Tuesday, December 31, 2024 - Our New Year's Eve Spectacular (fireworks, champagne, this episode's got it all!)

An astonishing Thursday crossword by Simeon Seigel, with a mind-boggling theme that's almost impossible to describe, and absolutely impossible to forget, in a grid that is RIFE with NOB-scratching posers. In short, we loved it, and the author, Simeon Seigel, should take a bow. Show note imagery: Adolph OCHS, who purchased the New York Times in 1896 and promptly lowered the price from 3 cents per issue to a mere 1. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail!...

2 Feb 202417min

Although we strive mightily to provide a fair, impartial review of each and every crossword, that goes right out the window when our favorite cartoon bear, BOOBOO, graces the grid. Fortunately, for the sake of our reviewing reputations , that does not happen often: BOOBOO has shown up a total of 12 times in the NYTimes crossword, and only one of those explicitly references Yogi's pal and straight man (er, bear). Show note imagery: The AMSTEL river in the Netherlands, which, as fa...

1 Feb 202416min

An intriguing Tuesday crossword, with, as usual, an unusual theme - this one revolving around tanks. Beyond that, we had a few standout clues, including 32D, High-flying metaphor for independence, LONEEAGLE, dovetailing nicely with 34D, _______ high, SKY; and the very punny 45A, Woman with a habit, NUN. In short, a nice piece of work by Freddie Cheng, his 15th for the NYTimes. Today's crossword included an "Oh That's How You Pronounce It Segment", specifically on how to pronounce ACAI ...

31 Jan 202417min

Both cohosts found today's crossword to be a tad tougher than usual, a small sacrifice to be made for the greater good, that being an ingenious theme, brilliantly deployed in today's grid. The dynamic duo who constructed today's opus, Garrett Chalfin and Andrew Kingsley, have published 6 and 21 NYTimes crosswords, respectively, and that experience shines through today. Definitely worth 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. Show note imagery: From left to right, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Phi...

30 Jan 202412min

Today's crossword was a SMASHINGSUCCESS, and although we don't want to overly HEROIZE the author, Nathan Hasegawa was clearly ATTHETOP of his game when he put this together. The vocabulary level was definitely trending upward -- see for example 13A, Like "t", "k", and "p", in phonetics, PLOSIVE, to 49A, Tremble, PALPITATE (wasn't that a Star Wars emperor?) -- but it was the theme that truly sealed the deal. Deets inside! Remember, solving the NYTimes Crossword is a great way to exercis...

29 Jan 202422min

It's Warrington & Warrington - not a law firm, but a daughter-father team responsible for this fine bit of Saturday cruciverbalism. Jean found it to be quite straightforward. Mike latched on to the little-known (because it doesn't exist) DANCER insect -- not to be confused with the correct answer to 36D, _______ bug (long-limbed predatory insect), DAMSEL*. *although Argia vivid, the vivid dancer, does exist, and it is a type of damselfly. Small world, entomologically speaking! Show not...

28 Jan 202417min

Sarah Sinclair and Rafael Musa have turned in a festive Friday crossword, with that joy coming from all quadrants of the grid. We appreciated 24D, Pandemic health worker, UNSUNGHERO (sadly, quite true); 4D, Starts off-key?, HOTWIRES (😀); and the nicely deceiving 44D, Gave a hoot, YELLED. In other news, today's episode has both Fun Fact Friday and Oh, That's How You Pronounce It! segments, so you're getting two for the price of one, what a deal! Show note imagery: Betty Everett, the se...

27 Jan 202416min

Sam Ezersky, he of Spelling Bee fame, is at the helm (under the fine leadership of Admiral Shortz), and he has turned in a fine bit o' work. He had us at 1A, Three-point letter you won't find in Scrabble?, PSI, and never let go, with a fusillade of great and occasionally groan-inducing clues/answers. We've got full coverage inside, so have a listen, and while you're doing so, please leave us a 5 star review on the app you're doing that listening on. Show note imagery: The real Freddie ...

26 Jan 202415min