Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

As the week progresses, the crossword constructors get more opportunities to add spice to the mix, and Joseph Gangi, author of today's fine puzzle (edited, as always, by the legendary Will Shortz), has been spending overtime in the kitchen, the result of which is the effervescent grid you see before you (or will see if you visit our favorite site, xwordinfo.com).

Besides our cutting-edge analysis, we also have (speaking of cutting) some listener mail regarding CUTCO. So for all of that, you are cordially invited to download, listen up, and enjoy today's episode.

Show note imagery: Georges Seurat, a man well suited to crossing those t's and (especially) dotting those i's 😀.

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This was a debut for Nate Hall, and he does a bang-up job. The theme was perfect for a Tuesday, and there were some marvelous clues throughout the grid. Jean's favorite was 44D, Pet sitters?, LAPCATS, whereas Mike's was definitely 22A, Creature that moves at an average speed of 0.03 miles per hour, SNAIL. 🐌

Besides our tour through the grid, in honor of Tuesday we have another Triplet Tuesday™️ segment for your enjoyment: this week Jean shows why she is the Queen of Triplet Tuesday.

Show note imagery: Speaking of queens ... arguably the greatest arena rock rockers of all time, Queen

Show note URL: the latest trailer for Avengers: Doomsday

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This was a classy Monday crossword, and the fact that Carolyn Davies Lynch and Christina Iverson are in the marquee has a lot to do with it. The clues just seemed to have a little more pizzaz. We covered most of them in the podcast, but there were others: 

• a puzzle within a puzzle: 44A, Man's name that's a citrus fruit spelled backward, EMIL;
•  a word that we just love to say: 46D, Source of motivation, in modern lingo, INSPO; and
• a real ear-worm clue if there ever was one: 10D, Mary who sings "In every job that must be done there is an element of fun", POPPINS.  

Besides the crossword, we've got our JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award) winner for the week, congratulations, Paul!

Show note imagery: Some delicious SHISO

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Hopefully you remember your Greek lessons, listeners, because they — or at least one of them, which we hope for comedy's sake took place on a PHIday — will come in particularly handy today. And now that we've got your curiosity piqued, don't PHIght it — download today's podcast to find out what all the PHIuss, er, fuss, is about.

Show note imagery: The birthstones, from Garnet to Turquoise

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This was a fine Saturday crossword by Kamereon Austin Collins, his 25th for the NYTimes and his 17th Saturday opus.

There were a slew of great clues in the grid, including 6D, "That dis was goo-ood!!", OHSNAP; 33D, Meemaw, NANA; 55A, Art form featuring performers in kishin (demon) and okina (old man) masks, NOHTHEATER; and a reminder of one of our absolute favorite football lines, 52D, "___ Given Sunday" (1999 football drama), ANY.

Show note imagery: A pair of WATERHORSEs, an example of a Celtic kelpie

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Greg Snitkin and Glenn Davis have collaborated on two crosswords, both Fridays, and both fantabulous. Today's had some novelties, including 3 superb debuts: 14A, Winning like crazy, ONAHEATER (woah!); the award-winning 34A, Stealthy flier, AIRMARSHAL (hey, what happened to the second L??); and the equally splendid 61A, He's great for the time being, MRRIGHTNOW (brilliant!).

In addition to today's puzzle, we have a fun fact for Fun Fact Friday, and if the suspense of what that might be is getting to you, here's a BIG hint: look to today's episode title.

Show note imagery: In 2017, the Monopoly boot token got the ... wait for it ... boot! 😀 

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This was a delightful Thursday crossword by Mallory Montgomery and Zhou Zhang. Jean got through it at gazelle-like speeds, whereas Mike, who made the tyro's mistake of following his own advice, was less gazelle, more giraffe. Deets inside.

Show note imagery: Rochester, Jane EYRE, and Adele (well before her breakout album, 19).

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Our co-hosts had almost comically differing experiences solving today's crossword. Jean found it to be ... a breeze, whereas Mike found it to be a category 5 hurricane, which he will dub Hurricane Adrianne, after the creator of said hurricane, er, puzzle, Adrianne Baik. Apparently Adrianne was able to quickly and remotely rifle through Mike's memory palace (more like a memory shanty, but nvm), identify everything he didn't know, and then put it into a crossword. Well played, Adrianne!

For all the deets of what turned out to be a walk in the park  / EPIC cruciverbial battle, subscribe, download, listen up, and enjoy today's episode!

Show note imagery: HELLOKITTY!

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Today's crossword was terrific. A theme that pegged the pun-meter, a second theme that nobody other than your cohosts know about 😀, and a lot of other fine clues in the grid. We particularly enjoyed the duality of 42A, One-named supermodel, IMAN and 39D, Country in which men traditionally wear robes called dishdashas, OMAN; and we also appreciated the memory-lane moment induced by 50D, "Ghosts" playwright Henrik, IBSEN.

In other news, we have another Triplet Tuesday segment: to find out if Mike soared or plummeted, check out today's episode.

Show note imagery: IMAN (right) in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, from 1991.

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This was a gentle Monday crossword, easing us into our crossword-solving week. It was still entertaining, though, thanks to a theme that will lift your spirits — literally. 

In addition to the crossword, we also have chosen our latest JAMCOTWA™️ (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), and this week goes to ... [REDACTED, TO HEIGHTEN SUSPENSE AND BECAUSE WE GET PAID BY THE WORD😀]! 

Show note imagery: Fanny BRICE, legendary actress and inspiration for Funny Girl

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