Sunday, November 3, 2024 - A Sid Sivakumar spectacular!

Today's puzzle is a tautly constructed Saturday crossword, with just 58 words -- not quite few enough for the Guinness Book of World Records, but getting close! The puzzle itself was not too difficult -- for a Saturday -- but it did have a bevy of fine clues that kept both co-hosts entertained (esp. this one). Deets inside, as well as the winner of this week's JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), so have a listen and, as usual, let us know what you think! We love feedba...

12 Nov 202318min

A fine Friday crossword by Kate Hawkins - her 12th in the NYTimes - and it hits the sweet spot - not too easy, not too hard, but juuuuust right. We approve, 5 squares on the JAMCR scale.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 conversation!

11 Nov 202319min

A (surprising) crossword by Simeon Siegel, most noteworthy for a profusion of parentheses in the grid, all part of an intricate theme that we delve into in today's episode. We covered quite a few clues in the podcast, but alas, did not quite have room for 36A, Shrunken snack item, PRUNE; 15A, Like 80% of the Arabian Peninsula, SAUDI; and the (for Mike, at least) relatively obscure 43A, Dried version of the almost-ripe poblano, ANCHO -- at least until now! We love feedback! Send us a text... C...

10 Nov 202316min

A slightly crunchier-than-usual Wednesday, but a wry theme and memorable clues made it all worth while. Beyond those noted in the podcast, we'd like to give a shoutout to 3 answers that are just fun to contemplate and say -- 2D, Enthusiastic response to a bro, MYMAN; 46A, Replica, informally, DUPE; and a word that's as calming to say as the item is to wear, 65D, Comfy shoe, informally, MOC. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodca...

9 Nov 202319min

As the episode title almost surely gave away -- it was a bit of a ttttttteaser, one might say -- today's theme involved the 20th letter of the alphabet (as well a supporting cast of the other 25). Beyond the theme there were several other amusing clues, such as 20A, Torus shaped treat, DONUT; 49A, One of 5 in a Shakespeare play, ACT (confirming, definitively, our strong suspicion expressed earlier this week that Shakespeare plays do indeed all have 5 acts); and (warning, possible ear-worm ahe...

8 Nov 202315min

Today's crossword was crunchy - the clues were just a tad more difficult than usual, a consequence, perhaps, of a particularly demanding theme (deets inside) - and timely, in the sense that there were numerous references to time in today's grid, from 6D, "Anytime", WHENEVER, to 52A, Back in time, AGO, to 61A, Ages, AEONS. And, of course, we should not forget that all of these were appearing in the New York Times 😀. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop ...

7 Nov 202312min

Jean ACED today's crossword, but Mike just DIDOK, although if it is true that you learn from your mistakes, he is now officially a super genius thanks in no small part to Rich Katz, author of today's fine puzzle (his third for the NYTimes). We have all the deets inside, so please download, listen up, and ... enjoy! 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 st...

6 Nov 202320min

A just-the-right-level-of-almost-impossible crossword to wrap up our crossword solving week, one of those where the solving rate seems to follow an S curve -- tough and slow-going at the beginning and at the end, but with a glorious middle section where the clues come relatively rapidly. We liked this crossword so much that we awarded it this week's JAMCOTWA -- Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award -- for numerous reasons that will become apparent once you checkout today's podcast. ...

5 Nov 202319min