Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword
1,437 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 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
Friday, May 21, 2021
May 22, 2021 01:00 - 14 minutes - 10.1 MBSend us a Text Message. In today's crossword, we discover that one of us (Jean) knows the difference between ELEGIZE and EULOGIZE, and that one of us (Mike) knows that to dispose of the one ring that rules them all will require a trip to MTDOOM. Jean has to work for her supper in the top-left corner, whereas Mike has a relatively smooth solve except for 37D, Fit to be tried, which he took to be STABLE rather than the (in retrospect) much more plausible SUABLE. Contact Info: We love listen...
Thursday, May 20, 2021
May 21, 2021 02:00 - 16 minutes - 11.2 MBSend us a Text Message. A tough Thursday, foreshadowed in some of the clues, such as 59D, Sounds of puzzlement, EHS, and 62A, Cry of frustration, AARGH. Jean struggled in the bottom center, having inexplicably neglected to memorize the Dewey Decimal System before starting today's puzzle. Mike, meanwhile, took to heart yesterday's conversation anticipating rebuses, and was bound and determined to use them, even if the crossword constructor, Trenton Charlson, chose not to. Besides the theme...
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
May 20, 2021 02:00 - 11 minutes - 8.07 MBSend us a Text Message. Today's crossword was chock-full of IDEAS tied to cosmology - from the universe's start, in the BIGBANG, to its end, with (according to TSELIOT), a WHIMPER. It also had a shoutout to the person who helped confirm the BIGBANG, PENZIAS (not, as Mike incorrectly SPELT it for reasons that are SPELT out in the podcast, PENSIAS). A few other clues of note: 53D, Shiny button material, NACRE, and a word that most people will never, ever need to use but it's just reassuring t...
Tuesday, May 18, 2021
May 19, 2021 01:00 - 12 minutes - 8.76 MBSend us a Text Message. Typical Tuesday fare, which since this is the New York Times means really, really good fare, involving SAUSAGELINK synonyms and a secondary theme (if three related clues can be considered a theme) involving volleyball (SETTERS, SPIKES and NET). Jean of course had no problem with today's puzzle, Mike got off to a slow start, guessing that1A, Hospital scan, for short was CAT, rather than the correct answer, MRI, and then misspelling 1D, Chief of a fire department, MARS...
Monday, May 17, 2021
May 18, 2021 02:00 - 10 minutes - 7.02 MBSend us a Text Message. Did we like this crossword? JA, DA, OUI, SI, or, to put it another way, YES! Beyond the clever theme (answers that embedded YES, in various languages), it was slightly more difficult than the usual Monday fare. However, it did have 29A, Where to order a Blizzard, DAIRYQUEEN, so we are contractually obligated to give it a yummy 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected]. Also, we're on FaceBook, so ...
Sunday, May 16, 2021
May 17, 2021 01:00 - 13 minutes - 9.34 MBSend us a Text Message. It's not easy to BUILDABETTERMOUSETRAP, nor to build a better crossword gimmick, but in today's CADILLAC of a puzzle Joe DiPietro shows us how it's done -- so if you want to CLAP, or sing a PAEAN in his honor, we would certainly understand. After all, any puzzle that include 21A, Loud thudding sound, CRUMP 😀, or 59A, Hasbro game requiring increasingly quick reflexes, BOPIT, or manages to cross ATOMS, IOTA and MITE, clearly deserves acclaim. Contact Info: We love li...
Saturday, May 15, 2021
May 16, 2021 01:00 - 14 minutes - 10.2 MBSend us a Text Message. It wasn't quite RAGNAROK, but today's crossword was a major challenge, with deliciously deceitful clues, like 9A, Avon lady, for one, BRITON, 3D, What's on the fast track?, ACELA, and 60A, Hip joints, HOTSPOTS ... actually anywhere you look in this puzzle you'll find that same ultra-high quality, as we have come to expect by the master of cruciverbal cunning, Sam Trabucco. Definitely a 5 squares on the JAMCR scale! Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line...
Friday, May 14, 2021
May 15, 2021 01:00 - 13 minutes - 9.42 MBSend us a Text Message. It was ALLSYSTEMSGO for Jean, who set a new best time for a Friday crossword, typing so quickly that relativistic effects caused her fingers to noticeably elongate. Mike meanwhile, had a spot of bother in the top left corner, thanks primarily to 2D, "________Camp", 2020 Oscar-nominated documentary, CRIP, and 3D, "Woman's rights pioneer Elizabeth _________ Stanton", CADY. But thanks to 52A, One way to crack a code, BRUTEFORCE, he too was able to persevere. It's Fun ...
Thursday, May 13, 2021
May 14, 2021 02:00 - 9 minutes - 6.52 MBSend us a Text Message. While today's crossword had a few of THEUSUALSUSPECTS - LAB, TASE and ARSON -- it also had some more ANOMALOUS entries -- movie titles that were (for the most part) questions, the answers to which were ... other movie titles. For instance, 38A, Who framed Roger Rabbit? [1995], turned out to be the aforementioned THEUSUALSUSPECTS. It must've taken TRUEGRIT to construct this crossword, hats off to the J.A.S.A. Crossword Class (and their teachers, Andy Kravis and Natan ...
Wednesday, May 12, 2021
May 13, 2021 01:00 - 10 minutes - 7.29 MBSend us a Text Message. A full-bodied crossword, thanks, undoubtedly, to the presence of VO5 in the bottom left corner. In today's episode, Jean and Mike ponder whether any Georgia teams have a VIDALIAONION as their mascot; whether sailor-scholars pronounce et alii as et al aye-aye, and if anybody, ever, has used SESAMES in a sentence. Download and listen up for all the details! Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected]. Also, we're on FaceBook, so f...
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
May 12, 2021 02:00 - 13 minutes - 9.22 MBSend us a Text Message. Today's crossword was simultaneously exciting (as New York Times crosswords usually are), but also a LOWKEY affair, as several keys appeared in the lower half of the themed answers (running vertically), FIREESCAPE, STORAGESPACE, BIRTHCONTROL, FIRSTSHIFT and OPENTAB. Both Jean and Mike, solving independently as always, finished up at the exact same square -- the intersection of 26A, Twitter thumbs-up, informally, and 19D, Western _______ (college course, informally),...
Monday, May 10, 2021
May 11, 2021 01:00 - 7 minutes - 5.2 MBSend us a Text Message. In today's episode, Jean STEMS the urge to put PITS in as the answer for 67A, Cherry throwaways, while Mike knows that he OTTO rethink 34D, The _______- is falling [Chicken Little], because his answer, SCE, doesn't make any sense. To hear the details, and -- bonus -- learn who on the team loathes BEETS, download and listen up. 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...
Sunday, May 9, 2021
May 10, 2021 00:00 - 9 minutes - 6.8 MBSend us a Text Message. Happy Mother's Day from those of us at Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword HQ, as well as the editors of the New York Times Crossword. The latter brought you a Mother's Day Concert, with songs that could be interpreted as referencing the miracle of childbirth. For example, 24A, Mom's comment to her child during prenatal bonding? [Frank Sinatra, 1954], IGETAKICKOUTOFYOU, and 66A, Mom's remark as contractions grow stronger? [The Ramones, 1978], IWANNABESEDATED....
Saturday, May 8, 2021
May 09, 2021 02:00 - 13 minutes - 9.07 MBSend us a Text Message. Ah, a David Steinberg puzzle, that means quality! And the maestro does not disappoint. with a DELUGE of ingenious and deliciously deceiving clues (35D, Composition test, ASSAY (not, as probably 90% of solvers initially thought, ESSAY); 50A, The old you?, THOU; and 56A, Camper's gear chain, REI, just to name three). Basically everywhere you look in the puzzle -- from 1A, Supreme Court members?, NBAALLSTARS, and 37D, Correction for a wild pitch?, AUTOTUNE; to 2D...
Friday, May 7, 2021
May 08, 2021 02:00 - 12 minutes - 8.33 MBSend us a Text Message. A somewhat challenging crossword, with some answers that were OUTOFLEFTFIELD -- but it's a Friday, so headwinds are par for the course. Jean had to dig for 2D, Home of many a tech startup, PALOALTO, while Mike had to talk himself out of RENTS as the answer to 44A (the correct answer being, as all good tennis players know, REDOS). Today's winner of the Most Interesting Clue Award (MICA) goes to 51D, Some deer, ROES (not, as Mike learned while watching The Sound of Mus...
Thursday, May 6, 2021
May 07, 2021 02:00 - 11 minutes - 7.92 MBSend us a Text Message. If you saw RED in today's crossword, DONTPANIC -- there *was* RED in today's crossword -- 4 RED squares, in fact, where you had to turn right and keep going in order to solve the clues. Jean hit a rough patch in the bottom right, while Mike, solving 11D, Nickname for tap-dancing legend Bill Robinson, BOJANGLES, got the Sammy Davis Jr. song stuck in his head, where it remains lodged even now. SOSAD! Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcas...
Wednesday, May 5, 2021
May 06, 2021 01:00 - 7 minutes - 4.91 MBSend us a Text Message. A fun crossword if you like NUMBERS, this one name dropped those in the PRIME and FIBONACCI realms, managing to arrange the answers so that they included numbered squares that were, of course, respectively PRIME (2 and 23) and FIBONACCI (34 and 55). Impressive! They also managed to slip 18A, Expand to 800%, OCTUPLE, into the grid, and we would be remiss if we did not point out our favorite, 16A, Price of a horror film?, VINCENT. We approve, and give it a 4.5 squares ...
Tuesday, May 4, 2021
May 05, 2021 01:00 - 13 minutes - 9.3 MBSend us a Text Message. Not that we believe in product placement, but this was a JUUL of a crossword, as the constructor, Nina Sloan, provided a bevy of insulting candy names, from GOOBERS to DUMDUMS, leaving out, presumably because of space, the delicious YOURMOTHERWEARSARMYBOOTS bar. One clue stood out in particular -- 5D, Fit on a hard drive?, ROADRAGE -- brilliant! For that alone we give this a perfect 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. In today's tips, Jean recommends crossword-solver.io,...
Monday, May 3, 2021
May 04, 2021 01:00 - 7 minutes - 5.47 MBSend us a Text Message. It's a gigantic crossword! No, not really, it is just 15x15, but it did manage to fit a giant's trademark FEEFIFOFUM into the answers. It also slipped in one of our favorite shows, 25D, Discovery Channel program that debunked popular beliefs, MYTHBUSTERS, and therefore EARN our respect. We were glad to see a shoutout to 26A, Island nation in the western Pacific, PALAU, as well as one of our all-time favorite deities, 49D, Greek goddess of wisdom, ATHENA. A nice cros...
Sunday, May 2, 2021
May 03, 2021 02:00 - 8 minutes - 6.05 MBSend us a Text Message. After the Herculean efforts yesterday's crossword demanded, today's was a much kinder solve, although it did have its moments -- 2D, Classical poem form, EPODE, and 5D, Floral archway, PERGOLA (well, one of us had troubles with it, at any rate). There was a charming segue between yesterday's puzzle and today's Yesterday offered the clue, Pickup line, NEEDARIDE, and today we had 3D, Drive's home, say, GIVESARIDE. Nice scheduling, Mr. Shortz! Contact Info: We love li...
Saturday, May 1, 2021
May 02, 2021 02:00 - 16 minutes - 11.6 MBSend us a Text Message. Mayday, Mayday! And, no, we're not just referring to the date. This was a tough crossword, with some delightful verbal misdirection. Exhibit A, 6A, One whose business is home-based?, UMP, and 22A, Popular camp assemblies, SMORES. Jean momentarily got stuck in the top right, convinced that 26A, Passes, was ELAPSED, rather than ENACTS; Mike got mired in the middle of the grid for what felt like a day and a half, having convinced himself that 43A, Motif in much Christia...
Friday, April 30, 2021
May 01, 2021 03:00 - 12 minutes - 8.31 MBSend us a Text Message. A nice crossword to round out the work week, with a lot of long answers that can be challenging, although the modern culture references were down to a minimum, giving Mike a leg up. There were definitely a few tricky clues, such as 5A, Brogues, e.g., DRESSSHOES(!), and the amusing 27A, Ones getting you down?, GEESE 😀. We definitely appreciated this crossword, and give it a 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpo...
Thursday, April 29, 2021
April 30, 2021 01:00 - 10 minutes - 6.96 MBSend us a Text Message. Attention, haiku lovers, your time has come! Well, almost ... there is a haiku in today's crossword, but it is just ONESYLLABLETOOLONG. Today's puzzle was a challenge: almost by definition embedded poems, quotes, etc., require you lean on the crosses, and there were a few toughies, especially 3D, "... not to mention everything that could go wrong!", ORWORSE, and the question of spelling 31A, Pepper between jalapeño and cayenne on the Scoville heat scale, SERRANO. Not...
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
April 29, 2021 01:00 - 8 minutes - 5.84 MBSend us a Text Message. It's an OPENANDSHUTCASE -- the crossword was great, with a very clever and intricate theme: it was NOACCIDENT that the author was Hal Moore, who has had 7 crosswords accepted in the New York Times in the last 4 years, not too shabby! As is often the case, there were a few words here that rewarded frequent solvers -- 16A, Man with morals, AESOP, had just shown up a few days ago, and 12D, Ideal condition for collectors, MINT, had appeared (in a different guise) just y...
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
April 28, 2021 01:00 - 12 minutes - 8.8 MBSend us a Text Message. Today's crossword is a MINTCONDITION Tuesday effort, with lots to like. First, it has 22D, ______ Lee, longtime head of Marvel comics, STAN; 6D, Bigwig, NABOB (fun to say, and fun to drink); and 66A, Dubious sightings in the Himalayas, YETIS (aka official Nepalese monsters of the New York Times crossword). For Tip Tuesday, Jean recommends diving through the archives for practice, starting with Mondays; and Mike suggests not confusing DIES IRAE, the hymn, with ISSA R...
Monday, April 26, 2021
April 27, 2021 01:00 - 6 minutes - 4.77 MBSend us a Text Message. Today's crossword paid homage to the pillars of the FOODCOURT -- DAIRYQUEEN, WHITECASTLE, and BURGERKING (although Mike still wants to know why LADYOLIVEGARDEN was slighted). And that pillar reference was intentional -- both DQ and BK ran vertically, the horizontal answers tending to be shorter than is the norm. A few recent crossword answers made repeat performances -- 61A, Tennis score after deuce, ADIN, and 66A, Lady _________, first female member of Parliament,...
Sunday, April 25, 2021
April 26, 2021 02:00 - 19 minutes - 13.2 MBSend us a Text Message. In Saturday's crossword we had 35A, Implausible argument, say, STRETCH, a fine example of foreshadowing, because today's puzzle, titled Stretching Exercises, revolved around stretching various muscle groups (nice scheduling, Mr. Shortz). Besides the rather intricate theme -- listen to Jean's splendid explanation herein -- the Slang meter was pretty much pegged today, between 61A, "Oh, hell yes!", ABSOFREAKINGLUTELY; 68D, Visibly scornful, SNEERY;, and 77A, Racy se...
Saturday, April 24, 2021
April 25, 2021 01:00 - 16 minutes - 11.6 MBSend us a Text Message. Everywhere you look in this crossword you'll find a superb example of the clue-writer's craft. In the top-left, 13A, Rockies you won't find in Colorado?, AWAYTEAM. In the center left, 22D, Stocking stuffer, KRISKRINGLE. In the bottom center, 50D, Hardly a man without morals, AESOP, and in the top center, 20D, Real posers?, YOGIS. Clearly, Kristian House and Mike Dockins know what they're doing, and what they're doing is providing great entertainment. Nicely done, 5 s...
Friday, April 23,2021
April 24, 2021 01:00 - 9 minutes - 6.25 MBSend us a Text Message. A Robyn Weintraub Friday crossword, woot! Jean had to dig deeply for this one, but Mike was able to fare quite well, abetted by an almost complete dearth of cultural references — but for both it left a good AFTERTASTE. Download and listen up to get the whole story. 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!
Thursday, April 22, 2021
April 23, 2021 01:00 - 12 minutes - 8.74 MBSend us a Text Message. The name's Burch, Jem Burch, and she turns in a gem of a crossword starring the most British of spies, Bond, James Bond. The theme involves 7 OO rebuses, forming a large number 7 that extends the height of the grid, as well as 3 actors who have played James Bond - Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. The clues were also extraordinarily well done. Consider as exhibit A 5D, It quits when it gets depressed, ESC (brilliant!), or 64A, Unexpected declaration a...
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
April 22, 2021 02:00 - 16 minutes - 11.1 MBSend us a Text Message. Jean found today's crossword to be a SLICK, SWEETRIDE, while Mike thought it might BURY his streak in an avalanche of cultural references that were not in his wheelhouse -- including but astoundingly by no means limited to, 20A, Star of the "Deadpool" films, RYANREYNOLDS, 34A, Postmodern novelist who wrote "White Noise", DONDELILLO, and 3D, Likely inspiration for Meryl Streep's character in "The Devil Wears Prada", ANNAWINTOUR. Still, the crossword did have R2D2 and ...
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
April 21, 2021 01:00 - 11 minutes - 7.67 MBSend us a Text Message. No, the New York Times crossword is not going to the dogs, although a skosh of them had cameos in today's puzzle. If there is indeed a New York Times crossword Clue-Hall-of-Fame, then we would like to nominate 13D, Awesome, in surfer speak, GNARLY, simply to give us an excuse to write the word GNARLY. There were several artful juxtapositions in today's grid, including 33A, Jack who pioneered late-night talk, PAAR, and 34A, Golfer's target, PAR, as well as 62A, Stinky...
Monday, April 19, 2021
April 20, 2021 01:00 - 7 minutes - 5.31 MBSend us a Text Message. Was this a fun crossword? YOUBETYOURLIFE -- because of that, and 2 other CLASSICGAMESHOW references that formed the theme for today's puzzle. It also had the clue 9A, Wee bit, SKOSH, which was COOL. It was pretty easy, some might say a SNAP, but based on the law of conservation of crossword difficulty (tm), the rest of the week is likely to be ATEST -- we'll report back, as always, and let you know. Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodca...
Sunday, April 18, 2021
April 19, 2021 02:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MBSend us a Text Message. NEEDLESSTOSAY, today's crossword is not MISSIONIMPOSSIBLE; indeed, some veteran crossword solvers have maintained that it is a tad TOOEASY. But we found it to be a Goldilocks of a puzzle, just right. It had some interesting factoids -- 6D.Mnemosyne's daughters THEMUSES, and 41A, Site of Hercules' first labor, NEMEA -- as well as some amusing clues, such as 89A, Block where Sesame Street can be found, PBSKIDS, and 98D, Bar rooms?, CELLS (nice). We give it the JAMDTNYT...
Saturday, April 17, 2021
April 18, 2021 01:00 - 10 minutes - 7.03 MBSend us a Text Message. A FUNFETTI of a Saturday crossword, albeit with a potential natick in the top-right corner for those who do not use compasses on a daily basis -- 26A, 270°, WEST, crossing 14D, On the ________, SCENT. Mike enjoyed 7D, Mathematical puzzle with movable disks, TOWEROFHANOI, and Jean appreciated 49D, "The perfume of heroic deeds", to Socrates, FAME. Both savored 38A, Zoom participants?, DRAGRACERS. All-in-all, a fine offering by constructor Leslie Rogers (edited, as...
Friday, April 16. 2021
April 17, 2021 03:00 - 12 minutes - 8.9 MBSend us a Text Message. Both Jean and Mike ran into headwinds in the top-right corner, specifically 22A, Agree(with), JIBE -- as opposed to their (independently derived at) answers, JIVE. That one errant letter crossed 13D, Seaport derived from the Arabic for "obstacle", AQABA -- quite apropos in this case! There were some delightful new(ish) clues -- 38A, Football tactic to prevent a long return, SQUIBKICK, and 52D, Matches at a table, SEES (or, as Mike continues to insist, despite all t...
Thursday, April 15, 2020
April 16, 2021 03:00 - 10 minutes - 7.56 MBSend us a Text Message. Happy tax day! And we're not just saying that because of 17A, City transport, redundantly, TAXICAB. Jean found today's crossword easy-ish, Mike had a MACABRE problem in the top right, done in by his unfamiliarity with apparently the most famous singer of the 20th century, in her most famous role... that would be 12D, Streisand role in Funny Girl, BRICE. HARSH! Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected]. Also, we're on FaceBook,...
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
April 15, 2021 01:00 - 8 minutes - 5.58 MBSend us a Text Message. A "smooth solve", as they like to say in the crossword-solving-biz, with just a few potholes and lots of fun clues -- 27D, Spring recreation?, TRAMPOLINE, being the bounciest of them, and 47A, Start of a giant's chant, FEE, being -- ironically for a giant, but mandated because of the NYTimes rules about answer length -- shortest, answer. Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected]. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop b...
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
April 14, 2021 01:00 - 13 minutes - 9.38 MBSend us a Text Message. Neither Jean nor Mike got off to a ROCKYSTART with this crossword, ironic since all of the themed answers benefited from having, well, a ROCKYSTART. For example, 18A, Coyote outfoxed in cartoons, ROADRUNNER, maps to ROCKYROAD; 24A, "Get Out", for one, HORRORFILM, maps to ROCKYHORROR; and so on. A few old favorites dropped by -- 65A, Cookie in the shape of its first and last letters, OREO (the official cookie of the NYTimes crossword), and 50A, Mauna ______ (Hawaiian ...
Monday, April 12, 2021
April 13, 2021 03:00 - 9 minutes - 6.48 MBSend us a Text Message. AWGEE, it's AWEEBIT of an INSIDEBASEBALL theme. Jean, of course was enthralled, but Mike was too busy searching for the missing G from 46D, Doin' nothin', CHILLIN, to take much notice. Fortunately he did find that missing G in the puzzle, and for all the details, have a listen! 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, April 11, 2021
April 12, 2021 00:00 - 13 minutes - 9.17 MBSend us a Text Message. A punderful Sunday crossword, based on the notion of running two companies together at high speeds in the hope that they will produce something interesting ... oh, wait, we've just been told that that's what nuclear physicists do. In any event, this was a fun crossword, with clever cluing throughout, from 42D, Little sounds, INLETS, to 103A, Shot across the bow, ARROW, to 58A, Rulers' staffs, SCEPTERS, something for everybody to enjoy and/or groan at. Contact Info: ...
Saturday, April 10, 2021
April 11, 2021 00:00 - 9 minutes - 6.43 MBSend us a Text Message. One of us (that would be Jean) found today's crossword to be a walk in the park, the other (that would be Mike) less of a SHOOIN and more like a POLARBEARPLUNGE (to borrow an answer from yesterday's crossword), his experience ably summarized in the clue, 25A, "Heavens to Murgatroyd!". Just a friendly reminder that if you want to subscribe to the New York Times crossword, nytimes.com/crosswords is all that you need to know; and if you want to follow along as we dis...
Friday, April 9, 2021
April 10, 2021 01:00 - 10 minutes - 7.19 MBSend us a Text Message. In today's episode, Mike learns how to pronounce MEME and LOLCATS; Jean teaches Mike how to pronounce MEME and LOLCATS; and we have a Fun Fact about an answer that appeared earlier in the week, ECOTONE. Download and enjoy! 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!
Thursday, April 8, 2021
April 09, 2021 01:00 - 7 minutes - 5.52 MBSend us a Text Message. Apparently Pun Prison had a breakout today, but fear not -- the escapees got stuck in today's crossword, where they are waiting for your ... enjoyment? Here's just one, to give you the idea: 27A, Cry on arriving for a boating trip?, WHATSUPDOCK. Alas, they don't get any better (or is that worse)? All kidding aside, it was a pleasurable and not too difficult puzzle from the clearly pun-obsessed crossword constructor Jake Halperin. We give it a 5 squares on the JAMCR s...
Wednesday, April 7, 2021
April 08, 2021 01:00 - 12 minutes - 8.82 MBSend us a Text Message. A nice Wednesday crossword. Jean got through it lickety-split and tickety-boo. Mike got through the first top 2/3 fairly expeditiously but then went into tai-chi mode, due to his lack of knowledge of 37D, Native Caribbean plant whose fruit grows in clusters, the delicious SEAGRAPE, and his belief that 64A, A giant one rises in Citi Field after ever Mets homer. was somehow a reference to ADELE (as opposed to the correct answer, APPLE). Both Jean & Mike, although so...
Tuesday, April 6, 2021
April 07, 2021 01:00 - 12 minutes - 8.81 MBSend us a Text Message. HEAVENSTOBETSY it's been a long time since we've heard anyone say HEAVENSTOBETSY, but it popped up today, along with several other phrases from some bygone era, courtesy of Amanda Chung and Karl Ni. There were several loooong clues, long enough that the grid needed to be stretched to 14x16: so for those of you who calculate your subscription on a per square basis, the New York Times owes you exactly 1 square (14x16 = 224, 15x15 = 225). It's Tip Tuesday, and today ...
Monday, April 5, 2021
April 06, 2021 01:00 - 9 minutes - 6.44 MBSend us a Text Message. A more difficult than usual Monday crossword, but filled with sparkling clues like 34A, Hairstyle popularized by Lucille Ball, POODLECUT, 40D, Nonsense, MALARKEY, 44A, Cheap neighborhood bar, LOCALDIVE, and 38A, For two, in music, ADUE. Today's episode covers all that and more, so download and be prepared to be uplifted! 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 str...
Sunday, April 4, 2021
April 05, 2021 01:00 - 11 minutes - 8 MBSend us a Text Message. Today's crossword was clearly a LABOROFGLOVE, and if you think that there's a typo in this sentence, listen to today's episode to be disabused of that notion. Jean got through today's crossword in her usual expeditious manner, while Mike-- puzzled by the fact that the answer to 31A, Emergency room concern, was TRAUMA rather than PROOFOFINSURANCE -- had to go EXTRAINNINGS before he could LASSO a victory. Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crossword...
Saturday, April 3, 2021
April 04, 2021 00:00 - 9 minutes - 6.82 MBSend us a Text Message. A NEATO crossword from the pen of Peter A. Collins, rife with amusing clues (32A, "Squee!", IMSOEXCITED, 37D, Worn down apparel?, PARKAS (awesome!), and 20A, Part of a driver's manual, CLUTCH). There were a few clues that might make respectively, spelling-challenged and Anglophobes blanch -- 36A, Former name of Kazakhstan's largest city, ALMAATA, and 26A, Crown Jewels' quality, LUSTRE. The latter ties in nicely to Thursday's crossword, where the amazing Sam Ezersky c...
Friday, April 2, 2021
April 03, 2021 02:00 - 8 minutes - 5.81 MBSend us a Text Message. After yesterday's quagmire, today's crossword is (relatively) straightforward -- not easy by any stretch of the imagination, but there were enough toeholds in every area of the puzzle to give one hope. Jean, for instance, knew 27D, Figure skater Lipinski, TARA, in the center left of the crossword; 21D, Tony-winning musical written by Lin-Manuel Miranda during his second year of college, INTHEHEIGHTS, on the right side; 11D, It may keep you on your toes, BALLET, in th...