Tech

“You Had to Be There” review: Martin Short, Eugene Levy, and other comedy legends reveal their shared showbiz start

Published

11 months ago

September 7, 2025

Vicky

Even the most devoted comedy nerd may not realize how many truly iconic comedies of past and present might never have existed if it weren't for a single theatrical production. Everything from Only Murders in the Building and Schitt's Creek to SCTV and Saturday Night Live can be linked back to a 1972 Toronto production of Godspell, which boasted such not-yet-famous performers as Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, Victor Garber, Andrea Martin, Dave Thomas, Jayne Eastwood, and Paul Shaffer.

Incredibly, over its much raved about (and protested) 14-month run, not a soul thought to video record this production for posterity. So, 53 years later, documentarian Nick Davis aims to bring us back to this pivotal time and place with the preposterously and perfectly titled You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution, Spread Love & Overalls, and Created a Community That Changed the World (in a Canadian Kind of Way).

For the sake of brevity (and sanity), we'll refer to the film simply as You Had to Be There going forward. As in, You Had to Be There is so stuffed with interviews with comedy icons, remarkable anecdotes, and cheeky revelations that it's manna from heaven for comedy nerds.

Table of Contents

You Had to Be There has an incredible obstacle and even more incredible interviews.

With a dismaying dearth of footage of the show itself, Davis instead relies on a two-pronged approach to usher audiences down memory lane for a bevy of comedy legends. First off, he offers interviews with much of the cast from the show's run, including Short, Levy, Thomas, Garber, Martin, Eastwood, Shaffer, Avril Chown, Don Scardino, Valda Aviks, and Rudy Webb.

Many of them are now in their 70s, and they have the refreshing give-no-fucks air that is perfect for documentaries, looking back with fondness and candor to a time when everything felt possible — and vaguely terrifying because of that. Davis' thoughtful collection of interviews takes us back to 1972 Toronto, where the stuffy culture of the Canadian city was set alight with the arguably sacrilegious clown show that was Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak's Godspell, a musical that depicted the story of Jesus Christ through parables and willfully silly theatrics.

Short, who laid out a lot of this history in his addictive memoir, I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend, proves an especially great interview, in part because of his lifelong dedication to keeping records of his work. However, You Had to Be There is most fun when the cut leaps from one individual interview to another, creating the sense that we're at a dinner party with some of the coolest people on the planet — recounting a party we weren't invited to. It's enchanting and bittersweet, especially as they talk about those who can't join the fun anymore, like Gilda Radner.

You Had to Be There is a movie for comedy lovers by comedy lovers, which means Davis won't spend extra screen time reminding audiences who his subjects are, or what they suffered. The expectation is that you know the broad strokes.

Radner's friends remember her, warts and all, but warmly, putting forth chiefly that even when she struggled with disordered eating and terminal cancer, she was a light for all around her. (For more — and and more complicated — stories of Radner, do read Martin's book, as they dated for years and remained close for decades after.)

For a greater sense of history beyond the personal, Davis invites some famous faces inspired by these groundbreakers for interviews. These talking heads include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janeane Garofalo, Heidi Garner, and Mike Myers. This works to swiftly pave a path of legacy and brings some added star power without derailing the narrative.

You Had to Be There employs animation to fill the gaps.

With little footage from the troupe's time in Toronto to pull from, Davis opts for animation in reenactments. This way, the audience won't be distracted by how well other actors are playing or impersonating modern comedy icons. By favoring a style of animation that's reminiscent of '70s cartoons like Schoolhouse Rock! and Scooby-Doo, Davis gifts us visuals that emotionally and artistically tie back to this era and its sense of free-love, optimism, and creative moxie.

Animators thoughtfully recreate the costumes from '72's Godspell, documented in promotional photos, and create caricatures of the twentysomething theater kids. This animation enhances the mischievous tone of many of the interviews. For instance, there's one story about how Levy's chest hair became a problem for producers, who feared a hirsute Jesus would be inappropriate for kids in the audience. (Remember how we noted 1972 Toronto was stuffy?) Well, as Short and Levy set up the story — one giddy, the other wry — the reveal of the compromise is illustrated through the cartoon as a sensationally silly punchline.

You Had to Be There gets serious, too.

Of course, looking back not only on this production but on 50-some years in show business, not all the stories are funny. Props to Davis, who gives voice to one player in particular, actress/singer Avril Chown. She uses this platform to finally share her story, which includes a harrowing tale of abuse that came after Godspell's cast had taken their final bow. Before she recounts her heartbreaking experience, she asks simply, "How much blood do you want to give for something you love?"

Rather than feeling exploitative or like a tangent, this sequence provides a counterbalance to the more convivial stories of showbiz. Because of course, clowns make us laugh, but sometimes they cry. To show only one side of this would be to sanitize comedians, actors, and performers who built their careers and legacies on taking risks.

Simply put, You Had to Be There gifts audiences plenty of laughs, and so much more. This is not some fluffy celebration of comedians or even Godspell. Davis and company have come together to craft a documentary that is both informative, historical, entertaining, and deeply humane.

These stars let us into this time of their lives in such a sublimely personal way that by the film's final revelation — a long lost clip of one song's performance — the audience gasps with excitement — just as its subjects do. The most incredible thing about You Had to Be There is that this film makes you feel like you were there, and these friends are your friends too.

You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution, Spread Love & Overalls, and Created a Community That Changed the World (in a Canadian Kind of Way) was reviewed out its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.

Tech

NYT Strands hints, answers for April 24, 2026

Published

3 months ago

April 25, 2026

Vicky

A game being played on a smartphone.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're rowdy.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO:

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 24, 2026

Table of Contents

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Hullabaloo

The words are related to sound.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe ruckus.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Lets Get Loud.

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NYT Strands word list for April 24

Shout
Holler
Clamor
Lets Get Loud
Bellow
Whoop
Caterwaul

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Tech

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 24, 2026

Published

3 months ago

April 25, 2026

Vicky

Wordle game on a smartphone

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love a good drink.

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

Table of Contents

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO:

NYT Pips hints, answers for April 24, 2026

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Intoxicated.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.

The Wordle answer today is…

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is…

DRUNK

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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

Tech

FCC challenges gender identity themes on kids TV

Published

3 months ago

April 25, 2026

Vicky

A young girl watches TV with remote in her hand.

The Federal Communications Commission is using the presence of "controversial gender identity issues" in children's television programming as a pretense for questioning how TV ratings are developed and enforced, according to a notice published Wednesday by the federal agency.

The notice generally assesses TV ratings, but specifically points out that these industry guidelines have rated shows featuring "transgender and gender non-binary programming" as appropriate for children. It argues that parents aren't provided this information, "thereby undermining the ability of parents to make informed choices for their families."

In the document, the FCC poses a series of open-ended questions about TV ratings development, including whether the board responsible for the guidelines is "sufficiently balanced" with viewpoints outside of the entertainment industry and if faith-based organizations should be represented in the body.

"What more could the board do to include family-oriented perspectives — which are not well represented in the media industry — in its ratings process?" the notice asks.

SEE ALSO:

What's new to streaming this week? (April 24, 2026)

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced the public notice on X, explaining that "parents have raised concerns with the industry's approach." He added that these parents believe "New York & Hollywood programmers" promote objectionable content in kids programming without disclosing that to parents. Carr didn't mention gender identity in his X post.

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TV parents guidelines can include both a rating as well as descriptors for content that includes crude language, sexual situations, and violence.

LGBTQ+ advocates criticized the public notice, arguing that it amounted to discrimination and censorship.

"Trump's FCC is trying to turn transgender people into a warning label," Tyler Hack, executive director of the transgender rights advocacy group Christopher Street Project, said in a statement. "It is dehumanizing, and it is part of a broader political strategy to stigmatize LGBTQ+ people in every corner of public life."

Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, described the notice as government overreach.

"Media companies must be allowed to create and broadcast stories that reflect one-quarter of their audience without interference from a government agency with its own anti-transgender political agenda," Ellis said in a statement.

This isn't the first time Carr has been accused of censorship. Carr has claimed broadcasters air "hoaxes" and "news distortions" that also happen to be unfavorable to President Trump. Carr has suggested the licenses of such broadcasters won't be renewed.

In March, dozens of free speech experts argued in an open letter to Carr that his threats against broadcasters are "unlawful jawboning" and his vague characterization of "fake news" violates the First Amendment. The authors called on Carr to "withdraw" his threats.