Tech
Vic Michaelis on masterminding Brennan Lee Mulligan quitting Dropout for American Girl Dolls
Dropout fans know Vic Michaelis as a mastermind of cringe comedy, whether they are badgering Sam Reich for a dollar on Game Changer, playing a fictional version of themselves for the interview improv show Very Important People, or joining Dimension 20 as a death-focused "dusty do-gooder" in Gladlands. But with Michaelis' role on the new Peacock series Ponies, they take their sharp wit to 1977 Russia, playing the frustrated office manager for the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.
Michaelis visited Mashable's Say More couch to talk all of this and more with Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko. In the video above, they dig into Vic's pitch for Game Changer's version of Shark Tank. In the episode, called "Fool's Gold," contestants are pitched videos that could go viral. While some involved goofy animation and breast milk taste tests, Michaelis pitched that Brennan Lee Mulligan quit Dropout to make American Girl Doll shoes.
"You take the thing people love most and the thing they fear most," they said of the pitch, noting, "Sam said pitch three to five ideas. And I said, 'I have one, and if you don't want to do it, then I don't want to come on the show.'"
The resulting video didn't just make waves on TikTok and Instagram, where fans were frantic about the joke and whether or not it was real. News of the fake resignation hit Google in the form of an Easter egg, which rained little shoes when you googled "Brennan Lee Mulligan."
In the full episode of Say More, available on YouTube, Michaelis speaks more on that particular moment of internet breakery. Above, they also reveal that it was either going to be American Girl Dolls or the Sylvanians (aka Calico Critters). "I ended up doing a bunch of research on what brand was most likely to interact with the video," Michaelis explained. "I had narrowed it down to Sylvanian dolls and American Girl Dolls."
We all know what went down with the Sylvanian dolls, right? A content creator called Sylvanian Drama went viral for using the dolls to create scandalous stories for TikTok, and then was sued by the toymaker in July of 2025.
"That lawsuit against that amazing Sylvanian Drama creator happened immediately after the episode dropped," Michaelis recounted, "or like right before it was supposed to come out. So, I was like 'Thank God' [I went with American Girl Dolls]."
Michaelis also touches on how their gag about Evelyn Tucci, who they claimed on Game Changer is the actor Stanley Tucci's paternal grandmother, has found new life online. Plus, they told Mashable about how their real-life background in martial arts came into play on Ponies. OK, so a kick-to-the-throat attack was cut from Season 1. But could we see Michaelis' black belt skills in Season 2? Here's hoping.
For more from Michaelis on Very Important People, Dimension 20, and the unexpected connection between Game Changer, Heated Rivalry, and Ponies, check out the full Say More episode on YouTube.
Ponies is now streaming on Peacock. Game Changer, Dimension 20: Gladlands, and Very Important People are all streaming on Dropout.
Tech
Bad Bunnys halftime show sparked emotional reactions across the Americas. See the heartwarming videos now.
During Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Show, millions of viewers experienced the performance together — cheering in living rooms, filming on their phones, and reacting in real time. But for those of Latin American descent, hearing their home countries named out loud during Benito's grand finale made the moment especially meaningful.
In his closing act, Bad Bunny transformed the stage into a celebration of the Americas. Dancers carried flags from countries across North, Central, and South America, while a massive screen behind him flashed messages like "The only thing more powerful than hate is love." He capped the roll call of nations with a declaration that "together, we are America," framing the finale as a moment of shared identity and joy.
For those watching at home, the emotion didn't end when the music stopped. Viewers immediately took to social media to document their reactions, sharing clips of their friends and families cheering, hugging, and erupting with pride when their countries were named — turning a televised performance into a collective celebration.
Together, these clips formed a digital mosaic of diaspora, stitched from small, intimate moments across phone screens and time zones. Each video captured the same feeling: that for a few minutes, home — wherever it was — didn't feel so far away.
Tech
Best last-minute deals on Valentines Day flowers so far — you have way more options than plain roses
The Bouqs Co.
1-800-Flowers
Urban Stems
Unless your recipient has explicitly expressed their disdain for receiving flowers (we all know at least one hater), you really can't go wrong with surprising someone with fresh blooms for Valentine's Day. Not when there are so many opportunities to pick out a truly unique bouquet that fits his or her tastes: Most of the best flower delivery services are offering great last-minute Valentine's Day deals on flower deliveries, saving you 25% to 50% on a gift for the upcoming romantic weekend.
1-800-Flowers is your go-to spot for a classic bouquet of roses on a budget, while The Bouqs Co. and Urban Stems have elevated takes on traditional arrangements that aren't like anything you'd walk past in the grocery store. A majority of bouquets on sale can be delivered by Saturday, Feb. 14 (check the earliest possible delivery date for each). Either way, you're bound to find some pretty stems that scream "them" — so while the timing itself is rushed, the flowers they receive don't have to feel like an afterthought.
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SAVE $30: As of Feb. 10, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is on sale for just $69.99 at Amazon. That's 30% off its list price of $99.99.
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Mashable's shopping team has spent quite a bit of time with Ultimate Ears Bluetooth speakers and we're big fans. We love the Hyperboom and Epicboom, but the itty bitty Wonderboom is one of our absolute favorites. If you're in the market for a portable Bluetooth speaker, we highly recommend this tiny powerhouse — especially when it's on sale.
As of Feb. 10, the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is down to just $69.99 at Amazon. That's 30% off its list price of $99.99 and just 10 bucks shy of its best-ever price from Black Friday.
Our favorite sub-$100 Bluetooth speaker, the Wonderboom 4 fits in the palm of your hand but offers surprisingly balanced and powerful sound. As Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard noted in our roundup, "the sound profile is well-rounded and can get loud."
It can last up to 14 hours on a full charge, handles drops from up to five feet like a champ, and can be submerged in water for up to half an hour. We do wish it offered a companion app to customize the sound profile, but for a ultra-portable no-frills speaker, it's an excellent value.
Bad Bunnys halftime show sparked emotional reactions across the Americas. See the heartwarming videos now.
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