Friday, October 31, 2025 - 'Allo, AYOEDEBIRI!
As we sidle up to the most challenging crossword of the week, aka Saturday, we expect the opening act -- Friday -- to help get us in the right frame of mind. Friday does not disappoint, as there were oodles of tricky (theme-free) clues to contend with. For instance, 34D, A smartphone has many of these, USES (ah, not APPS, got it!); 38D, The U.A.E. is in it, OPEC (rather than ASIA, fine); and the informative 37D, Island home of what may be the world's oldest living olive tree (2,000+ years), C...
1 Nov 6min
Thursday, October 10, 2025 - A PARAGON of a Thursday crossword
If you needed to be reminded that the scariest day of the year is coming up tomorrow; and if yesterday's crossword didn't drive the stake (er, point) home, then today's surely will. Between the OREOS, bat(omorph)s and witches in the grid, and the suspiciously large number of pumpkins one is likely to encounter in the street, it is clear that Halloween is drawing nigh. What is also clear is that this was a fabulous crossword, brimming with great clues like 42A, Desirable Vegas couple? ACES; 69...
31 Okt 16min
Wednesday, October 29, 2025 - Today's podcast, brought to you by the Bela Lugosi Fan Club 🧛🏽🫣
This was the perfect Halloween Eve's Eve crossword, suitably spooky and eminently entertaining. The theme was a stitch, and the supporting cast of clues was, well, quite supportive. We've covered the highlights in today's podcast; but as usual we link to the completely filled-in crossword, from xword.info, right here. Show note imagery: A delectable trio of cereal pancakes from IHOP, the unofficial breakfast diner of the NYTimes crossword 🥞😀 We love feedback! Send us a text... Con...
30 Okt 11min
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 - The world definitely needs more SOFAFORTS 🤗
Jean found today's crossword to be a tad more difficult than usual; Mike found it almost, but not quite, impossible, thanks to the high density of pop-culture references in the bottom-left corner. We have the deets inside. In other news, it's Triplet Tuesday and -- how shall we put this charitably? -- Mike gave it the ol' college try. Show note imagery: The digits, in Spanish -- very handy in NYTimes crosswords! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Dr...
29 Okt 15min
Monday, October 27, 2025 - We'll take a flier on how to spell FLYER 😀
This was Tarun Krishnamurthy's third NYTimes crossword: he now has two Mondays and a Tuesday under his belt. Today's opus had an endearing theme and provided us with an opportunity to dive into the FLIER v. FLYER debate. Based on extensive research, we can now conclude, unequivocally, that it should neither be spelled PHLIER (as that is a chemist who tells falsehoods about acidity) nor FLYYYYYYER (uttered by a pilot having an existential crisis). We have a few other (slightly less controversi...
28 Okt 12min
Sunday, October 26, 2025 - A Titan might find a CHITON a bit tight on 'em 😉
The last few crosswords have been rather on the challenging side and while Will and co. (co, in this case, being collaborators Gary Larson and Doug Peterson) definitely did ease up a bit today, it was still not a walk in the park -- more of a jog uphill. As far as the slope of that hill, Jean would rate it about 2%, Mike estimated it was more like 50%, possibly higher, thanks to several severe spelling challenges (and one or two naticks). Deets inside! Show note imagery: Meet the Parr-f...
27 Okt 17min
Saturday, October 25, 2025 - Just in time for Halloween, a Very Scary Solve 🫣
Byron Walden has had 110 crosswords published in the NYTimes, of which 71 were Saturdays. If you are wondering why, then take a gander at today's grid, and peek at the podcast; Byron has served up a master class in how to write delectable, diabolically deceptive clues. Deets inside. Show note imagery: PHILO Farnsworth, the "Father of Television" and an expert 31D, Improviser at a workbench, TINKERER We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, cross...
26 Okt 17min
Friday, October 24, 2025 - A *brilliant* Friday debut by Kelvin Zhou
It is hard to believe that today's crossword was a debut, but ... believe it! By turns elegant, hilarious, engaging and definitely taxing, both cohost were decidedly enamored with today's work. We have all the many reasons why inside, so have a listen, and let us know if you concur. In other news, in honor of the day, we have another Fun Fact Friday segment, and we guarantee that, like the fun fact itself, you will either love it or hate it. (We're hoping, of course, for the former!) Show not...
25 Okt 12min
