Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

Today's crossword -- a debut by John McClung -- paid homage to one of the great movie critics of the last century, to wit, ROGEREBERT; and he was full of wit, heaping praise when deserved and throwing raspberries when not. Today's grid has just 4 examples, and they are a hoot. Deets inside.

Show note imagery: The Khan el-Khalili bazaar, in CAIRO

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This was a splendid Tuesday crossword, thanks to an ingenious theme surrounded by a bevy of bedazzling clues. We appreciated the aptness of seeing 3D, In an angry way, CROSSLY, in a CROSSWORD; were flabbergasted by 13D, Weight of every U.S. bank note, ONEGRAM; and were gobsmacked by 20A, U.K. : H.M.R.C. :: U.S.A. : ___, IRS.

Today being Tuesday, we have a Triplet Tuesday™️ segment, with Jean being in the hot seat this time around.

Show note imagery: BTS, back together again!

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We're just GAGA about today's crossword. It included some of our favorite words in the English language, such as 3D, Flabbergasted, GOBSMACKED; our favorite Shakespearean insult, 63A, Playing card better known as a Jack, KNAVE 😀; and our favorite equine, 44A, Horse with a spotted coat, DAPPLE.

Besides this puzzle, we also have much to say in favor of our JAMCOTWA™️ (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award) winner. So for all the deets, check out today's episode.

Show note imagery: The gobsmacking Canyonlands National Park, in UTAH.

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The NYTimes has not shied away from publishing GOL (Groan Out Loud) Sunday crosswords, so we're delighted to report that today's is of the lesser known but always appreciated LOL variety. We will spoil nothing here, but you'll find the full 411 in today's episode.

Show note imagery: Wile E. Coyote, ever the optimist

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Prior to today, only 3 NYTimes crosswords qualified as double pangrams -- ones where the grid includes the entire alphabet, A-Z, twice. Today's crossword marks the fourth. Writing any NYTimes-worthy crossword is a challenge, but writing a pangram really ups the difficulty. Blaker Slonecker was willing to accept the challenge, however, and we doff our hats in respect and awe of this great oeuvre.

Show note imagery: Ray Charles, pitching DIETPEPSI.

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There were MANY GEMS in today's puzzle, and that's not even counting 3D, A host of, MANY, and 34A, Prized people, GEMS. We had 8D, Senescent, OLD; 48D, Real hoot, RIOT; and the colorful (?) 22D, Camel and fawn, TANS. Those were just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, though, because today's grid was chockfull of awesome clues. We dive into the deets in today's episode, so do have a listen, and be sure and tell all your friends about us as well: we appreciate the biz!

Show note imagery: Robert H. Goddard, definitely the best-of-the-best when it comes to ROCKETSCIENCE

A reminder that the holiday season will soon be upon us, and there's no better present than a gift of the NYTimes crossword! Operators (well, ok, bots) are standing by, so cruise on over to the NYTimes and buy your loved ones the gift that keeps on giving!

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This was a fine crossword to solve, but it must've been a bear to construct. Jeremy Newton was up to the task, though, serving up a perfect midweek puzzle. He had us at 16A, Times noted in Captain Kirk's logs, STARDATES; enthralled us at 11D, Finito or kaput, DUNZO; and endeared us with 13A, Establishment whose name means "lounge" in French, SALON.

Show note imagery: IBIZA, regrettably not our home-away-from-home. 

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Joe Deeney's crosswords always seem to include a little extra spice, a little extra pizzazz: we present today's puzzle as an exemplar, and that's not just because we've been itching to use exemplar in a sentence 😀. 

As evidence, we have 59A, Timeless, to a poet,  ETERNE; our favorite E. C. Segar heroine, 58D, Toondom's Olive, OYL; and the rarely seen 39A, Gets back together, REUNES.

We have a Triplet Tuesday Contest, in which Mike attempts to atone for last time, when he momentarily slipped into his native language, Latin. Will he succeed? Or will he iterum in flammas cadet? Tune in to find out!

Show note imagery: Behold, the TOKYODOME

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This was a not-at-all-MID, nor, for that matter -MEH, Monday crossword: the theme was above average, the clues crisp and clever. We especially want to give a shoutout to 22D, Sch. with a T section, MIT; and the presence of both 10D, Nickname for Dorothy, DOT, and 59A, Play-_____, DOH, in the grid. Kudos to Rena Cohen for this, her 6th NYTimes crossword.

We also are delighted to announce our JAMCOTWA™️ (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award) winners (yes, plural!) -- deets inside.

Show note imagery: Katrina Gorry, poised to do something extraordinary with a football.

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If you like Shakespeare, and if you like puns, you will be in ecstasy by the time you've finished today's crossword. And even if you are not a huge fan, we predict that you'll find this crossword to be a hoot. What makes it so special, you ask? Check out today's podcast, where all will be revealed!

Show note imagery: The logo of TCM, Turner Classic Movies

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