Friday, January 1, 2021

There was an orchestra pit-full of musicians in today's crossword, including 66A, One-named singer featured on the 2013 hit "Play Hard": NEYO, 35D, "___ California" (Grammy-winning Red Hot Chili Peppers hit), DANI; 56A, /, ROCKGUITARIST; and 47A, Experimental musician whose name sounds like a cry, ONO. However, the real theme was a joyous celebration of puns and punctuation. TLDR: Today's crossword was great, have a listen! Show note imagery: NEYO, occasional AKON collaborator W...

5 Dec 202417min

Today's grid was stuffed with assorted edibles, so listeners are cautioned to not attempt today's crossword on an empty stomach. And while none of the clues were particularly "crunchy" (crossword lingo for particularly difficult clues/crosswords), some of them were quite delicious, including 37D, Animal that is unable to fly with its ears, regrettably, ELEPHANT; the magnificent 44D, Way of getting online that might sound like "beep beep beeHAW beeHAW beeeeeep SHRHRHRHRH", DIALUP; and the curi...

4 Dec 202422min

There was indeed a theme in today's crossword, but it was sufficiently subtle that one of our cohosts missed it completely until it was brought to their attention by the other cohost. For those of you on the edge of your seats wondering which cohost missed the theme, have a listen to today's episode, where all will become clear. Show note imagery: Miss La La, at the Cirque Fernando, a painting by Edgar DEGAS. And, yes, she really is hanging by her teeth, in the pre dental-titanium era. We lo...

3 Dec 202411min

This was a perfect storm of a crossword, with an absolutely awesome theme, a boatload of ingenious clues, and ... wait for it ... Nope! We're not going to spoil things here in the show notes. Check out the crossword if you haven't done so already (ideally online, specifically on the NYTimes site), and be prepared to be amazed. Show note imagery: Alphonzo D'Abruzzo, aka Alan ALDA We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.c...

2 Dec 202415min

This was a fabulous debut by Oliver Goodridge and Juan Garavito. With sparkling clueing everywhere in the grid, they've provided a real master class in how to make a tough, fair and epic Saturday NYTimes puzzle. It's also Saturday, and time for our JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award™). It was an exceedingly tough choice, as you'll hear in today's episode. Show note imagery: The hilt (aka HAFT) of a knife,. along with other parts. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact...

1 Dec 202420min

Like glaciers in the spring, this crossword solve started off slowly, as the grid provided very few footholds in the top-left and top-right. Gradually, though, it yielded its delightful secrets, making for a very satisfying Friday challenge. Definitely worth 5 squares on the JAMCR scale, for reasons that are outlined in, of course, today's podcast. Enjoy! Show note imagery: An OTTOMON, not to be confused with a settee (although Mike will do so anyway 😏) We love feedback! Send us a text... Co...

30 Nov 202420min

Today's PSA, don't attempt this crossword while in a FOODCOMA, it won't end well -- you'll need all your wits about you so that you can savor the puzzle, especially that delicious AHA! moment stuffed (and, no, we are not talking metaphorically) into today's grid. We'd say more, but we don't want to ruin your fun, so tuck in and enjoy! Show note imagery: Time to dig into today's topic, HUMUS We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodc...

29 Nov 202415min

English is a ravenous language, devouring words from other languages and claiming them as their own. Such is the case with one of our favorite entries in today's puzzle -- 66A, Clever person, BELESPRIT (two words, to be accurate, BEL ESPRIT). This came from the French, English laid claim to it, and, alas, promptly forgot about it, it is now considered archaic. We love it anyway, as well as all the other clues, to say nothing of the splendid theme, found in today's puzzle. Deets inside, so dow...

28 Nov 202416min