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February 7, 2026 
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Welcome back to The Weekender, where you’ll find a batch of the week’s top stories about culture and the way we live today.
When I first read the headline “How Miss Piggy Went From Minor Muppet to TV’s Top Hog,” I was a bit miffed with my colleagues on the Culture desk. Whom are you calling minor? (I wasn’t the only one who reacted this way.) Reading on, however, I learned that an early version of Piggy was, in fact, just a small part in one of Jim Henson’s early pilots, among other Piggy trivia. She had a fraught relationship with her mother, according to a detailed back story Frank Oz came up with, and is the only Muppet whose eyes have irises! And yes, Piggy was destined for greatness. The full story of her rise is below.
Also in this edition, we’ve got important guidance if you need to lower your blood pressure, which nearly half of the adults in the U.S. need to do; plus an Olympics quiz and our foolproof plan for hosting a Super Bowl party. It’s a big sports weekend(er).
— Farah
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This edition of The Weekender was edited by Farah Miller and Kellina Moore. Reach our team at weekender@nytimes.com.
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