Saturday, November 22, 2025 - A Historic Saturday Crossword
Prior to today, only 3 NYTimes crosswords qualified as double pangrams -- ones where the grid includes the entire alphabet, A-Z, twice. Today's crossword marks the fourth. Writing any NYTimes-worthy crossword is a challenge, but writing a pangram really ups the difficulty. Blaker Slonecker was willing to accept the challenge, however, and we doff our hats in respect and awe of this great oeuvre. Show note imagery: Ray Charles, pitching DIETPEPSI. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact In...
23 Marras 14min
Friday, November 21, 2025 - AYOEDEBIRI, remember that name (and how to spell it!!!)
There were MANY GEMS in today's puzzle, and that's not even counting 3D, A host of, MANY, and 34A, Prized people, GEMS. We had 8D, Senescent, OLD; 48D, Real hoot, RIOT; and the colorful (?) 22D, Camel and fawn, TANS. Those were just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, though, because today's grid was chockfull of awesome clues. We dive into the deets in today's episode, so do have a listen, and be sure and tell all your friends about us as well: we appreciate the biz! Show note imagery: Robert...
22 Marras 13min
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 - IBIZA, in the grid and on our bucket list 😀
This was a fine crossword to solve, but it must've been a bear to construct. Jeremy Newton was up to the task, though, serving up a perfect midweek puzzle. He had us at 16A, Times noted in Captain Kirk's logs, STARDATES; enthralled us at 11D, Finito or kaput, DUNZO; and endeared us with 13A, Establishment whose name means "lounge" in French, SALON. Show note imagery: IBIZA, regrettably not our home-away-from-home. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! ...
20 Marras 10min
Tuesday, November 18, 2025 - Avast, thar be JETSAM ahead, me hearties!🏴☠️
Joe Deeney's crosswords always seem to include a little extra spice, a little extra pizzazz: we present today's puzzle as an exemplar, and that's not just because we've been itching to use exemplar in a sentence 😀. As evidence, we have 59A, Timeless, to a poet, ETERNE; our favorite E. C. Segar heroine, 58D, Toondom's Olive, OYL; and the rarely seen 39A, Gets back together, REUNES. We have a Triplet Tuesday Contest, in which Mike attempts to atone for last time, when he momentarily...
19 Marras 13min
Monday, November 17, 2025 - DEF not a MID crossword 🤔😀
This was a not-at-all-MID, nor, for that matter -MEH, Monday crossword: the theme was above average, the clues crisp and clever. We especially want to give a shoutout to 22D, Sch. with a T section, MIT; and the presence of both 10D, Nickname for Dorothy, DOT, and 59A, Play-_____, DOH, in the grid. Kudos to Rena Cohen for this, her 6th NYTimes crossword. We also are delighted to announce our JAMCOTWA™️ (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award) winners (yes, plural!) -- deets inside. Show not...
18 Marras 10min
Sunday, November 16, 2025 - This crossword packs a pun(ch)!
If you like Shakespeare, and if you like puns, you will be in ecstasy by the time you've finished today's crossword. And even if you are not a huge fan, we predict that you'll find this crossword to be a hoot. What makes it so special, you ask? Check out today's podcast, where all will be revealed! Show note imagery: The logo of TCM, Turner Classic Movies We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceB...
17 Marras 12min
Saturday, November 15, 2025 - Was this a fabulous Saturday crossword?? OBVI 😁
If this crossword were a drink, it would be a chamomile tea. However, it was even better than that: a bliss-inducing, soul-lifting crossword. We certainly feel happier for having solved it, and we hope you'll feel the same for having listened to this podcast! Show note imagery: PTOWN, aka Provincetown, Cape Cod We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike...
16 Marras 11min
Friday, November 14, 2025 - This crossword wasn't just great ... it was POG 🤔
Several clues in today's crossword gave both cohosts reason to pause. Most notably we had a debut at 6D, Aesthetic associated with classical literature and vintage fashion, DARKACADEMIA; we also had the mysterious 1D, Cool, in streaming slang, POG; and we were intrigued to discover 62D, ID whose lowest possibility is 001-01-0001, SSN. In addition to these fascinating clues, we have a fascinating fact, in honor of Fun Fact Friday. Ever wonder what happened to telegrams? Tune in, and find...
15 Marras 14min
