Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword MP

Send us a Text Message.This is David P. Williams' fourth NYTimes crossword, and interestingly all four have used the same grid, so apparently DPW has taken the phrase "why mess with success?" to heart. There are some magnificent clues in today's grid, including 47D, Time to take stock?, IPO; 34A, Lover of literature, ROMEO (ha!); and we loved the juxtaposition of 29A, Architects, so to speak, MASTERMINDS, immediately above 31A, Wield influence, PULLSTRINGS, because that's what MASTERMINDS do,...

Send us a Text Message.For your edification, we present our analysis of a nice -- in fact, twice as nice! -- crossword by Carolyn Davies Lynch that really has a lot to commend it, most notably some really, really difficult clues! Fortunately there were not too many pop-culture references: we did have 16A, Many Eras Tour attendees, SWIFTIES, but Taylor Swift may be the most famous woman on the planet, and so even Mike was able to suss that one out. Beyond the crossword, we have a fi...

Send us a Text Message.We don't normally namedrop Shakespearean quotes, but we are inspired by today's highly twisty-turny theme that looks like it might take 100 years or so to construct, but Adam Wagner managed to pull it off in well under a decade 😉While the theme is certainly the center of attention, there is a lot of other joyous word play taking place throughout the grid, so to learn more, prithee download and lend us your ears, we vouchsafe to return them in good working order 😀&n...

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...