Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

A good cruciverbal workout courtesy of Carly Schuna, today's crossword has something for everyone: a mysterious Gen-Z  phrase (35A, "I can relate", in Gen-Z slang, THATISSUCHAMODE); a (for Mike) tricky baseball reference (23A, Up, ATBAT); and a quotation that is as true now as it was when it was first (possibly apocryphally) uttered in the 1700s, (27D, "When in ________, don't", a maxim attributed to Benjamin Franklin, DOUBT).

In addition to the puzzle, we have some great listener mail and a fabulous Fun Fact Friday segment. Deets inside, so download now and beat the rush!

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A challenging Thursday crossword, but with a terrific payoff: another one of those tour de force themes that the NYTimes Thursday crosswords are famous for. We won't spoil that by discussing it here in the show notes, but we would like to point out a few non-themed clues: 54D, Mexican beach resort, informally, CABO; 15D, Notorious initials, RBG (not, as Mike initially postulated, BIG); 8D, Crossbreeds smaller than ligers, TIGONS; and 41A, Tittle, DOT (and that's not a typo, either 😀).

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

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This was a super crossword, and we're not just saying it because 51D, Superman, most of the time, KENT, flew into the grid. Rather it's because of an ingenious theme (deets inside), and some very timely clueing -- SMOG, COALMINE, and AIRSHOWS (literally!). There were some other fine clues as well, such as 39A, Having a fermented quality, WINY; 22A, Fabric derived from wood pulp, RAYON (huh!); and 45A, Noted sea shell seller, SHE (nice!).  We approve, 5 squares on the JAMCR scale.

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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!

A fun Tuesday crossword: the theme was a bit hairy, but in a good way, and the rest of the clues felt crisp and novel. Beyond those delved into in the episode, 17A, One-act Strauss opera adapted from an Oscar Wilde play, SALOME; 33A, Famed 1990s TV psychic, MISSCLEO; and our favorite industrial designers, 38D, Chair designer Charles or Ray, EAMES, all caught our eye(s).

Triplet Tuesday has returned (as it has a tendency to do every seven days), and this week Mike's in the hot-seat. Will he heroically rise to the occasion, abetted by the aforementioned thermally-challenged seat? Or will he just flame out, as he is ought to do on occasion? Find out: subscribe, download, listen up, and prepare to chortle!

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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!

A nicely done Monday crossword by Taylor Johnson and Christina Iverson, and we therefore raise a glass of 32D, Powdered orange drink, TANG, in their honor. There were 3 debut answers in today's grid, and our favorite was the slightly deceptive 42A, Certain bluegrass musician, BANJOPLAYER (as opposed to a certain bluegrass musician, which would've been even more challenging). We were also partial to 15A, _______ the Riveter (woman in an old wartime poster), ROSIE, and as always pleased to learn something new,  22A, Believer in a non-intervening God, DEIST. 

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

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John Westwig shows how it's done, with a brilliant Sunday crossword (his 8th for the NYTimes) - terrific theme, sparkling clues that make you dig for the answers (sometimes with a trowel, a few that require something more along the lines of an oil rig), a perfect Sunday opus.  We loved it, and to find out why, check out today's episode!

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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!

A very sticky Saturday crossword, with more traps than a golf course, and calculated to lead you down the garden path (such as may be found in ZENGARDENS). Some of our favorites include 33A, "Elvis has left the building", EVERYBODYGOHOME; 32D, "I'm beat!", WHATADAY; and 28D, Overseas sailors, LIMEY (so named after what they ate to avoid scurvy). 

This being Saturday, we also have our JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), and this one includes a mild surprise. Curious? Intrigued (which technically means almost the same thing as curious)? If so, just subscribe (so you'll never miss an episode), download (so you'll have this one) listen (so, um, you'll listen) and enjoy (because that's the end game!).

We love feedback! Send us a text...

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 relatively straightforward Friday crossword, and a debut for its constructor, Kunal Nabar. There were some enlightening clues - 22A, Theme park originally conceived as a planned community, EPCOT; some vocabulary stretching clues - 57A, Overly slick, UNCTUOUS; and some amusing clues - Top present during the holiday season?, DREIDEL 😀.

A great crossword, definitely worth 5 squares on the JAMCR scale.

Also, it's Friday, so to learn about a huge British comedy (among other things), subscribe, download, listen up, and prepare to be educated and entertained!

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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 terrific Thursday crossword by Michael Baker and the indefatigable Jeff Chen, with an LOL theme and some fascinating clueing, including 22A, Co. that, in 1925, said of crosswords "The craze evidently is dying out fast"', NYT ;1D, "Honesty with the volume cranked up", per George Sanders, IRONY, and 26A, org. that might have a beef with beef, USDA 😀

All the deets are inside, so just subscribe, download, listen up and prepare to be educated and entertained.

We love feedback! Send us a text...

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 delicious mid-week snack by Jimmy Peniston, with a unique theme that you can really sink your teeth into. And if that last sentence didn't clue you into the theme, then listening to today's podcast certainly will, so have at it!

Remember that the NYTimes Crossword is a scientifically proven way to keep those little gray cells sharp, and they'd love to have you as a subscriber! So wander over to nytimes.com/crosswords, and tell 'em Jean & Mike sent you!

We love feedback! Send us a text...

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!