Thursday, November 27, 2025 - Happy Thanksgiving / Black Friday Eve!!
On this dual US holiday -- Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday Eve -- we wish to say how thankful we are for our myriad faithful listeners, and for the geniuses who labor day in and day out to deliver the best crosswords in the world to our metaphorical doorstep. Speaking of best crosswords, we liked today's: it had, as usual, a theme that we did not see coming, it mentioned the Flintstones, and, for the pièce-de-résistance, it included a reference to Mike's favorite biochemical process, the KR...
28 Nov 13min
Wednesday, November 26, 2025 - Two thumbs up, waaaaaay up!
Today's crossword -- a debut by John McClung -- paid homage to one of the great movie critics of the last century, to wit, ROGEREBERT; and he was full of wit, heaping praise when deserved and throwing raspberries when not. Today's grid has just 4 examples, and they are a hoot. Deets inside. Show note imagery: The Khan el-Khalili bazaar, in CAIRO 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 fe...
27 Nov 14min
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - A crossword engineered to leave you completely ENRAPT 🧐😍
This was a splendid Tuesday crossword, thanks to an ingenious theme surrounded by a bevy of bedazzling clues. We appreciated the aptness of seeing 3D, In an angry way, CROSSLY, in a CROSSWORD; were flabbergasted by 13D, Weight of every U.S. bank note, ONEGRAM; and were gobsmacked by 20A, U.K. : H.M.R.C. :: U.S.A. : ___, IRS. Today being Tuesday, we have a Triplet Tuesday™️ segment, with Jean being in the hot seat this time around. Show note imagery: BTS, back together again! We love feedback!...
26 Nov 18min
Monday, November 24, 2025 - It's not just a RUMOR: this was a magnificent Monday crossword
We're just GAGA about today's crossword. It included some of our favorite words in the English language, such as 3D, Flabbergasted, GOBSMACKED; our favorite Shakespearean insult, 63A, Playing card better known as a Jack, KNAVE 😀; and our favorite equine, 44A, Horse with a spotted coat, DAPPLE. Besides this puzzle, we also have much to say in favor of our JAMCOTWA™️ (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award) winner. So for all the deets, check out today's episode. Show note imagery: The gobsm...
25 Nov 11min
Sunday, November 23, 2025 - In Praise of the Ol' Switcheroo
The NYTimes has not shied away from publishing GOL (Groan Out Loud) Sunday crosswords, so we're delighted to report that today's is of the lesser known but always appreciated LOL variety. We will spoil nothing here, but you'll find the full 411 in today's episode. Show note imagery: Wile E. Coyote, ever the optimist 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 ...
24 Nov 21min
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 Nov 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 Nov 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 Nov 10min
