Show summary Hide summary
Puzzle solvers finally cracked the mystery behind House, Lasso, Montana, and Soprano in today’s NYT Connections game #1037. The television theme stumped many players, but the connection is surprisingly elegant once revealed.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Puzzle Date: Monday, April 13, 2026, game #1037
- TV Surnames Category: House, Lasso, Montana, Soprano are all last names from famous TV shows
- Difficulty Rating: Easy to moderate at 2.3 out of 5
- Community Reaction: Many solvers achieved perfect rainbow scores on Monday
The TV Show Title Surnames Finally Revealed
House is the medical drama House M.D., following the brilliant yet cantankerous Dr. Gregory House. Lasso comes from the hit comedy Ted Lasso, the heartwarming Apple+ series about an American football coach coaching British soccer. Montana refers to Hannah Montana, the Disney Channel phenomenon starring Miley Cyrus as a teenage pop star living a double life. Soprano points to The Sopranos, the groundbreaking HBO series that revolutionized television drama with its story of New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano.
According to puzzle solvers on Reddit and in comments across puzzle guides, many players felt initial confusion over Montana. Some wondered if it referenced the football legend Joe Montana instead of the Disney show. However, once the pattern clicked with House and Soprano, the television connection became undeniable.
Lasso, Montana, Soprano puzzle hint: TV show title surnames solved
Cody Rhodes questions Pat McAfee’s WrestleMania role after Randy Orton shift
Why Montana Stumped So Many Solvers
The blue category tested knowledge across different generations of television. House and Soprano were relatively obvious for pop culture enthusiasts, since both are iconic dramatic series from the 2000s. Ted Lasso, however, is much newer, primarily known among younger viewers and Apple+ subscribers. This mix of classic, contemporary, and generational television created complexity that reporters noted as ideal Monday difficulty.
Players documented on community forums that Montana proved most elusive because most people think of the state first. The Disney show, while massively popular during its 2006-2011 run, doesn’t get mentioned as frequently in modern pop culture conversations as The Sopranos or House do.
All Four Categories Solved
| Category | Theme | Words |
| Yellow | Seen Outside a Theater | Box Office, Marquee, Ticket Line, Velvet Rope |
| Green | Accessories for a Magician | Cape, Handkerchief, Magic Wand, Rabbit |
| Blue | TV Show Title Surnames | House, Lasso, Montana, Soprano |
| Purple | They Have Caps | Baseball Player, Camera Lens, Mushroom, Pen |
The yellow category featuring theater exterior terms jumped out first for most successful solvers. These familiar cultural touchstones evoke the classic Broadway experience, making it an ideal confidence builder. The green magic props delighted players familiar with illusion traditions, from rabbits pulled from hats to the dramatic magician’s cape.
The purple category proved trickiest with its wordplay on items that literally have caps. A baseball player wears a cap, a camera lens has a protective cap, a mushroom features a distinctive cap (the pileus), and a pen needs a cap to function properly. This multi-field pun rewarded lateral thinking.
“The puzzle arrived alongside other NYT Games offerings, including the daily Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands. The Times continues to evolve as a social and cognitive exercise that strengthens skills in categorization, flexible thinking and cultural awareness.”
— Problem-solving Community, NYT Connections Players
Strategies That Worked Best Monday
Successful solvers reported starting with the yellow theater group to build momentum. Once box office, marquee, and velvet rope connected, the confidence carried forward. The green magician accessories revealed themselves next, especially for players who spotted magic wand and rabbit as natural pairs.
Common tactics involved scanning for obvious clusters and looking for repeated patterns tied to specific professions or contexts. One documented approach was tackling the easiest two categories first, then using remaining words to test hypotheses for the blue and purple sections. This process of elimination proved particularly effective when uncertainty existed over Montana versus other interpretations.
Will You Conquer Tomorrow’s Connections Challenge?
Monday’s puzzle delivered the classic Connections experience, balancing accessibility with clever twists. The official difficulty rating of 2.3 reflected its moderate nature, with experienced players calling it one of the easier recent Mondays. Others who initially overthought Montana or missed the caps wordplay required a few extra attempts.
With Puzzle #1037 behind solvers, the next daily brain teaser awaits. The game resets at midnight each day with fresh words and new categories, maintaining the balance between obvious connections and those requiring creative association. Will you achieve a perfect rainbow solve on tomorrow’s edition?
Sources
- International Business Times – Complete puzzle breakdown and solver discussion analysis
- Mashable – Real-time puzzle hints and community engagement strategies
- CNET – Gaming puzzle guides and category explanations
