Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

A brutal Friday crossword, Brendan Emmett Quigley and Paolo Pasco do not ease up for a moment, with clues like 3D, Role for Malcom-Jamal Warner on "The People v. O.J. Simpson", ALCOWLINGS (who?),  13A, Home to Waianuenue Falls, HILO (where?), and 4D, "Gah!", DOH (huh?). These made the top-left corner extremely difficult, especially if one did  not know the answer to 1D, Pants material, CHINO, and 2D, Pants material, LINEN. How they can ask a question about pants material the answer to which is neither KHAKI nor DENIM remains a mystery that only Will Shortz can answer.

In other news, it's Fun-Fact-Friday, and in today's exciting episode we discuss the origins of mondegreen, and marvel at the fact that it has never, ever, appeared in a New York Times crossword. For all the deets, download and listen up.

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A twofer by David W. Tuffs: the regular crossword (of course), plus a second puzzle involving hiding answers in other words/phrases. For instance, 18A, Fencer's cry, ENGARDE, appeared in the puzzle as ZENGARDEN. 51A, Roadside restaurant sign, EATHERE, appeared as WEATHERED. So, good job, Avi (er, we mean David), this clearly deserves a 5 squares on the JAMCR scale.

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Today's grid was unique - a giant IF in the center of it, and in between the I and F ran the amusing answer to, 19D, Exclamation upon seeing this puzzle, THATSABIGIF, which got (at least here at JAMDTNYTC HQ, a  big laugh). Jean made short order of today's crossword, Mike had to struggle with his old nemesis, food -- in particular, the spelling of 20A, Carmichael who composed "Heart and Soul", HOAGY (not HOGIE, aka a tasty sandwich), and the answer to 3D, They can rate up to 350,000 on the Scoville scale, HABANEROPEPPERS (not JALAPENOPEPPERS, which are a mere 2,500-8,000).

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A tasty Tuesday puzzle, with some delicious clues from Eric Bornstein, including 18A, Good snack for a pilot?, WINGNUTS, and Jean's favorite, 24A, Good snack for a gangster?, TOUGHCOOKIES. Between WINGNUTS, SENECA, COMET, RADAR and ETA, one could also make the argument that besides food, there was a hidden aviation theme ... but only the crossword constructor knows for sure.

In other news, it's Triplet Tuesday, and Mike scores 2 out of 3, tripping up on DOD, but nailing BOX and GAG.

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A perfect Wednesday crossword has traveled back through time, and imperfectly impersonated a Monday crossword, which never would include such clearly Wednesday-level clues as  7D, Right-hand page of a book, RECTO, 14A, Plagued, ATEAT (um, OK), and 53A, Jose _______ (tequila brand), CUERVO. So, welcome, future crossword puzzle, we hope you brought the sports page back with you (cf. Back to the Future, Part II) 😀 

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A punderful Sunday crossword, with a suuuuubtle theme: and to unpack and decode all of that, download and listen up to today's podcast!

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Julian Lim has published 25 crosswords in the New York Times, and just one glance at this puzzle will tell you why: the clues are masterpieces of misdirection (with maybe one or two gimmes thrown in for mercy's sake). Right from the get-go, with 1A Divine instrument?, TAROTCARD, Mr. Lim lets you know that you're in for a fun ride. Definitely a 5 squares on the JAMCR scale, and for a fuller explanation of precisely why, download and listen up!

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A  straightforward Friday oeuvre from the pen of Robyn Weintraub - Mike was reminded of Joe Friday's catchphrase, "Just the facts, ma'am", as most of the clues seemed to be quite literal. To be sure, there were a few verbal sparklers, including 1A. What takes a ticking and keeps on sticking?, STAMP (not TIMEX!), and 6D, Stuck-up couples at weddings?, CAKETOPPERS. We like it, a crossword that SOOTHES.

In Fun Fact Friday, we get the 411 on pochoir prints, and one of its leading practitioners, Jean Saudé. Definitely worth a Google search!

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To answer the question posed in the episode title, yes we can, because this crossword is an absolute delight -- a fun but not impossible theme, and the "aha" moment if you get it will keep you energized for hours. Jean does a great job explaining the theme, so rather than re-explain it here, we exhort you to simply fire up whatever it is you listen to this podcast on, and enjoy!

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If you like droll comedy, you'll love today's crossword. From 17A, "Please continue your generous support of the church", MASSAPPEAL, TO 58A, "This medicine will reduce your temperature in no time", FEVERPITCH, everywhere you turn in this grid you'll find something that will make you laugh or groan, or in the worst (i.e., best) case, both. For us, it was both, as a consequence of which we give this puzzle a 5 squares on the JAMCR scale.

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