Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

A perfect Wednesday crossword has traveled back through time, and imperfectly impersonated a Monday crossword, which never would include such clearly Wednesday-level clues as 7D, Right-hand page of a book, RECTO, 14A, Plagued, ATEAT (um, OK), and 53A, Jose _______ (tequila brand), CUERVO. So, welcome, future crossword puzzle, we hope you brought the sports page back with you (cf. Back to the Future, Part II) 😀 We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail...

31 Aug 20217min

A punderful Sunday crossword, with a suuuuubtle theme: and to unpack and decode all of that, download and listen up to today's podcast!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!

30 Aug 202113min

Julian Lim has published 25 crosswords in the New York Times, and just one glance at this puzzle will tell you why: the clues are masterpieces of misdirection (with maybe one or two gimmes thrown in for mercy's sake). Right from the get-go, with 1A Divine instrument?, TAROTCARD, Mr. Lim lets you know that you're in for a fun ride. Definitely a 5 squares on the JAMCR scale, and for a fuller explanation of precisely why, download and listen up! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact...

29 Aug 202116min

A straightforward Friday oeuvre from the pen of Robyn Weintraub - Mike was reminded of Joe Friday's catchphrase, "Just the facts, ma'am", as most of the clues seemed to be quite literal. To be sure, there were a few verbal sparklers, including 1A. What takes a ticking and keeps on sticking?, STAMP (not TIMEX!), and 6D, Stuck-up couples at weddings?, CAKETOPPERS. We like it, a crossword that SOOTHES. In Fun Fact Friday, we get the 411 on pochoir prints, and one of its leading practition...

28 Aug 202111min

To answer the question posed in the episode title, yes we can, because this crossword is an absolute delight -- a fun but not impossible theme, and the "aha" moment if you get it will keep you energized for hours. Jean does a great job explaining the theme, so rather than re-explain it here, we exhort you to simply fire up whatever it is you listen to this podcast on, and enjoy! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.co...

27 Aug 202111min

If you like droll comedy, you'll love today's crossword. From 17A, "Please continue your generous support of the church", MASSAPPEAL, TO 58A, "This medicine will reduce your temperature in no time", FEVERPITCH, everywhere you turn in this grid you'll find something that will make you laugh or groan, or in the worst (i.e., best) case, both. For us, it was both, as a consequence of which we give this puzzle a 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We lov...

26 Aug 20217min

The authors of today's crossword, Jessie Bullock and Ross Trudeau, just got engaged - and this crossword was their announcement! The theme revolved around the song from Aladdin, ICANSHOWYOUTHEWORLD, and various clues that suggested representations of the earth (POCKETATLAS, GOOGLEEARTH, etc.). Hopefully they'll find married life as enjoyable as we found this crossword, and we give both the happy couple and this crossword 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. In other news, it's Triplet Tuesday, and J...

25 Aug 202112min

HOWSWEETITIS and TWOTHUMBSUP pretty much summarizes our review of today's frothy , fun, and nostalgia-hued puzzle by Bruce Haight. Who can't help but smile at 49A, "The Jackie Gleason Show" catchphrase, HOWSWEETITIS, or the delicious twist that would always follow 39A, "Columbo" catchphrase, JUSTONEMORETHING? Probably all the people who weren't even born when these shows aired, aka 50% of the New York Times audience! Fortunately, the crosses were gentle, but it would be interesting to h...

24 Aug 202110min