Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

Gene Louise De Vera's 5th NYTimes puzzle was one for the books. One of the sacrosanct rules of NYTimes crossword-dom is that an answer never appears twice in the grid. Well, rules are meant to be broken, so they say, and today this one was -- but all for a good cause, aka the theme. 

We had some other great clues in the grid. Besides those mentioned in the podcast, we had the slick 94D, Paired chips with dips?, RHYMED; the fabulous 84D, Ixnays from Irkutsk, NYETS; and a favorite of whatever generation came to the fore in the 2010s, 54D, "Not gonna lie ...", NOCAP.

Show note imagery: The roundest country in the world, SIERRALEONE!

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The clues in today's crossword, Hannah Slovut's third for the NYTimes, were so dazzling that we felt we ought to wear shades while solving it. There were scads of clever clues everywhere you look in the grid, and nary a clunker anywhere: just way we like our Saturday crosswords! For the full 411 — as well as another episode of "Oh, That's How You Pronounce it!"™️, check out today's podcast.

Show note imagery: Some actors in MOCAP (motion-capture) suits

Show note url: The name's PESCI, Joe PESCI, and here's how you pronounce it

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To explain the episode title: this was, indeed, an awesome crossword. And, as has happened for years upon years, Deb Amlen scrutinized the crossword in the accompanying NYTimes column, Wordplay. This was her last Wordplay column, however: she is now retiring to take up other pursuits. But her last column was as good as usual, and today's crossword was a great send off. 

Besides the crossword proper, we also have a weather-related fun fact for Fun Fact Friday™️, and some great listener mail, which does double duty as the basis of an "Oh, that's how you pronounce it" segment. 

Show note imagery: VEGENAISE, properly spelled 😉

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It's a new year, so why not start it off with a new constructor? That may or may not be Will's reasoning, but today's crossword is indeed a debut for Topher Booth, and it is an auspicious beginning. We were keen on the theme (and yes, there's a trace of a pun there), and found the rest of the clues to be just right for a Thursday. Apart from those mentioned in the podcast, we'd like to salute 47A, Prefix with genetics, EPI (ok, if you say so!); 54D, Kind of wind ... or an alternative to wind, SOLAR (brilliant!); and 46D, "Sit!", PARKIT (😀). In short, this was a fine way to kick off 2026, and hope that Topher's got some other puzzles in the hopper, so to speak.

Show note imagery: How many works of art have been immortalized in Emojis? Three: the Statue of Liberty (🗽), Moai (🗿), and today's puzzle entry, Edvard Munch's famed masterpiece, THESCREAM (😱).

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In honor of the ultimate day of 2025, Jeffrey Martinovic has donned both his party hat and thinking cap, the end result of which is today's fine crossword. We have, as always, the deets inside, plus something a little extra to send out 2025 in style. Have a listen, and then — assuming you're on the Gregorian calendar — have a great New Year's Eve / New Year's Day!!

Show note imagery: A BOXSOCIAL, without which the second act of Oklahoma! would be a lot shorter 🙄

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After a week to recharge and reenergize, both cohosts are back and in peak fighting form -- or, to be more precise, crossword-solving form. And we had an excellent crossword to welcome us back, the second collaboration between Geoffrey Schorkopf and Will Eisenberg (edited, as always, by the inimitable Will Shortz). We have all the deets inside, as well as another of our famous Triplet Tuesday segments, so tune in to enjoy all that goodness!

Show note imagery: The beautiful ISOLA (island) of Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean and home to some of the longest-living people in the world (as well as approximately 4 million sheep, which makes falling asleep in Sardinian hotels particularly easy 😀).

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Today's crossword was (as you can deduce from the episode title) a fun, Christmas-themed puzzle by famed magician David Kwong. Jean & Co. solved it expeditiously, whereas David almost made Mike's streak disappear thanks to some cruciverbial magic in the top-center of the grid. All turned out well, though, for both cohosts and their streaks. Deets inside.

FYI, we will be taking a hiatus this week (starting up again on the 29th). For those of you who want your daily fix, fear not -- we're pretty sure you can find something in our burgeoning back catalog. In the meantime, have a great holiday, and may Santa (or whoever delivers the gifts in your neck of the woods) send a plethora of presents your way.

Show note video: David Kwong, about to make some magic

Show note imagery: Amanda Gorman, presidential inaugural poet and author of "The Hill We Climb"

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This is Robert S. Gard's second Saturday crossword. It was not quite as difficult as his first, but the cluing was deliciously deceptive, and included five debuts. Jean got through it in her usual time; Mike found it to be a tad easier than usual, but an enjoyable solve nonetheless. 

Remember that if you're still hunting around for the perfect holiday gift, there's still time to send the gift that keeps on giving -- a subscription to the best crossword puzzle on the planet. 

Show note imagery: NERDFEST 2025 (and there's still time to register for NERDFEST 2026)

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This is a stellar Friday crossword, chockfull of effervescent clues that make it clear that an ace constructor -- in this case, Hemant Mehta --  is at the helm. There is no doubt that today's puzzle is entitled to a full 5 squares on the JAMCR scale, and we therefore gladly bestow it. Deets inside.

Show note imagery: Yum, a delectable SMORE 

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The genius required to craft an NYTimes-worthy crossword is on full display today: Joseph Gangi has created a cuuute theme, and the hilarity of that last clause will become apparent upon listening to today's podcast and/or solving today's puzzle. Numerous other clues in the grid are also worth celebrating. We chortled at 62A, The time of one's life?, AGE (😀); puzzled over 27D, About 35,000 for the Taj Mahal: Abbr., SQFT (🧐); and chortled once more at 52D, Fabrication expert, LIAR (😁).

Show note imagery: A FAUXBERGE, almost indistinguishable from a Fabergé.

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