Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword MP

Send us a Text Message.Today's crossword had eight, count'em, eight debut answers, including every computer programmer's favorite, DEBUGGER, the unsung hero of software development. A number of other clues didn't make it into the grid but deserve a shoutout, including 61A, Currently happening, AFOOT (and we can hear the British accent in our heads when we say it 😀); 35D, Handel's Messiah, for one, ORATORIO (not a Canadian province, but sooooo close 😀😀); and our favorite, 8D, They'...

Send us a Text Message.Tuesday's crossword, just like the child in the nursery rhyme, is full of grace -- and we mention nursery not just to name drop but because it is an essential component of today's puzzle. Intrigued? We thought you might be, but in the interests of keeping your IL (Intrigue Level) high, we won't go into deets here, but just encourage you to download today's episode (and see how Mike did on today's Triplet Tuesday segment)Show note imagery: A BOTTLEGOURD, aka a calabashCo...

Send us a Text Message.A delightfully wry Monday theme courtesy of Jack Scherban, and if that name doesn't ring a bell that's because this crossword marks his debut in the NYTimes, so congrats, Jack! There were a few answers in the grid that haven't been seen in a while - 11D, Comic actress Martha, RAYE; the revealer, 49A, Unfazed response to a threat from one of the themed answers, YOUANDWHATARMY; and speaking of which, one of the themed answers, 31A, Hotels.com mascot who must be a commandi...

Send us a Text Message.Somewhat akin to Robert Frost's "two roads diverged in a yellow wood", Jean & Mike's solves diverged, with Jean tearing through today's crossword, and Mike coming to a screeching halt (with him supplying most of the screeching). The reason for this is, as long time listeners will surmise, due to Jean's encyclopedic knowledge of Filipino dishes, and Mike's total ignorance of ... pretty much any foods / dishes / ingredients not sold at the local Jimmy John...

Send us a Text Message.Today's crossword looked daunting - a sea of white squares, and two 3-stack sets of grid-spanning answers. But while our first reaction was 36A, [Uh-oh], GULP, and our second reaction was 59A, "I'm speechless", THEREARENOWORDS", we used our 15D, Spots for berets, TETES, and were able to noodle a solution without too many 42AS, Official administrations, OATHS. In other news, we've identified today's JAMCOTWA. Have a listen, and let us know if you agree, ...

Send us a Text Message.A relatively straightforward Friday crossword by Hermann Mehta, but an admirable addition to the pantheon nonetheless. Now, based on the Law of Conservation of Crossword Difficulty (first theorized by one A. Einstein, if memory serves), this means that Saturday's crossword should be ... just about impossible. Will that come to pass? Tune in tomorrow to find out!Show note imagery: A few sample TANGRAMSHere's a link to the Monty Hall Problem, it makes for fascinatin...