Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

Today's crossword by Aaron M. Rosenberg -- who bears an uncanny resemblance to our vision of Clark Kent -- was most assuredly not LACKINGVARIETY, as it had clues running the gamut from punny (3D, Run just for the exposure?, STREAK 🙄) to nostalgic (58A, 1994 film about a portal through the cosmos, STARGATE) to educational-ish (68A, Entertainment industry quadfecta, EGOT). We loved it, 5 squares on the JAMCR scale.

Also, it's Triplet Tuesday, and Jean's performance today was too, too divine (as well as a hint as to her scores 😀)

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A delightful Goldilocks of a Monday crossword, not too easy, not too hard (at least if you've been doing these for a while!), with a fine theme (but no revealer!).  If the name of the constructor -- Brad Wiegmann -- is familiar, that's because this is his 5th crossword since 2021, and here's hoping that his 6th will be here before long.

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A fairly gentle crossword compared to the last few weeks, and between that and a novel theme, it turned out to be a very enjoyable solve. What was that theme, you ask? Well, we could draw you a picture, or ... we could just direct you to have a listen to today's episode, which will explain why the first clause of this sentence is so hilarious. We choose the latter, so checkout today's episode, and all will become clear.

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We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected].

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A stellar Saturday crossword by Brandon Koppy, a minor struggle for Jean, a major slog for Mike; but both eventually achieved that Elysian feeling of satisfaction that comes from completing a challenging (but fair) puzzle.

It's also Saturday, aka JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award) day, so to find out who won and why, have a listen to today's episode (and don't forget to subscribe, so you'll never miss an episode!).

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We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected].

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A challenging Friday crossword, and as you will hear in today's episode the co-hosts were of two minds regarding this puzzle. But with clues like 63A, Counter offer?, FREESAMPLE (😀), 45D, Infant's interjection, GOO (aww), and 24D, Fill with gas, AERATE (not TOPOFF), it is hard to deny that this was a fine bit of cruciverbal construction.

We also have a fun fact for Fun Fact Friday ™️, and another bit of listener mail.

Finally, a brief reminder that the NYTimes Crossword is an excellent way to keep your mind sharp and make you more attractive to whatever gender you would like to be attracted to you, so to subscribe just visit nytimes.com/crosswords.

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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!

Although the Society for the Suppression of Crosswords Without X's might beg to differ, we found today's crossword to be fun and (especially for Mike) a challenge. Clues like 60A, Cream alternative, ECRU; 14A, Clearly, in a text, OBVI (well, OBVI!); and 33D, Say it all?, ENUNCIATE, give you a taste for what's in store, a delicious puzzle, with a delectable theme. Five squares on the JAMCR scale for sure!

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We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected].

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Just when you think the NYTimes crossword constructors can't possibly come up with a new theme ... they come up with a new theme, as Joe Deeney so aptly demonstrates, and Jean so deftly describes, in today's episode.

Besides that, we also have email from a listener in South Africa. So to hear all that, subscribe, download, listen up, enjoy and ... drop us a line when you get a chance!

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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!

A cheery Monday crossword, thanks to a theme that celebrates the best of us. Most of the clues were familiar / on the easier side, as befitting a Monday, but 51D, Coffeecake with cross-sectional swirls, BABKA, and 17A, Miles Davis classic that's the all-time best-selling jazz album, KINDOFBLUE, might be the exceptions (YMMV, of course). 

A logistical note: we will be not be publishing a podcast tomorrow, in honor of Independence Day,  but we will return --with some  sparkling and colorful conversation -- the day after.

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We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected].

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A nice Sunday puzzle by Rebecca Goldstein and Rafael Musa: Jean tore through it, Mike got lost in the grid and if it weren't for the St. Bernards might never have been found.  The theme was BOOTiful, and there were some joyous clues in the grid, such as 46D, Angles above 90 degrees?, HOTYOGA (😀); 82A, Linguistic group including Zulu and Xhosa, BANTU (got it!); and 87A, Highfalutin, LAHDIDAH (well, LAHDIDAH!). The latter  posed a significant problem for one of our cohosts, and to find out who, all you need to do is download, listen up, and ... enjoy!

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We love listener mail! Drop us a line, [email protected].

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A special Canada day crossword, no, just kidding, Canada did not show up at all  in today's grid: but it was a great puzzle nonetheless, not the most difficult Saturday ever (whew!), but the cluing was crisp, novel, and they did manage to slip in 52A, Study of riddles, ENIGMATOLOGY, definitely a debut and, runner-up in the "most difficult word to slip casually into a conversation" contest.

Another Saturday has rolled by, almost like clockwork, and so it's time for our JAMCOTWA - deets inside, so subscribe (you'll never miss an episode); download (otherwise you'll never hear this one!); and enjoy (because that's the point!)

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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!