Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

A crunchier than usual Sunday crossword, the grid was filled with amusing clues but plenty of pitfalls. Jean had a spot of bother with 77A, Sesh on Reddit, AMA (short for Ask Me Another). Mike, meanwhile, was apparently unaware of 88D, Ike's domain in W. W. II, ETO, an answer that had appeared in the New York Times crossword a staggering 449 times, even more than the official cookie of the New York Times crossword, the OREO (443 times). The fact that the T of ETO crossed with 91A, ...

11 Okt 202114min

A surprisingly straightforward Saturday crossword, with joyfully few RORs (Ridiculously Obscure References™️) to slow down the proceedings. Mike still managed to find a way, however: and to learn exactly how, you know what to do: download and listen up!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!

10 Okt 202111min

Both Jean & Mike found today's crossword to be definitely on the harder side of the spectrum -- with the top-left corner causing particular grief. Both were eventually able to rally, although it was an epic battle. For all the deets, as well as the 411 on the EVZONES that is the basis of today's Fun Fact Friday, hit download now! 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 d...

9 Okt 202114min

One look at the grid, with a series of 1 letter squares with black on both sides (something that almost *never* happens) was a tipoff that something unusual was happening. Fortunately, the puzzle was written by Timothy Polin, who's usual behavior is to crank out great crosswords, and he is in fine form today, apparently able to create cross-lesswords as well as crosswords. We rate this an awed 5 squares on the JAMCR scale -- download and listen up to get all the deets. We love feedback! Send ...

8 Okt 202110min

A shocker of a Wednesday, with (wait for it) a rebus! And a very clever rebus at that, one that might drive you coocoo, so to speak. (We won't say more about the theme here, download the podcast to get the full 411.) The crossword started off strong, with 1A, Animal that's also a plant?, MOLE (nice!), a helpful tip at 16A, Good advice during an emergency, KEEPACOOLHEAD, and possibly together for the first time ever in a grid, 22A, Yokohama drama, NOH, and 40D, "I'm such a meathead", DOH...

7 Okt 202111min

If you felt HEARTBROKEN after doing today's crossword, well, that's probably just a side-effect of the theme - the word HEART, appearing in words with an increasing number of other letters being inserted in between. Otherwise this was a fun crossword, with a few notable clues -- 34D, Communication at Gallaudet Univ, ASL (marking the second time that has appeared in as many days); 46A, Stage name of Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys, MCA (!), crossing 46D, One of the Spice Girls, MELB (which is n...

6 Okt 202116min

Mondays are traditionally the easiest crossword puzzles of the week, designed to gently welcome novice solvers to the fold, and this one definitely succeeds. It has some intriguing clues -- 1D, Handy way of communicating, in brief?, ASL; 56A, 1967 hit by the Tremeloes suggested by the starts of 17-, 27- and 46-Across, HERECOMESMYBABY; and a nod to one of Mike's favorite books, 7D, "_____ and Crake" (Margaret Atwood novel), ORYX. But it also has some old chestnuts, such as 41A, Airport guesses...

5 Okt 20218min

It's hard not to like a puzzle that manages to work in 63A, Final creature encountered in "Dr. Seuss's ABC", ZIZZERZAZZERZUZZ, on its way to working a grand total of 40 (count 'em) Z'S into the grid, a genuine tour de forze, um, we mean force. Jean had trouble in the upper right, in particular with 33A, Jurisdiction of a Catholic Church official, DEANERY crossing with 34D, Kilt-wearing Greek infantryman, EVZONE (really?). Mike, meanwhile, worn out by having worked on this puzzle for an embarr...

4 Okt 202118min