Tuesday, March 9, 2021

This crossword was the TOPS, presenting just a SKOSH of trouble here and there. Jean, for instance, momentarily forgot how to spell KENOBI, whereas Mike likely never knew how to spell ROSEANNE, and had to deal with his old nemesis, ERSE (not to be confused, as he is wont to do, with EIRE, or ERIE, or ERIN) 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 up a...

17 Des 202010min

Stop the presses! it's a crossword about ... the presses! Print journalism, to be precise, with a few cameos from NPR and PBS. In keeping with the spirit of education, there was an array of interesting clues, including 4D, Indian ox, ZEBU, 15A, Comic Fields on old Ed Sullivan shows, TOTIE, and Mike's favorite, 41D, Nickname for the 1967 N.F.L. Championship Game, famously played at about -15°, ICEBOWL (yikes!). There were some nice juxtapositions - TOTIE close to TOTE, and ALMS next to ...

16 Des 202011min

An ABLY constructed crossword, with a TROVE of accomplished women -- ELLEMACPHERSON, KAYHAGAN, SAMANTHABEE, and SANDRAOH -- all distinguished not only by their accomplishments but by having a homonym for a letter in their name. We appreciated the reappearance of PSY (11D, Gangam style rapper), who hasn't been alluded to in the crossword since ... yesterday; and were intrigued by 34D, Typical John Le Carre work, SPYNOVEL, appearing two days after that extraordinary author's passing. We love ...

15 Des 20206min

An AMIABLE Sunday crossword by Dan Margolis, not too OUTRE, with only a few troublesome areas to SPOIL your day. The theme involved punnily-clued movies (e.g., 26A, Indy film? (1981), RAIDERSOFTHELOSTARK, and 103A, Dock-udrama? (1954), ONTHEWATERFRONT). There were some other gems as well, e.g., 99D, Bit of ranch dressing? STETSON, and right off the bat, 1D, Wear off?, DISROBE. A nice palette cleanser after Saturday's epic battle, we give it a 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. We love feedba...

14 Des 202013min

Ooh, a killer Saturday crossword, with some real stretches in the southeast corner. Jean was stopped by STOPTIME (47A, Rhythmic pattern in jazz) , and got run over by a baseball player doing HOMERUNTROTS (37A, They cover all bases). Mike, meanwhile, couldn't see past OPERAGLASS to get to the correct answer, OPERACAPES for 60A, Luxury wear for showgoers, and still maintains that nobody, ever, anywhere, has said PEACES on their way out the door. We give it a 4 on the JAMCR scale. We love...

13 Des 202012min

Just like 10A, Big name in razors, ATRA, this crossword was sharp and attractive, with some brilliant clues, including head scratchers like 1A, Still on the line, say, DAMP, 5D, Take turns, say, STEER, and the superb 22A, It requires some assembly, QUORUM. Jean got through today's crossword not quite INAMINUTE, but close, while Mike was nearly DERAILED by his rock-solid confidence that 21D, Penguin's home?, was ANTARCTICA, rather than the actual (and much cleverer) answer, GOTHAMCITY. A...

12 Des 202015min

Even though this puzzle dealt with elements, it was not at all elementary, my dear Watson, and periodically it seemed like Moriarty himself had designed this fiendish crossword, rather than the actual constructor, Jack Murtaugh. The themed clues involved symbols for elements, cleverly hidden in the theme, so, for instance, 36A, Female?, turned out to be IRONMAN (Fe=IRON, male=MAN). 16A, Siding?, turned out to be Siliconchip (!), and 57A, Cold?, was CARBONDATING, YADA, YADA, YADA. We lov...

11 Des 202015min

A gentle Wednesday puzzle by Owen Travis and the RENOWN Jeff Chen, who never SETTHEBARLOW when it comes to crosswords, NOSIR, and indeed BENDOVERBACKWARD to provide quality entertainment. Jean tore through this crossword in about half the time it took to do Tuesday's and Mike wasn't too far behind. Both were suckered into writing RUNS for 6A, Four are credited for a grand slam, briefly, RBIS, and Mike had a few personal AHAS - 22D, Variety of tea, BOBA, (no relation to the Star Wars char...

10 Des 20206min