Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword
1,368 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 days ago - ★★★★★ - 24 ratingsA short, fun and occasionally not unintentionally educational podcast in which two fans of the New York Times crossword describe their puzzle-solving travails.
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Episodes
Saturday, April 13, 2024 - A crossword that was most definitely not EASYMAN
April 14, 2024 02:00 - 16 minutes - 11.5 MBA challenging debut (!) crossword by Jess Rucks. Our intrepid cohosts found said challenge in different areas of the grid, Jean in the mid east, Mike in the northwest. But, after exploring their respective mind palaces - Jean's approximately the size of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Mike's approximately the size of a pup tent you can find for sale at the REI in Green Bay, Wisconsin - they were able to seal the deal. We have all the deets inside, as well as the big reveal - this week's JAMCOTWA ...
Friday, April 12, 2023 - Beware the BLANKETHOG!
April 13, 2024 02:00 - 10 minutes - 7.49 MBA challenging Friday crossword by Evan Kalish, although not as difficult as some crosswords, it did take at least one of our cohosts a while to get any traction. But once they did, ..., well, it still took them a tranche of time to solve, and they enjoyed every minute of it! Although we covered most of the peg-the-awesomeness-meter clues in today's episode, another that deserves mention is 11D, Misidentification in the DC Universe, ITSAPLANE, very nice! Show note imagery: TIBET, roof of the...
Thursday, April 11, 2024 - Professor Plum, in the pantry, with ... a crossword puzzle??
April 12, 2024 01:00 - 21 minutes - 14.9 MBA delightful Thursday crossword by reliably delightful crossword constructor Dan Caprera, today's puzzle has much to commend it. The theme is spot on, and while the rest of the puzzle is based on tougher than usual clues, it is all for a good cause -- as you will hear in today's exciting episode! Show note imagery: Some of the many OLIVETREES painted by Vincent Van Gogh Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected]. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free ...
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 - Mmmm, there's nothing better than an APPLEBETTY
April 11, 2024 01:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MBToday's crossword was Bill Thompson's 10th NYTimes publication, and based on this, we can't wait for his 11th. The theme was extremely clever, and there were OCEANS of great clues, including 55D, "Gee, I wish I was back in the _______" (song from "White Christmas"), ARMY; an APPLEBETTY alternative, perhaps, 30D, Linzer _________ (pastry); and 42D, 1965 film starring George Segal that was set in a P.O.W. camp, KINGRAT. So, even though this crossword was a tad crunchier than usual, we found i...
Tuesday, April 10, 2024 - GOYA and ERTES, definitely an ARTY duo!
April 10, 2024 02:00 - 14 minutes - 9.77 MBToday's crossword had a fine theme -- discussed herein -- but the rest of the clues also did their part. We particularly enjoyed 4D, Lady Gaga hit included on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list, BADROMANCE (BADROMANCE, but great song!); 59A, Occam's _________, RAZOR (when you need to trim a conspiracy theory down to size); and the slightly perplexing 25D, Field for a voice major, maybe OPERA (🎶) Beyond the crossword, we also have a grand Triplet Tuesday segment, so do hav...
Monday, April 8, 2024 - Hey, who turned out the lights? 😎
April 09, 2024 02:00 - 11 minutes - 8.3 MBA fine and timely crossword by Peter Gordon (his 128th!!) , celebrating that rare celestial event, an incoming asteroid that only Bruce Willis can ... no, scratch that, the juxtaposition of the sun and moon causing much confusion among animals and consternation among newscasters. We are speaking, of course, of today's eclipse, and Peter Gordon, the author of today's fine crossword, also has something to say on the subject. To find out what that was, we cordially invite you to have a listen t...
Sunday, April 7, 2024 - Pass the QUESODIP
April 08, 2024 01:00 - 15 minutes - 11 MBDepending on which cohost you ask, today's crossword was either a) a delicious piece o' cake, or b) the inspiration for Edvard Munch's The Scream. Both agreed that it was an intriguing crossword, thanks to a clever theme that exploited the observation that duplicate letters can form homonyms -- YYs (wise), EEs (ease), PPs (peas), etc., etc. Deets inside, so please have a listen, and feel free (no pressure!) to leave us a 5 star review from wherever you happen to get your podcasts. Show not...
Saturday, April 6, 2024 - Byron Walden dials it up to 11!
April 07, 2024 03:00 - 20 minutes - 14.4 MBToday's crossword was jaw-droppingly difficult, each clue handcrafted to be more devious than the one that preceded it. From 44A, Notably circular formations on Mars, DUNES (they have dunes on Mars? cool!), to 48A, Flowers that are a a source of the anti-inflammatory drug colchicine, CROCI (woah!), to even 45A, Cup alternative, PINT (gasp!), it is clear that the intent of this puzzle was to puzzle, and it does so in spades. We have all the deets inside, as well as our JAMCOTWA - Jean And Mi...
Friday, April 5, 2024 - Hard not to love a grid that's filed with ESPRIT and LOLS, LOL!
April 05, 2024 23:00 - 10 minutes - 7.01 MBRebecca Goldstein has a knack for creating festive, fun crosswords, and her streak is unbroken as a result of today's fine work -- so far she's having a BANNERYEAR. The crossword was tough but fair, definitely worth 5 squares on the JAMCR scale -- deets inside! Show note imagery: Oh, sure, India gave the world chess, shampoo, and cashmere, but these all pale in comparison to their greatest invention, NAAN 😀 Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected]. ...
Thursday, April 4, 2024 - We like our crosswords SHAKENNOTSTIRRED 😀
April 05, 2024 00:00 - 11 minutes - 7.63 MBToday's crossword has it all! A unique theme / drink recipe, a nice piece of grid art, and as a reward for the intrepid solver, a flash color to celebrate its successful completion. Several clues we thought worthy of note: 54A, Derby participants in July, BATTERS; 44A, Gave a red card, informally, DQED; 49A, Betting recklessly, in poker, ONTILT; and 34A, Certain soccer kick, TOEPOKE; and the hilarious 18A, What Scott Joplin might yell after a spill?, RAGTIME. 🙄 We also have listener mail! S...
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 - Hello, MEEMAW 💘
April 04, 2024 02:00 - 9 minutes - 6.71 MBA wonderful Wednesday crossword by prolific veteran cruciverbalist Alex Eaton-Salners. The theme was cute, and the rest of the grid a hoot, with a plethora of entertaining and eduational clues scattered throughout. We've got the deets inside, so have a listen and, of course, enjoy! Show note imagery: An IMPALA, hoping that it doesn't get hit by a Chevy Impala while roaming the Savanna. Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected]. Also, we're on FaceBoo...
Tuesday, April 2, 2024 - 🫠🫶
April 03, 2024 02:00 - 8 minutes - 6.09 MBTuesday's child is full of grace ... as is this, Tuesday's crossword. The reasons for that will become clear as soon as you check out today's episode, so have it! Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected]. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!
Monday, April 1, 2024 - Yes, it's that day of the year!
April 02, 2024 01:00 - 5 minutes - 3.66 MBMuch hilarity ensues in today's grid, undoubtedly inspired by the day (April 1st). It did make for a tricky Monday, however, and, at least for Mike, a much slower time than average. Still, a worthy attempt, definitely worth 4 squares on the JAMCR sale. Show note imagery; There's just something about this mountain ... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected]. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!
Sunday, March 31, 2024 - Out like a lamb?
April 01, 2024 01:00 - 8 minutes - 6.19 MBAnother one of those sprawling Sunday grids that we all know and love, 21x21 squares chock-full of delicious puzzlement, along with a heaping side of puns -- because what would a Sunday crossword be without them? This was Spencer Leach's 4th NYTimes crossword, and his first Sunday. When he's not constructing crosswords, Spencer is studying mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech, and in fact he wrote a small Python program to help him in the creation of this fine work. We have more to say...
Saturday, March 30, 2024 - Red alert, it's an NYTimes Saturday crossword that absolutely, positively, gives no quarter!
March 31, 2024 01:00 - 20 minutes - 14 MBYears from now, people will sing lusty songs of praise, and recall fondly where they were, when they heard this crossword's happy music, it was that tough. Blake Slonecker made solvers work for just about every answer, and your cohosts found it a major slog (fun slog, but still ... a slog). We have all the deets inside, as well as the winner of this week's JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award)™️, so for all that and more, have a listen, and please, leave us a 5 star review whe...
Friday, March 29, 2024 - Lots of ENIGMAS in today's crossword, including ... ENIGMAS!
March 30, 2024 02:00 - 14 minutes - 10.2 MBA tough Friday workout for the little gray cells, thanks to a debut by Jake Bunch with some nice diversions, obfuscation, and plumes of humor. We were delighted to see 40D, Computer acronym since the 1960s, ASCII; 48D, Fancy, WANT (of course!); 33A, Solving puzzles, e.g., PASTIME (still amazed that only has 1 T ...); and 43A, One of the Minecraft protagonists, STEVE (hi, STEVE!). It is Friday, which, as long time listeners can attest, means it's time for Fun Fact Friday, and we have a fine...
Thursday, March 28, 2024 - A totally tubular crossword 😀
March 29, 2024 01:00 - 10 minutes - 7.52 MBFor those of you who haven't played with POTATO HEAD for a while, today's puzzle gives you a perfect opportunity to revisit an old friend, thanks to this fine work by Dominic Grillo. The theme was blatantly obvious -- the giant potato in the middle of the grid being a huge tipoff 😀 -- but that made it no less fun. There were oodles of 3 letter answers in today's grid, that being the price of sharing space with a giant edible OVOID, which might (?) lead to a smoother solve. Regardless, the th...
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 - Nothing ERSATZ about today's crossword, it's a 100% genuine NYTimes Wednesday spectacular!
March 28, 2024 01:00 - 15 minutes - 10.9 MBRich Katz is on a roll - this is his 5th NYTimes crossword in just over a year, and it is a beaut. The theme is ingenious, and the cluing amusing. Cases in point: 37D, Less green, maybe, OLDER; 51D, It might be used while boxing, TWINE (😀); 52D, Did zippo, IDLED; and 53A, Stick used for breaking, CUE (aha!). All great, and we approve, 5 squares on the ye olde JAMCR scale. Show note imagery: The IONIAN islands, conveniently located in the IONIAN sea! Contact Info: We love listener mail! Dro...
Tuesday, March 26, 2024 - We're baaaaaack 😀
March 27, 2024 01:00 - 15 minutes - 10.9 MBWe are back after a brief hiatus, and welcoming us back is this fine crossword by Laura Dershowitz and Katherine Baicker (edited by Joel Fagliano). The theme was a little on the high-brow side and a lot on the punny side, just what one would expect from a good Tuesday NYTimes crossword. We have all the deets inside, so please, subscribe, download, listen up, and, as always, let us know what you think! Show note imagery: Various politicos with a fortunately-not-life-sized Euro commemorating...
Tuesday, March 19, 2024 - We are AGLARE at the presence of AGLARE in the grid 😀
March 20, 2024 02:00 - 14 minutes - 10.2 MBThis is Lynn Lempel's 102nd NYTimes Crossword (no, that was not a typo). We don't know how she does it, but we are soooo glad that she does. Check out today's episode for all the reasons (as well as our latest Triplet Tuesday segment). For logistical reasons we need to take a break this week, but we will be back next Tuesday ... in the meantime, keep doing those crosswords! Show note imagery: CAPN Crunch, whose mustaches almost rival Salvador Dali's! Contact Info: We love listener mail! D...
Monday, March 18, 2024 - You've waited and waited, but take heart, the wait is over ... ALOHAPARTY is in the grid!!!
March 19, 2024 02:00 - 10 minutes - 7.36 MBA fine Monday crossword by Trent H. Evans -- his tenth in the NYTimes -- and it has a number of fine clues honoring A-listers, including 59A, Artist who co-authored a book about his mustache, DALI; 38A, Game show icon Trebek, ALEX; and 42A, Queen of the Nile, informally, CLEO. Show note imagery: Dali's Mustache 😀 Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected]. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!
Sunday, March 17, 2024 - SOCA is sooooo good!
March 18, 2024 01:00 - 22 minutes - 15.5 MBThis marks Simeon Siegel's 12th NYTimes crossword, and it is a masterpiece! There's no telling how long it took to make, but no matter how long, it was worth the wait, one of those "I can remember where I was when I solved it" puzzles that makes you glad to be alive. Deets inside, so check it out, and, as usual, let us know what you think! Show note imagery: NIAGARAFALLS on ice, 1888 Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected]. Also, we're on FaceBook...
Saturday, March 16, 2024 - Can't spell STROPHE? No worries, it's not a cataSTROPHE 🙄
March 17, 2024 01:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBAfter Friday's mental melee, today's crossword was slightly easier, but still not a walk in the park, not by a long stretch. It was a Saturday, designed to confuse and confound, and it did so in spades. We have all the details, as well as our JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award) winner, plus some awesome listener mail, so for all that, and more, we encourage you to subscribe (so you don't miss an episode), download, listen, learn, and laugh. Show note imagery: Where the Side...
Thursday, March 14, 2024 - Happy π Day, or if the former was Greek to you, Happy 🥧 Day!
March 15, 2024 02:00 - 14 minutes - 9.83 MBToday is Pi Day - 3/14 - and the NYTimes is celebrating in grand style (ok, perhaps not the entire newspaper, but certainly the crossword section). To see what happens when the gray lady lets down her hair, so to speak, be sure and check out today's podcast! Show note imagery: A helpful chart for anyone hoping to try their hand at chiromancy 🙄 Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected]. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strik...
Wednesday, March 24, 2024 - CHIWETELEJIOFOR, a great actor and an awesome crossword answer!
March 14, 2024 02:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MBToday's crossword was the ideal middle-of-the-week puzzle; a fun but accessible theme, a smattering of debut answers and a host of intriguing clues. We have -- of course! -- all the deets inside, so do have a listen, and, as usual, let us know what you think! Show notes imagery: OSLO, showing just a few of its 40 islands and 350 lakes Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected]. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a con...
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 - There's a bit of DRAMA in today's grid ... right there, 1D, DRAMA 😀
March 13, 2024 02:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MBAndrew Kingsley and Garret Chalfin have teamed up to produce a fine Tuesday crossword, with some good clues, some great clues, and some awesome clues. In the latter category we have 35D, Show stoppers?, ADS 😀; 51A, Liquid-ATE, MELT 🙄; and 50D, Anonymous creator of a painting sold at auction that subsequently shredded itself, BANKSY 😀 😀 . An admirable crossword, we hereby declare it to be worth a full 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. Show note imagery: BANKSY's work of art, destroying itself!...
Monday, March 11, 2024 - A grid filled to the BRIM with great clues!
March 12, 2024 01:00 - 14 minutes - 9.86 MBToday's crossword is by award winning (!) crossword constructor Rebecca Goldstein and Rachel Fabi, and the two have constructed a wonderful puzzle that is sure to whet your appetite for more of their work. The theme -- which will also whet your appetite -- is fine, but there were some other clues worth cheering. Allow us to point out, for example, 30A, One nickname for Elizabeth, ELLY; 9D, Genre for Da Brat or DaBaby, RAP; and 2D, US Soccer star, RAPINOE, to which we can only say 34D, Cheer...
Sunday, March 10, 2024 - Not a hard-scrabble crossword ... but Scrabble *was* involved
March 11, 2024 03:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MBEnrique Henestroza Anguiano and Matthew Stock have teamed up to rack 'em up, with a clever Scrabble-based theme. It briefly looked like today might been a four leaf clover of a crossword, a Sunday puzzle with a rebus: but in this case, the trick was to construct the rebus mentally, while writing only a single letter in the grid itself. It's complicated, but we've got the 411 on all of it, so dig into today's episode, and, as always, let us know what you think. Show note imagery: Sekhmet, t...
Saturday, March 9, 2024 - What's the cure for an INFODEMIC? A DIGITALDETOX!
March 10, 2024 02:00 - 16 minutes - 11.2 MBA fine Saturday crossword by John Guzzetta -- and if that name seems familiar, that's perhaps because he has had 40 NYTimes crosswords published since 2012. Of those, 50% of them were Friday or Saturday puzzles, so he's definitely in his element here. Though themeless (as is tradition for a Saturday NYTimes crossword), there were of course many fine clues, which we dive into in today's episode. Beyond those, however, we would be remiss if we did not at least mention 27D, Concupiscent one, ...
Friday, March 8, 2024 - Yup, definitely a Friday crossword!
March 09, 2024 02:00 - 17 minutes - 12.4 MBThere were challenges galore in today's crossword, with the rockiest of rocky shoals cropping up in the southwest portion of the grid. There were so many great clues that it would take, oh, a 15x15 grid to list all of them, but here are a few (that didn't make it into the podcast): 13D, Butt of a joke?, WHOOPEECUSHION (ha!); 9D, Like the homes of roughly one in six Americans, rural (huh!); 45A, In, in the past, HEP (har!); and there were many, many more. In other news, we have a listener m...
Thursday, March 7, 2024 - J.B. Smoove, one smoove operator
March 08, 2024 02:00 - 16 minutes - 11.1 MBThis is Joe O'Neill's very first NYTimes crossword, and it's a doozie, with the theme revolving around one of Robert Frost's most famous poems. Now "famous" is relative: while Jean had a casual acquaintance with the poem, Mike was, as usual, clueless -- and therefore answerless -- so he had to rely exclusively on the not -always-easy crosses, and serendipity, to see him through. There were some great clues throughout the grid that deserve some air time. There was the euphonious 53A, Waste'...
Wednesday, March 6, 2024 - Nothing JERKY about this crossword ... except the JERKY 😀
March 07, 2024 03:00 - 14 minutes - 9.98 MBBrad Wiegmann has produced a fabulous Wednesday crossword, and for those keeping track this is the second crossword this week where the theme was on the subtle and cerebral side. We loved it for a number of reasons, detailed inside -- as well as some exciting listener mail that will be of special interest to residents of PARAMUS, NJ. Deets within, so dive in (as long as it's been at least an hour since you ate 😀) and enjoy! Show note imagery: Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and o...
Tuesday, March 5, 2024 - DWEEBY, SLANGY and EEK - 3 answers in today's grid, and a law firm to be avoided at all costs 😀
March 06, 2024 02:00 - 16 minutes - 11.6 MBToday's crossword was by veteran crossword constructor Christina Iverson, who has a knack for writing absolutely effervescent puzzles. Just consider a few of the clues in today's grid: 51A, Queen's pawn?, ANT (nice once, CI); 42D, Swift to fill a concert hall?, TAYLOR (who else?); and 24A, Like a tightrope, ideally, TAUT (we tought, er, thought so too 😉). Show note imagery: David Aguilar's amazing prosthetic ARM and EMORY university library (in the old days!) Contact Info: We love listener...
Monday, March 4, 2024 - This crossword? It's both a debut and a BEAUT!
March 05, 2024 02:00 - 13 minutes - 9.63 MBThis is Samantha Podos Novak's debut NYTimes crossword, and it is a delicious treat, thanks to a tasty theme and a generous sprinkling of cromulent clues throughout the grid. And if you're sensing a food theme, you are correct! For all the deets -- including which food, and how many calories it has -- you are heartily encouraged to download, listen up, and, of course, enjoy today's podcast! Show note imagery: YER out! Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@i...
Sunday, March 3, 2024 - Three, two, one, blastoff! 🚀
March 04, 2024 03:00 - 20 minutes - 13.9 MBYou can always count on Hoang-Kim Vu to produce a splendid crossword, and today you can also count on him to ... count, because that's the theme: countdown, to be specific, is the title of the crossword as well as a large hint as to what you have to be able to do to solve said crossword. We have all the deets inside, so have a listen, and let us know what you think. Show note imagery: PARAMUS Park, New Jersey Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected]....
Saturday, March 2, 2024 -The Book of 1001 SAT Words will be arriving FORTHWITH, or at least posthaste 😀
March 03, 2024 02:00 - 16 minutes - 11.3 MBNatan Last has constructed 39 crosswords for the NYTimes, and this latest one shows exactly why the NYTimes keeps coming back for more - the clues are simply inspired, dancing on that fine line between uber-challenging and cruel, but always landing on the right side. So, without doubt, this crossword should be in the running for our JAMCOTWA - Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award™️). Did it win? Download to find out! Show note imagery: KABUKI, Japanese theatre at its finest. Contact...
Friday, March 1, 2024 - In like a lion ...
March 02, 2024 03:00 - 13 minutes - 9.24 MBA roaringly good Friday crossword to end the business week! There was no theme, but there were a host of awesome clues, including: 38A, Shade akin to peridot, LIME (peridot, what a word!); 33D, Where you might run into some real characters, THEMEPARK (brilliant!); 9D, Never again, ONCE (can't argue with that!); and 18D, Luxury brand, or non-luxury option, COACH (delightful!). Since it's Friday, we also have a fascinating Fun Fact Friday™️ segment, so for all that and more, subscribe, downlo...
Thursday, February 29, 2024 - Leaping lizards, it's a leap day crossword!
March 01, 2024 02:00 - 21 minutes - 14.5 MBWhether this was in honor of Leap Day or not (only Will knows, and he's not saying), today's crossword was extra special, most notably because of some of the clues weren't just text, but in fact cute line drawings of assorted animals playing musical instruments. The line drawings were endearing, and we were enamored, for reasons that we expound upon, at length, in today's episode. Also, we have listener mail! Lots of it!! So check out today's podcast, and, as is traditional on Leap Day, we...
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 - Finally, a crossword that answers that burning question: WHATITSALLABOUT?
February 29, 2024 03:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBA debut crossword by Greg Snitkin, but you wouldn't know it based on the quality of today's puzzle. The theme was terrif, and was abetted by a passel of captivating clues to round off the grid. While a lot of old friends showed up (looking at you, 15A, McFlurry flavor, OREO), and 61A," _________ you vera much!", (punny valentine), ALOE, there were two debuts, including 33A, Someone terrorizing kids in a 1986 Stephen King novel, SCARYCLOWN 🤡. For all the deets, have a listen, and, as always,...
Tuesday, February 27, 2024 - ;-), meet your grandchild, 😉
February 28, 2024 02:00 - 14 minutes - 10.2 MBA lot of INK went into today's crossword, in such answers as SLINKYDOG, WINKYFACE and 5 (!) more of that ink, er, we mean ilk, 😀. Numerous clues got our attention and podcast time, but we would also like to celebrate 49D, Tatted, INKED (yay, more ink 😀); 9D, "It's Raining _______", MEN (meteorologically unlikely, but still...); and 10D, Like a dress with a diagonal hemline, say, ASYMMETRIC. It's Tuesday, which of course means it's time for a Triplet Tuesday battle of wits. Did Jean win? Or...
Monday, February 26, 2024 - NAMASTE!
February 27, 2024 02:00 - 13 minutes - 9.14 MBThis is Joe Marquez's second NYTimes crossword (congrats, Joe!) and a very nice piece of work it is. Several clues had a wry twist to them (and we are not just saying that because the theme involved alcohol 🙄). The humor started early, with 1A, Little spheres in a pod, PEAS; continued with 15A, Out-spoken, ALOUD; and by definition the most humorous of all, the on the nose 26D, Ha-ha-ha, LAUGH (which we did). Besides the puzzle itself, we have listener mail, a fine explanation of ANDONE fro...
Sunday, February 25, 2024 - Sunday is Punday
February 26, 2024 02:00 - 19 minutes - 13.4 MBOnce again the puns come thick and fast, so if you like puns, well, step this way and download this episode, because it's teeming with them, seven at last count. They're not that bad though, in fact several have groan, er grown on us (and now we're up to eight 😀) A reminder, the NYTimes Crossword is an excellent vehicle for helping you keep mentally agile and alert, and it costs just pennies a day. To gain access, just wander over to nytimes.com/subscriptions, operators, or at least bots, a...
Saturday, February 24, 2024 - We're willing to let TIGONS be TIGONS 🙄
February 25, 2024 02:00 - 18 minutes - 12.7 MBA tough but fair Saturday crossword, and, coincidentally (since they always solve independently), both Jean and Mike ended up at the same spot, 20A, Pink-headed mushroom in Mario games, TOADETTE. There were at least two portmanteaus in the grid -- 8A, Hybrid fruit akin to an apium, PLUOT; and the aforementioned 30A, Feline hybrids, TIGONS. There were many other admirable clues in the grid, such as 42D, Things that might hurt you to the core, SITUPS 😀 ; 33D, Fashion items that might be a bi...
Friday, February 23, 2024 - CHEESEDIP and HAUTECUISINE, together at last 😀 😀
February 24, 2024 02:00 - 15 minutes - 10.6 MBJean and Mike had entirely different solving experiences tackling today's crossword, a fine effort by Larry Snyder. Jean made short work of it, but Mike started inventing words out of whole cloth, a fraught activity when solving a NYTimes Friday crossword. Yet, while their solving experiences might have differed, they both agree that this crossword most definitely deserved 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. In other news, it's Fun Fact Friday, and Muppet / Hunter S. Thompson fans will find much ...
Thursday, February 22, 2024 - This crossword was quite JAKE, and that's no JAPE 😀 😀
February 23, 2024 02:00 - 14 minutes - 10.2 MBThis is Dan Schoenholz's 29th NYTimes crossword, and it shows -- a nicely polished grid, with an exceptional theme. Since the preponderance of Dan's crosswords have appeared on Sunday, it might seem like he'd be a bit constrained, squeezed into a 15x15 grid, but, even without rebuses (spoiler alert! Oops, too late 😀), he managed to craft an elegantly enjoyable crossword. We've got all the deets inside, so please, subscribe, download, listen up, and enjoy! Show note imagery: OTIS Redding (se...
Wednesday, February 21, 2024 - This crossword's got STYLE (and a whole lot of other words 😀)
February 22, 2024 03:00 - 13 minutes - 9.16 MBJeffrey Martinovic has managed to work the word TAUTOLOGICAL into the grid, and for that alone he should receive some sort of commendation. But we can't also IGNORE some other great clues, such as 69A, Some downtown street liners, METERS; 11D, Is French?, EST (c'est bon!); and 62A, "Mud", JOE (😀). A fine crossword, definitely worth 5 squares on the JAM CR scale! Show note imagery: Queen MAB, hard at work (?) Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected]. ...
Tuesday, February 20, 2024 - Let's get crackin', and learn how to pronounce KRAKEN
February 21, 2024 02:00 - 15 minutes - 11 MBThis is Robert S. Gard's second NYTimes crossword. We reviewed his first in season 8, episode 38, and like that Saturday puzzle, this one was equally august, albeit much easier, as befits a Tuesday . We have all the deets inside, as well as Mike's valiant attempt to not make a fool of himself during the Triplet Tuesday contest, so have a listen, and let us know what you think! Show note imagery: Beware the KRAKEN! Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud...
Monday, February 19, 2024 - We'd like to mention the presence of MENSCH in today's crossword 🙄😀
February 20, 2024 03:00 - 11 minutes - 8.13 MBThis is Adam Wagner's 19th NYTimes crossword, but it is a debut, in a sense - his first Monday puzzle. It was a little crunchier than usual, but the theme made it all worthwhile. Deets inside, so have a listen, and as usual, tell others about us on social media. Shownote imagery: A thaw of ICEBOATS (and if "thaw" isn't the appropriate unit, it ought to be!) about to start racing Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected]. Also, we're on FaceBook, so f...
Sunday, February 18, 2024 - We 🎶 HEARDITTHROUGH THEGRAPEVINE 🎶 that this was an awesome crossword!
February 19, 2024 03:00 - 21 minutes - 14.8 MBSid Sivakumar dials it back as he slips into his Sunday best, and this was indeed one of his best Sundays, his fourth for the NYTimes. There were some fine clues in the grid, including 75A, Home to the Great Ziggurat of Ur, IRAQ (we just like the sound of "Great Ziggurat of Ur" 😀); 116A, What hits the ground running, SOLE (ha!); and 55D, So ... or a word following "so", TRUE (double ha!); and a hidden gem at 89A, Windy part of a kite?, REEL (triple ha!). To sum up, we were impressed, this...
Saturday, February 17, 2024 - Here comes the ... ZITI?
February 18, 2024 02:00 - 16 minutes - 11.5 MBSpencer Leach and Jem Burch have produced a splendiferous Saturday crossword that entertained, educated, and ... whatever the opposite of enervated is, ah, yes, energized. The highlight of the grid was undoubtedly 60A, Finished, colloquially, DONEZO, although 61A, Drinks are on me!, BARMENU, definitely gave it a run for its money. There was much more to this puzzle, though, and we have all the deets inside. Show note imagery: Speed skater Johann OLAV Koss, winner of 4 Olympic golds and occa...