starts with the letter “U”

5 Down: Vibrant color for a sugar maple in autumn — HINT: Ends with the letter “D”

Answers to NYT’s The Mini Crossword for Sunday, September 20, 2026

Don’t go any further unless you want to know exactly what the correct words are in today’s Mini Crossword.

NYT Mini Across Answers

1 Across: Running joke — GAG

4 Across: Shade of brown that becomes a shade of gold if you change its first letter to an “A” — UMBER

6 Across: State that shares the same first and last letters with MOOSE, appropriately — MAINE

7 Across: Joined teams (with) — SIDED

8 Across: “___ Misérables” — LES

NYT Mini Down Answers

1 Down: App with an envelope logo — GMAIL

2 Down: Withstand — ABIDE

3 Down: Things that might make your hair curl? — GENES

4 Down: Sounds of hesitation — UMS

5 Down: Vibrant color for a sugar maple in autumn — RED

Related: Ninja Trolls This Fan-Favorite Ceramic Cookware Brand With Newest Drop That Shoppers Say Is ‘Too Good to Be True’

Though they weren’t using the term “diss track” yet, plenty of musicians were slamming their contemporaries via song back in the ’60s. Even Paul Simon wrote a seemingly vengeful tune about another iconic singer-songwriter who apparently hurt his feelings: Bob Dylan.

According to Paul Simon: The Life, it all started in 1964 when Simon and Art Garfunkel played at Gerde’s Folk City in NYC’s Greenwich Village. Dylan was in the audience, along with New York Times music critic Robert Shelton, and the pair had been drinking (perhaps a bit heavily).

At one point during the performance, they started laughing about something unrelated to the music — or at least that’s what Shelton later claimed. Either way, Simon was reportedly “furious.”

Years later, Simon disagreed with Shelton’s recollection.

“I wasn’t furious,” Simon said. “But I was hurt. Here was someone laughing during my performance — especially someone I admired.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the next year, Simon recorded a song Shelton described as a “vicious burlesque” of Dylan: “A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara’d Into Submission).” Originally, the song appeared on Simon’s 1965 U.K.-only solo debut, The Paul Simon Songbook; Simon & Garfunkel also recorded the track for their 1966 album, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.

The track was widely assumed to be a sort of parody of Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” released the same year Simon recorded “A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara’d Into Submission).” The lyrics seem to be a direct jab at the former:

I knew a man, his brain was so small / He couldn’t think of nothing at all / Not the same as you and me / He doesn’t dig poetry / He’s so unhip, when you say Dylan / He thinks you’re talkin’ about Dylan Thomas / Whoever he was / The man ain’t got no culture / But it’s alright, ma, everybody must get stoned

Later, Simon played the song off as a joke.

Related: The Paul McCartney Song That Paul Simon Once Called ‘Garbage’ 

“I was having fun,” he said. “I thought it would be funny to use those unusual words ‘desultory’ and ‘philippic,’ in a song title, and I also wanted to sneak in some Lenny Bruce, who was my favorite comedian. That line, ‘How I Was Robert McNamara’d Into Submission,’ is pure Lenny.”

However Simon felt about him personally, he went on to praise Dylan in a 1972 interview with Rolling Stone, saying, “Well, you can go back and pick out five or six very important Dylan songs.”

“I’m aware of that, because he became popular a year or so before we did,” Simon continued. “Many of his still make it for me, whereas only a few of mine make it for me. I like his earlier stuff. His early songs were very rich, simple but very rich, with strong melodies. ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ has a really strong melody. He so enlarged himself through the folk background that he incorporated it for a while. He defined the genre for a while. That’s quite an accomplishment.”

Of course, Simon did go on to say that he wasn’t as much of a fan of Dylan’s more recent works at that point, adding that he “certainly didn’t like” Dylan’s cover of “The Boxer” as the Simon & Garfunkel original. (He was, however, “flattered” that Dylan chose to sing one of his songs.)

Interestingly enough, Simon and Dylan even ended up touring together in 1999, so they must have made peace eventually. Even so, Simon admitted to Rolling Stone in 2011 that he didn’t like the two of them being compared to each other.

“I usually come in second,” he said. “I don’t like coming in second. In the very, very beginning, when we were first signed to Columbia, I really admired Dylan’s work. ‘The Sound of Silence’ wouldn’t have been written if it weren’t for Dylan. But I left that feeling around The Graduate and ‘Mrs. Robinson.’ They weren’t folky anymore.”

Related: 1966 Bob Dylan Hit, Ranked Among ‘Greatest Songs of All Time,’ Was Recorded in One Take on Valentine’s Day

Andrea McArdle, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sadie Sink, and now…

Who will be the next Annie?

Leapin’ lizards! The beloved musical about the intrepid redheaded orphan who dreams of finding her parents will have a spectacular new 50th Anniversary Broadway production in the Fall 2027. The show debuts 50 years after Annie first arrived on Broadway and became one of the most enduring musicals in American theater.

And while we don’t yet know who will be wearing the red wig and singing “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow,” we do know a few things.

Tony Award winner Sam Pinkleton, the director of Oh, Mary! and the current Broadway revival of The Rocky Horror Show, will direct the new production. Pinkleton has promised a fresh theatrical perspective while retaining the heart, optimism and timeless spirit that have made Annie such a fixture of American popular culture.

“If you ask any of my closest friends what I love more than anything on the planet, everyone will have the same answer: Annie,” said Pinkleton. “Annie is everything I love about New York City: gutsy, fearless, and funny as hell. It’s a perfectly constructed musical comedy that my collaborators and I will run toward with joy and abandon – with open hearts and total adoration for this legendary show that has made generations fall in love with musicals.”

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With music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin and a book by Thomas Meehan, Annie premiered at the Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut in 1976 before moving to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and then to Broadway. The musical opened at the Alvin Theatre — now the Neil Simon Theatre — on April 21, 1977.

It was an immediate sensation.

The original production received 11 Tony Award nominations and won seven, including Best Musical, Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical. Dorothy Loudon won Best Actress in a Musical for her unforgettable performance as Miss Hannigan.

And at the center of it all was a young Andrea McArdle as Annie. McArdle became the first Broadway Annie, launching a tradition of young performers taking on one of musical theater’s most recognizable child roles. Among those who followed her in the original Broadway production was another future superstar: Sarah Jessica Parker. Years later, another young actress would step into the red wig: Sadie Sink.

Long before she became Max Mayfield on Stranger Things, Sink played Annie. In 2012, she joined the show’s Broadway revival at the Palace Theatre. She and Taylor Richardson shared the title role. So the history of Annie is really a history of discovering young performers.

A musical that went around the world

The extraordinary staying power of Annie isn’t confined to Broadway. Annie has been translated into 28 languages and has played in 34 different countries. It’s a remarkable journey for a musical that began with a redheaded comic-strip orphan and a handful of songs.

The show has been adapted for film and television, performed by schoolchildren and professional theater companies, and was introduced to generations of audiences. “Tomorrow” has become one of those songs that seems to exist independently of the musical that created it. And then there’s “It’s the Hard-Knock Life,” which found an entirely new audience decades later when Jay-Z sampled it for his 1998 hit of the same name.

Even Sandy was famous. The original Sandy became a Broadway celebrity. The dog who played Sandy in the original production at the Goodspeed Opera House was a rescue trained by William “Bill” Berloni. Berloni’s career as a theatrical animal trainer began when he was hired to find a dog for Annie. Berloni rescued Sandy from a Connecticut shelter and trained him for that production. Sandy became so associated with the musical that the role helped launch Berloni’s decades-long career training rescue animals for theater and television.

And the original Sandy had a pretty impressive Broadway run too. He even “wrote” a memoir, Sandy: The Autobiography of a Star. And he said: “My head has been rubbed by Jacqueline Onassis, Paul McCartney, Lady Bird Johnson, Beverly Sills, Sammy Davis, and Mayor John V Lindsay….I have been petted by Lauren Bacall, Barbra Streisand, Jack Albertson and Jean Stapleton…Andy Warhol took my picture. I made Ethel Merman laugh.”

Which brings us to 2027.

Related: Hit Broadway Musical, Later Adapted into 1982 Blockbuster Starring Carol Burnett, Returning for 50th Anniversary Show

So who could be the next Annie?

There is an important thing to know. None of the following actresses has been announced as Annie.

So consider these seven names pure fancasting. These seven performers who could make great choices for the iconic role. But there’s a very good chance the actual Annie will be someone we haven’t even heard of yet. Here’s our dream casting picks.

1. Journey Christine

Michael Tullberg / Getty Images

Having built an impressive resume with roles in The Upshaws and Outsiders, Journey Christine brings an infectious optimism and grit to every project she touches. Beneath Annie’s classic score is a story about a kid surviving tough circumstances through sheer determination. And Christine’s work on screen demonstrates the exact kind of warmth and emotional resilience the role demands. She has the ideal combination of fierce independence and natural vulnerability needed to make iconic anthems like “Tomorrow” ring true for a modern Broadway audience.

2. Mykal-Michelle Harris

Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin on Getty Images

A standout young performer known for her roles in mixed-ish and Cheaper by the Dozen, Mykal-Michelle Harris is a natural scene-stealer with a big personality. Carrying a musical like Annie requires an actor who can command an enormous stage without losing her childhood charm, and Harris has already shown a rare, effortless ability to hold an audience’s attention. With her sharp comedic timing and expressive stage presence, she could bring a spunky, larger-than-life energy to the orphan who refuses to back down.

3. Kea Peahu @keapeahu.official

9 hr practice done bless #fyp

♬ original sound – Dreskiiiii

The Hawaiian-born actress and dancer made her feature debut in Netflix’s Finding ‘Ohana. Peahu is a powerhouse performer with incredible stage discipline, rhythm, and an expressive, joyful face. Her ability to anchor an adventure story with grit and enthusiasm makes her an exciting theatrical candidate who could easily tackle the show’s demanding choreography and emotional beats.

4. Alan Kim

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

After winning hearts globally in Minari and starring in Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, Alan Kim has proved he can seamlessly balance deep emotional grounding with effortless, naive humor. (If the production considers an inspired gender-swapped or fresh reimagining of the lead orphan), a young performer with his level of natural, un-actorly charm and comic timing would make Annie’s journey through Depression-era New York feel deeply human and universally endearing.

5. Vivien Lyra Blair

JB Lacroix / Getty Images

Best known for holding her own opposite major Hollywood stars in Obi-Wan Kenobi (as young Princess Leia) and Bird Box, Vivien Lyra Blair has a rare on-screen quality: sheer, stubborn bravery. She excels at playing fiercely independent kids who aren’t afraid of standing up to authority figures. That exact edge would make her Miss Hannigan scenes crackle with authentic grit.

6. Emma Origenes View this post on Instagram

If the producers look directly to traditional Broadway pipelines, Emma Origenes is a natural fit. Having already graced the Great White Way as Young Nala in The Lion King and toured nationally as Young Anna in Frozen, Origenes possesses rare stage discipline for a performer her age. Playing Annie requires an actor who can carry complex choreography, hit demanding vocal marks, and bring a bright, unshakeable optimism to a massive theater. She has already proven she can hold down a major Broadway production, making her a prime candidate to step into the red dress.

Related: The Original Broadway Annie, 61, Sings ‘Maybe’ Again and Fans Say It Means More Now Than Ever

7. Pyper Braun

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

Pyper Braun has built a fantastic young acting resume in projects like Netflix’s Country Comfort and Imaginary, but Annie would be an entirely different kind of showcase. She possesses that rare stage combination of being able to command an enormous room while still making the audience believe she’s just a regular kid looking for a home.

But the biggest prediction may be the one we can’t make. For all the fun of imagining famous young actresses singing “Tomorrow,” history suggests that Broadway may ultimately introduce us to somebody new.

Andrea McArdle, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Sadie Sink were not household names when they were cast as Annie. And there is almost certainly another young performer out there who could join that lineage.

The producers behind the new production, Michael Alden and Hal Luftig, along with Cathy Dantchik and Kevin Connor for Halcyon Theatricals, have announced a production designed to celebrate five decades of Annie. The families of the show’s creators have also embraced the return. The family of Martin Charnin called the production a continuation of his legacy, while the family of book writer Thomas Meehan described Broadway as Annie’s homecoming. The family of composer Charles Strouse expressed pride in the place the score has earned in the hearts of generations.

And maybe that’s why the casting will be so closely watched. Because whoever gets the role won’t just be playing Annie. She will be joining a very exclusive club. 50 years after that first little redhead walked onto Broadway, somebody new gets to sing those famous words, words that feel so needed. “The sun will come out tomorrow.”

As Martin Charnin, the show’s creator, lyricist and original director, once said of Annie: “Grandmothers take their kids to it and their grandkids to it and their kids take their kids to it — it’s like a relay race where the baton keeps getting passed to the next generation every time.”

Next, Carol Burnett Has Surprise Reunion With Iconic ‘Annie’ Co-Star 44 Years After the Film

In 1994, television viewers checked into Cook County General Hospital for the first time, beginning a 15-season run that would turn ER into one of the biggest dramas in television history.

ER premiered with a two-hour pilot on NBC on Sept. 19, 1994, 32 years ago today. Created by author Michael Crichton, the medical drama originally starred Anthony Edwards as Dr. Mark Greene, George Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross, Sherry Stringfield as Dr. Susan Lewis, Eriq La Salle as Dr. Peter Benton and a young Noah Wyle as medical student John Carter. Julianna Margulies, whose nurse Carol Hathaway was originally written not to survive the pilot, went on to become another central member of the cast.

But the roots of ER stretched back another two decades.

Crichton first wrote the screenplay in 1974, drawing on his experiences as a medical student working in a busy emergency room. After Crichton and Steven Spielberg collaborated on 1993’s Jurassic Park, the pair returned to the old screenplay. Spielberg ultimately saw its potential as a television series rather than a feature film. Remarkably, the script used to film the ER pilot remained virtually unchanged from what Crichton had written 20 years earlier.

Viewers responded almost immediately. ER finished its first season as television’s No. 2 show, then climbed to No. 1 the following season. At its height, the series was averaging more than 30 million viewers, while the season 2 episode “Hell and High Water” drew a staggering 48 million viewers.

The show ultimately ran for 331 episodes before signing off on April 2, 2009. Along the way, its revolving ensemble included Gloria Reuben, Laura Innes, Alex Kingston, Maura Tierney, Goran Višnjić, Ming-Na Wen, Mekhi Phifer, Parminder Nagra, Linda Cardellini, John Stamos and Angela Bassett, among many others.

More than three decades after the premiere, Kingston, who joined ER as Dr. Elizabeth Corday, believes the series has aged remarkably well.

“I love ER even though I was in it. I think it really holds up,” Kingston told The Times of London, crediting the show’s then-unusual handheld camerawork with creating its sense of urgency. “When you watch it now, it doesn’t look dated.”

Wyle, meanwhile, has returned to emergency medicine on television with HBO Max’s award-winning drama The Pitt. Earlier this year, he reflected on the difference between making the two shows at dramatically different points in his life.

“Getting to The Pitt from a place of experience and wisdom has made the experience better for me in some ways than ER was,” Wyle told The Times, adding that he couldn’t say whether The Pitt itself was a better show.

For ER, the numbers speak pretty loudly on their own. The series earned 124 Primetime Emmy nominations, winning 23, including Outstanding Drama Series, and remained on NBC until 2009.

Thirty-two years after those emergency-room doors first swung open, ER remains one of the defining medical dramas of its era.

Related: 1964 Sitcom Lasted Just 2 Seasons but Spawned a Massive Franchise; 62 Years Later, ‘The Addams Family’ Is Still a Pop Culture Force

If you haven’t booked your Thanksgiving or Christmas flights yet, you may want to start looking.

American Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines are scaling back planned flights as rising jet fuel prices put pressure on carriers heading into the busy holiday travel season. The changes could mean fewer flight options—and potentially higher fares—for travelers in the months ahead.

The price of jet fuel has climbed sharply in recent weeks. The global average rose 6.1% in a single week to $181.46 per barrel, according to the International Air Transport Association, while U.S. jet fuel recently reached $4.53 per gallon.

And airfare is already considerably more expensive than it was last year. Consumer Price Index data shows airline fares were up 23.4% in August compared with the same month in 2025.

Related: Southwest Airlines Cuts 7 St. Louis Routes

Why Airlines Are Cutting Flights

Executives from American, United and Southwest addressed the impact of higher fuel prices at the Morgan Stanley Laguna Conference on September 16.

United CFO Michael Leskinen said the airline has already eliminated some less-profitable flying and confirmed that certain flights originally planned for December will no longer operate. If fuel prices remain elevated, United could make additional adjustments in early 2027.

American is also rethinking its holiday schedule. CFO Devon May said the carrier plans to reduce some of its previously planned growth late in the fourth quarter as it responds to higher fuel costs.

Southwest has similarly scaled back its capacity growth plans, although the airline has characterized its schedule changes so far as minimal.

The good news? Travelers don’t appear to be staying home. Airline executives say bookings remain strong, including demand for premium and corporate travel.

Related: Why You Need to Book Thanksgiving and Christmas Flights This Week, According to the Points Guy

What Holiday Travelers Should Do

Fewer flights, however, can mean fewer low-fare seats and less flexibility on popular travel days. And with fares already running well above last year’s levels, waiting until the last minute could be a gamble.

According to NerdWallet, the general sweet spot for booking flights is roughly one to three months ahead for domestic trips and two to eight months for international travel. Travelers can also consider fares that allow changes or cancellations, making it possible to rebook if prices fall.

The bottom line: If you already know where you’re going for Thanksgiving or the December holidays, this may not be the year to wait for a last-minute deal.

Up next:

Related: Hallmark Just Revealed Its 2026 Christmas Movie Lineup—See the Full Schedule

Before Simple Minds became a global sensation with their 1985 hit “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” music icon Billy Idol was reportedly considered for the song.

The band, led by the inseparable duo of vocalist Jim Kerr and guitarist Charlie Burchill, was already an established rock act in the U.K. and Europe before “Don’t You (Forget About Me).”

However, the song propelled them onto the international music scene after it was featured in the 1985 classic film The Breakfast Club.

The song captured the teenage angst and emotional vulnerability of its audience, making it an “American teen anthem” and one of the defining rock songs of the 1980s.

For eight weeks, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” remained in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 before peaking at No. 1 on May 18, 1985, marking Simple Minds’ only chart-topping song on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Simple Minds in the U.K.

Virginia Turbett/Redferns

Amid the band’s success, a long-standing story emerged that “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” was initially offered to Idol, but he rejected it.

A long-standing lore claims the song was offered to Idol, who passed on it because he preferred recording his own material, as cited by American Songwriter.

 However, the “Dancing With Myself” singer later disputed the story, saying the song was never offered to him.

“In the Pitch Perfect movie they say I turned down ‘Don’t You Forget About Me’. My producer wrote it 4 Simple Minds; it was never offered 2 me,” his Twitter post reads.

Keith Forsey, who wrote the song alongside Steve Schiff and produced Idol’s albums through 1990’s Charmed Life,  provided another version of the story,

Singer Billy Idol is shown performing on stage during a live concert appearance at Rock In Rio II on January 19, 1991.

Getty Images/John Atashian

He explained that although Idol was considered for the song, he was concerned that the personalities might not fit the movie.

“I don’t know, especially with the movie … I was just nervous that the personalities wouldn’t fit, so I kind of left it out of Billy’s realm,” he said, as mentioned by the outlet. “It might have done well if we’d done it.”

However, The Breakfast Club co-producer Michelle Manning recalled offering the song to the music icon, providing a different version of events.

“Oh yeah, I remember offering the song to Billy Idol,” she told Spin in 2015, adding, “He didn’t understand. I think a lot of people that passed will never say they passed. ‘Cause we had the movie, and that demo, which was literally just like the final song with Keith. And people were just shutting us down.”

Despite the song’s unusual beginnings and unexpected journey to Simple Minds, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” proved to be a perfect fit for the band.

Kerr’s powerful and soaring vocal style gave the song its dramatic edge and standout quality, while the now-iconic “La, la-la-la-la” outro added an unforgettable finishing touch.

Related: 1981 Rock Song, Among ‘Greatest Songs of All Time,’ Was Created by Accident in Switzerland