The order of awards for the 96th Oscars may have leaked

What order will the Academy Awards be given out tonight? We’ve got you covered.

Every year we tune into the Oscars and wonder if anyone actually knows the order of awards handed out. Well, aside from the people who are in the room where it happens.

The ceremony’s run of show is typically kept quiet to maximize viewership, but every once in a while the order leaks out on social media. It looked like that was the case last year, but the last few categories didn’t quite line up.

Well, here we are again watching the Academy Awards and again it appears the order has leaked. Best Actress and Best Actor will take their typical place towards the end of the show with Best Picture serving as the final category of the night.

There you have it — maybe. We’ll find out soon enough.

Oscars 2024: The complete list of winners

How a TikTok push notification prompted angry calls to Congress over possible ban of the app

Congress has plans that could ban TikTok, and its users are irate.

The makers of TikTok and the United States government have been engaged in a virtual tug-of-war for months over the app’s usage in the U.S. Now, the latest push by TikTok ownership to warn its users about a possible ban has many angrily calling members of Congress, asking them not to move forward.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a bill on March 5 that would force China’s ByteDance, the owners of TikTok, to sell off the app or face a U.S. ban. For several months, there have been national security concerns about TikTok sharing the data it collects on its U.S. users with Beijing. TikTok strongly denies those allegations, but lawmakers are not convinced.

With the White House’s support, the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted on Thursday to advance bipartisan legislation to raise the political heat on TikTok. The company responded by launching a campaign warning its users that the app was at risk of being shut down in the U.S. Angry TikTok users flooded the phones of Congressional members, asking them not to support the bill. What’s more, some users reportedly could not use the app at all unless they placed a call to Congress.

Per Jessica Guynn of USA TODAY, the company shared these words in response to the bill:

“This legislation has a predetermined outcome: a total ban of TikTok in the United States,” the company said in a statement. “The government is attempting to strip 170 million Americans of their Constitutional right to free expression. This will damage millions of businesses, deny artists an audience and destroy the livelihoods of countless creators across the country.”

Ranking the greatest Super Bowl halftime show memes of all time, including Left Shark and 50 Cent (2024 edition)

The best Super Bowl memes of all time, starring Left Shark and the Rihanna stare.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2023 and has been updated.

The Super Bowl halftime show is one of the best things about NFL’s annual title game — and for some, it’s THE best thing.

But for us, the memes that come out of halftime that are in the top-3 best things about the Super Bowl.

We’ve had so many legendary memes that explode that night and last for weeks. And it’s pretty much a guarantee that we’ll get one from the Usher show at the 2024 Super Bowl in Las Vegas on Sunday.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]

That’s why it’s a good time to rank the best of the best, the ones that we loved sharing.

Here they are, the best Super Bowl memes of all time, ranked:

Swipeball, the latest basketball trivia game, is here and so much fun

If you know a lot about the modern NBA, this is a lot of fun.

Remember when Worlde took over pop culture for a bit and sports fans responded by creating alternative versions?

We had Poeltl for the NBA (and Gordle for the NHL, Weddle for the NFL and WARdle for the MLB) and it was an addicting time for trivia enthusiasts who follow sports.

Another option hoops fans can try if they want to get back into playing some basketball trivia is called Swipeball, from the creators of Dribble. We’ve tried it out for ourselves and it is fairly addicting.

Swipeball gives users a prompt (e.g. “averaging 8+ assists per game this season”) and a series of 20 players. Almost like on a dating app, you swipe right if you think the player on the screen fits that description (based on their performance this season) and swipe left if you do not.

On his YouTube channel, content creator Kenny Beecham shared a video of himself playing Swipeball. He also offered an insightful explanation to help understand how it all works.

You can play Swipeball through your phone on the Dribble Game mobile application.

[lawrence-related id=1851640]

Social media traumatized Elmo after he simply asked how everyone was doing

No Elmo, we’re not doing fine.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Elmo deserved better.

Why, you ask? Because on Monday, Elmo — the beloved Sesame Street character and the last bastion of goodness and kindness in this world — was given the trauma dump of all trauma dumps by the internet at large.

It all started when Elmo — sweet, innocent Elmo — asked Twitter on Monday morning how things were going. And folks, the answer is not great! Whether it be overall world weariness of the general state of things in 2024 or you’re a Detroit Lions fan still reeling from the team’s NFC title game collapse, the internet at large is just not feeling too hot right now.

And you know what? I get it. It’s late January. It’s cold outside. I haven’t seen the sun in days and I could use the world’s longest nap right about now. But thanks to the internet, Elmo is now traumatized after bearing the weight of the world’s problems on his little red shoulders. Even Sesame Street‘s Twitter had to step in on Elmo’s behalf to send out a very important reminder about mental health!

You deserve better, Elmo. Thank you for listening to our problems when no one else will.

The pink Stanley cup craze at Starbucks and Target, explained

Why there’s so much hype around a cup.

Welcome to FTW Explains, a guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. Have you seen some stuff about a pink-colored Stanley cup that people are buying like crazy? And you’re very confused about that whole thing? Don’t worry. We’re here to help.

That’s right, there’s a limited-edition cup that a lot of people want and are doing all kinds of things in order to purchase it. Maybe you’ve seen it on TikTok or X (formerly Twitter) and been wondering why the heck there’s so much hype around it.

Let’s answer all of that:

TikTok users are surprising their grandparents with surprise sleepovers in viral wholesome trend

These families on TikTok surprising grandparents for the holidays will give you all the feels.

People are sharing videos of them surprising their grandparents with holiday sleepovers, and it’s the best thing you’ll see all day.

We’re not really sure how this trend started, but we are so here for it. TikTok users are gathering family members, like cousins and siblings, and heading over to their grandparents’ house in large groups for a planned surprise.

The best part about this heartwarming trend is that these sweet grandparents have no idea what is happening and absolutely can’t contain their joy once they realize their beloved grandchildren (and other members of the family) have shown up at their door with blankets and pillows for an impromptu sleepover.

@hah_tor

we had the best time 🥲 #fyp #sleepover #christmas #grandparents #cousins

♬ New Home – Frozen Silence

@brittanys1626

Suprised our grandparents with a cousin sleepover. #fyp #familytime #familyfun

♬ original sound – Brittany Smith

@.abbey.4

This was so fun! If you are able to do this I highly recommend it!! #grandparents #christmas #love #cousins #surprisesleepover #trend #family

♬ New Home – Frozen Silence

 

@emilysindoni

Nothing can ever top this. We coordinated to show up one by one in Christmas pajamas. We got them matching ones like we used to get as kids and played all the games we used to play at their house. I think this made all of our years! #grandparents #christmassurprise #cousins

♬ Christmas Is Coming – DM Production

I mean, look at this. This is tremendous content.

@nazanne

There is no family like the Black Deaf Smith family 🤎 #blackfamily #deaffamilyhumor #smithfamily

♬ original sound – Nazanne 🤎

@madsmcc

💗

♬ original sound – Mads

@.gabrrieellaa

#suprisingmygrandparents #adultsleepover #growingupitalian #italian #italiancheck #italiangirl #italiangrandparents #hardcoreitalians #tiktoktrends #newyorkcity #newyork #nyc @growingupitalian

♬ original sound – Gabriella Artusa

@ashtynkingsbury

my grandma said all night “you guys made my entire year. I can’t wait to tell my friends about this” 😭🥹🫶🏼

♬ New Home – Frozen Silence

Be right back. It’s dusty in here.

‘Christmas gas’ is the latest TikTok prank that’s freaking people out

Uh, that’s not Christmas gas. It’s diesel.

Ahhh, TikTok pranks. They’re funny, even if they freak people out.

The latest? People are pretending to not know that the green pump at a gas station is the one you use to fill up with diesel — and if you have a vehicle that DOESN’T take diesel, well, uh, you shouldn’t use it. Instead, they’re innocently telling their loved ones that it’s “Christmas gas,” decorated green for the holidays.

But folks are pretending that they did it, and the results are very funny. Check some of them out and have your head on a swivel — someone may be telling you they filled up on Christmas gas soon:

@texsands

She Got Christmas Gas 🎄🙃 #fyp

♬ original sound – Tex Sands

People are taking hysterically awkward photoshoots at JCPenney for a TikTok trend (but they kind of work?)

These JCPenney photoshoots are completely out of hand.

If you’re a millennial or older, there’s a high chance you likely went down to the local mall and took some photos at some point in your life. The wildly popular trend is resurfacing again, and 90s retail staple JCPenney is leading the movement of unhinged photoshoots.

Big hair, glasses, teased bangs and clothes that were coordinated down to the shoes are the things that made photoshoots before the year 2000 the absolute best. None of what you did in them made sense, but it worked, and then you gave your friends copies of your awful photos. (Better save the 8×10 for grandma!)

Per Trace William Cohen of Complex, JCPenney (remember that store?) is capitalizing on the nostalgia and the completely awkward posing those photo shoots require.

The hilariously unsettling results are currently trending on TikTok. Here are some examples:

@cburkesstudioproductions

If its not like this I dont want it. #jcpenneychallenge #jcpenneyphotoshoot #fyp #photoshoot #holiday #uglysweaters

♬ Just the Two of Us – Grover Washington, Jr.

@caitashley8

JC Penny photoshoot to surprise my parents for Christmas 🤫😉 which ones your fav? #jcpennyportraits #jcpenney #awkwardfamilyphotos

♬ Just the Two of Us – Grover Washington, Jr.

@jaimshort

This trend but with your dog #couplephotoshoot #photoshoot #GenshinImpact32 #fyp @Corbin

♬ Just the Two of Us – Grover Washington, Jr.

Here’s some more:

@julianacreatesthings

When youre born into a friend group #awkwardfamilyphotoshoot #jcpenneyphotoshoot #baby #friends #fyp

♬ Just the Two of Us – Grover Washington, Jr.

@cullen.yk

Surprising our mom with the awkward JC Penney photoshoot for Christmas. #awkwardfamilyphotos #jcpenney #jcpennyportraits #foryoupage #fyp #foryou #christmas

♬ Just the Two of Us – Grover Washington, Jr.

@squuuiiiiddddnnneeeyyy

The longer you watch the better they get @michael_brown34 #jcpenney #jcpenneyportraits #jcpenneychallenge

♬ Just the Two of Us – Grover Washington, Jr.

This is tremendous content. Ten-out-of-ten. Bravo, everyone.

The McDonald’s-inspired Hamburglar, Birdie and Grimace shoes Crocs just released are the creepiest things ever

These shoes all have eyes and they stare back at you.

It’s not hard to make an ugly pair of Crocs. The shoes are just generally hideous pieces of footwear.

They’re basically just wearable thumbs for your feet. Did anything about that last sentence sound aesthetically pleasing? Your answer should be no. If it is yes, please let me know immediately and send me your location so I can inform the authorities of your whereabouts. Thanks.

Anyway, I digress. The point of this article isn’t to tell you that Crocs are ugly. You know that already.

What I’m here to inform you is that McDonald’s and Crocs have collaborated to make some of the most heinous pieces of footwear I’ve ever seen.

The brands released four pairs of Crocs — three clogs inspired by McDonald’s, Hamburglar and Birdie as well as another pair of fuzzy slides inspired by Grimace.

Here’s a look.

Yikes, right? I don’t know what’s worse — the fact that these all exist or the fact that they also have eyes. It makes them even creepier. Grimace, in particular, is just staring into the depths of your soul and telling you to go buy a Big Mac right now.

Grimace was already creepy as is. I don’t need his eyes staring right back at me from my feet. That’s weird.

Listen, man. If you’re into these, more power to you. But you’ll never catch me in a pair.