Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

Solving today's crossword, by Dylan Schiff and John Kugelman, required you fully engaged your pun lobe (just north of the puneal gland, according to 100% of the neurosurgeons that we have consulted on the matter). Having done so, you will likely make short work of this puzzle, and have a lot of fun doing so. We certainly did!

Show note imagery: Commander NEWT, leading Apollo 14.5 😁

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Today's crossword had some stellar clues — as we describe in today's episode — built around an absolutely gorgeous "super-symmetric" grid. For those of you not immersed in the esoterica of crossword construction, a super-symmetric grid has horizontal, vertical, and diagonal symmetry. You can see it, in all its glory, at xwordinfo.com

Show note imagery: The seal of CAL, aka UC Berkeley, where 16 elements have been discovered. How did they do it? Why, it's elementary! 🙄

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This was an excellent and challenging Friday crossword by Katie Hoody, who is well known for her excellent and challenging (predominantly Saturday) puzzles. Today's might've been nominally on Friday, but both cohosts thought it was "Saturday-ready", with a sea of sneaky clues engineered to entrap the unwary. 

Besides those mentioned in today's episode, we had clues like 26A, Band at a Jimmy Buffet concert?, LEI (wow!); 30A, With whom one pools pounds for quarters, FLATMATE (brilliant!!); and 52D, Remedy for deflation, PUMP (ha!). And, trust us, there was more where that came from! Deets inside.

Show note imagery: Some always fashionable MARYJANES from litlookz.studio.

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Today's crossword was an awesome bit of work by David J. Kahn, a highly accomplished crossword constructor who first published in the NYTimes in 1994. The puzzle in question was — depending on which cohost you talk to — either a tad on the challenging side, or staggeringly, breathtakingly difficult. Regardless, both loved it, for a multitude of reasons elaborated upon in today's episode.

In addition to the crossword, we have a spot of excellent listener mail for your enjoyment, so ... enjoy!

Show note imagery: Cosmic Runner, by Peter MAX

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Although your cohosts — currently sporting their higher-ed caps while writing this — are staunchly against grade inflation, they don't feel the slightest twinge of guilt at giving today's crossword an A+, as it was earned. Deets inside.

Show note imagery: Tusky, mascot for the Utah Mammoth, an NHL team as of April 18, 2024.

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Today marks the NYTimes debut for crossword constructor David Falkowski, and a fine debut it is. The theme was smile-inducing, as were, come to think of it, the rest of the clues in today's puzzle. Nicely done, David!

But wait, there's more! We have a Triplet Tuesday segment, and Jean's in the hot seat. Check out today's episode to see if she aced the test or went down in flames.

Show note imagery: A GRANARY, engineered to keep out rats, pests, mold and the letter I.

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Both cohosts found today's crossword to be a jot crunchier than the typical Monday fare in places. It started off almost comically easy, but then seemed to put up more resistance in the middle of the grid. We found it endearing, and the theme in particular quite amusing. 

Besides the crossword, we have chosen our JAMCOTWA™️ (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), and we can say, with 100% confidence, that it was one of the crosswords of the previous week. 🙄 Check the episode for more detailed coverage.

Show note imagery: Canadian actor Ryan Gosling, attempting to save the Earth (as Canadians are wont to do).

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Today marks Peter Gorman's debut Sunday crossword. He has now published every day of the week except Friday and Saturday, but, based on how quickly he was able to get to 5 — his first crossword appeared in February of 2025 — we expect him to knock those out in short order. 

In the meantime, we have this fine puzzle to savor, with a rebus-ish theme and lively cluing throughout. Nicely done, Peter!

Show note imagery: LORELEI — the UNESCO World Heritage Site version, not the siren who lured sailors to their deaths.

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Saturday crosswords are, by tradition — at least since Will Shortz took over as editor — the toughest puzzles of the week, and today's definitely qualified. Both cohosts had to labor mightily to get to the happy music, but the journey was a joyous one. There were many, many delightfully deceptive clues in today's puzzle, just as it should be. Deets inside.

Show note imagery: The Netflix series CHEFSTABLE

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Today's crossword was a debut for Adam Shapiro — but it wasn't for a lack of trying. He has had 15 previous submissions to the NYTimes rejected, so today's puzzle is a monument to perseverance as well as crossword constructing excellence. An example of the latter may be seen in 39D, Holder of all the digits, from 1 to 0, KEYPAD (awesome!); 57A, Losing causes? DIETS (delectable!); and the astounding 17A, Mail-centric fiction, EPISTOLARYNOVEL (so that's how you spell it!). For the record, Jean found this puzzle much easier than Mike, but both agreed that it was a superb way to wrap up the work week.

Show note imagery: Dracula, Bram Stoker's seminal EPISTOLARYNOVEL

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